Can you imagine what went through the minds of those who knew Jesus? He had promised he would die and on the third day rise again. This means today, Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter Day, was a day of anticipation. Perhaps people were asking one another, “do you really think he will come back to life? Was Jesus speaking the truth? Does he really have the power to defeat death, sin and the devil?” The answers came on that first Easter morning when the entrance stone to the tomb was found rolled away, the grave clothes folded and the tomb empty. 

And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31)

Tomorrow morning is without question our most important service of the year, and the most important day of the year for Christians, as we celebrate the resurrection of our risen Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ. One reason why the resurrection is so important is given to us by the apostle Paul:

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that bhe raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:14-17)

When we gather in the morning, we know our faith is not futile and we are not still in our sins. The resurrection of Jesus assures us Jesus has the power of death and that God was satisfied with the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins on the cross.

Tomorrow is a day of great rejoicing. Our Easter Celebration (with Holy Communion) starts at 10:00 AM. There will be some lovely refreshments on arrival in the Community Centre Hall, so as to give opportunity for coming together as a church family for conversation and deepening relationships with one another.

10:00 AM isn’t the only option, there ae services at other times too…

• 6:00 AM – Sunrise Service & Breakfast (The Book of Common Prayer Communion Service)
• 9:00 AM – Family Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt
• 10:00 AM – Easter Day Celebration Service (Church & Community Centre Hall)
• 7:00 PM – Presentation: ‘John 2 – the Significance of the Resurrection’ by Ziggy Rogoff.
  

Watching Online, Bible Reading and Order of Service

Our livestream can be viewed on our YouTube channel here and our Facebook channel here. In our services we will be looking at the following Bible readings: John 20.1-18 (Church Bible page 906). The 10:00 AM order of service is available here.

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New Electoral Roll 

The Electoral Roll form is available online on this link: Electoral Roll 2025 (click on the blue words). The deadline to apply to be on the Electoral Roll is the 5th May 2025.

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Easter Monday

Please note that the Church and Community Centre will be closed on Easter Monday (21st April). All usual activities and services will resume on Tuesday 22nd April.

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Diary of Usual Activities and Services

Tuesday 22nd April

• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Lunch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church

Wednesday 23rd April

• 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – Breakfast Club and Walking Bus to Royles Brook School in the Community Centre
• 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM – Wednesday Morning Growth Group in Church
• 11:15 AM to 12:00 Noon – Traditional (BCP) service of Holy Communion in Church
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Lunches for Seniors in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal in Church

Thursday 24th April

• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in the Bookshop
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 12:00 Noon to 1:30 PM – Lyrics and Lunch in the Community Centre
• 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
• 2:00 PM – Funeral Service for Hannah Dixon in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre

Friday 25th April

• 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
• 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
• 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
• 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Move & Chat in the Community Centre

Saturday 26th April

• 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop

Sunday 27th April

• 9:00 AM – Traditional (The Book of Common Prayer) Service of Holy Communion (with refreshments afterwards)
• 10:00 AM – Meadows Books open (until 10:45 AM)
• 11:00 AM – Contemporary Communion Service (livestreamed and with refreshments afterwards)
• 12:15 PM – Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM) 
• 5:00 PM – Treehouse Family Worship (with refreshments)
• 6:00 PM – Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)

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With blessings,

Damian