Covid-19 

Dear Friends
I hope that you have enjoyed the sunshine this week and as the first part of the Coronavirus restrictions have been lifted. Perhaps you have been able to see family or friends in a safe space in the garden. Again this week the number of new cases is reducing and the UK continues to make excellent progress with the delivery of the vaccination. Unfortunately this is not the case in other parts of Europe and the World so we need to remain vigilant following the guidance to keep ourselves and others safe.
It is now over a year since we started the first lockdown and clearly we have all been on a difficult journey during this time. I am sure none of us expected the virus to take control as it did and certainly not to continue for this length of time. We continue to hold in prayer all those who are currently affected by the virus and their families, we remember all those who have sadly died during this period and we give thanks for the work of all those working hard to provide physical, spiritual or emotional care to others. We pray for all the scientists and researchers who continue to work around the clock to help us better understand the virus and for their skills and wisdom in developing new vaccines and treatments.
During the last week, Barry underwent his surgery and remains in hospital during his recovery. Please continue to surround Barry, Linda and the family with your love and prayers during this time and for the coming weeks as Linda will continue his care at home. Rev Linda is now off on leave for a few weeks so please direct any messages to the Stewards who will ensure, if required, they are passed onto one of the other Ministers.
Please continue to hold Thelma, Helen, Elizabeth and David and their families in your thoughts and prayers following the recent death of Roy.

Our reading today is the appointed reading for Easter Day from John Chapter 20 v1-18 and tells the wonderful story of Mary Magdalene, whilst it is dark, finding the stone rolled away and the Lord missing from the tomb. Shocked by the discovery, Mary runs to tell two disciples that the tomb had been disturbed. During her grief Mary is joined by two angels and asks them where her Lord has been taken. She then turns to find a man standing close by who asks her why she is weeping. She believes he is the gardener and asks him where he has taken the body. As he speaks he calls her name and Mary then recognises him.  Jesus instructs Mary not to hold him as he has yet to ascend to the Father. Jesus instructs her to tell his brothers the news and she gladly follows his instructions.  The reading is familiar and fills us with the joy and hope of the Easter message. After the anguish and pain of Holy Week, the Lord is risen and we have good reason to rejoice.
John presents us with a powerful account at the heart of the Gospel. Jesus, who was crucified, has been raised. We watch as Mary, Peter and an unnamed disciple discover that Jesu’s tomb is now empty, the outward and visible sign that Jesus has conquered death and a new creation has begun. As we follow the account we relive the moment when Mary meets her risen Lord. Her grief turns to joy and she brings us the good news that has been shared throughout the ages “I have seen the Lord”. The story unfolds into three distinctive parts, a story about people searching, about sadness and fear, about action, surprise and joy. It takes us back full circle to the beginning of the gospel – but a new beginning. It is believed John did not write his account of the events of the resurrection until some fifty years after they had taken place. The account is vivid and presents for us a real insight of the events. The experience must have been so powerful that the story is told by John with such clarity.
Mary walks through the darkness, she has fought her fears to tend to the body of her teacher and friend. Mary finds the stone has been rolled away and makes an assumption that someone has stolen the body of her Lord. Mary then runs to tell Peter and an unnamed disciple. We can only begin to imagine the shock and grief the disciples were already experiencing following the unexpected death of their Lord. They then hear what could be described as a hysterical announcement from Mary. Over the years many writers have made suggestions as to whom these two disciples may represent, often suggesting they may be Jew and Gentile. Could it be that that the beloved unnamed disciple is there to represent us ?
Just like Mary the disciples run back to the tomb and Peter finds the cloths are still in in the tomb. John describes the placement of the wrappings but also tells us that the cloth that covered Jesus’ head had been rolled and placed elsewhere in the tomb. The tomb is truly empty with no message and this time no messenger.
John tells us that the beloved disciple “saw and believed” Did he believe Mary was correct, did he believe the tomb was empty, that someone had stolen the body or did he believe what Jesus has said at their last meal together, that Jesus had “conquered the world” The disciples go home, we are not provided with any indication of their emotion and know nothing of their feelings at this time. At this point it appears the empty tomb has not made a difference. We then return to Mary who is standing outside of the tomb crying. She does not return back into the tomb but finds two angels and again asks about the theft of her friends body. She then meets a man she believes to be the gardener. Perhaps John is in fact providing clues to help us understand what has happened.
In the opening of John’s gospel we hear of Jesus asking the disciples of John the Baptist “What are you looking for” (John 1;38) Here we find Jesus asking Mary the same question “Whom are you looking for”  This is the start of a new beginning, a new ministry and a new creation. Jesus knows Mary by name. Perhaps he could be asking us the same question today What are we looking for and He will of course know us by name. Jesus is calling us to see the new things that God is doing in the world and in our lives and the lives of others.
The account begins in the darkness, the absence of light. This is described in Genesis “and darkness covered the face of the deep” John is perhaps echoing the declaration from Corinthians “everything old has passed away, everything has become new” (2 Corinthians 5v17) This takes place in the garden where Mary identifies Jesus as the gardener. The gardener brings a new world, a new life and a new creation. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. In the creation story God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden. In the new creation story Jesus sends Mary out of the garden rejoicing. She is sent to tell everyone the darkness has not overcome the Word. She had indeed seen the Lord. Her message is powerful and declares for us a new beginning. The resurrected Jesus is all about God’s new creation breaking in – discovered by Mary, in the darkness of a graveyard.
It is in the darkness that we find Mary, walking amongst the tombs, weeping over her loss. The disciples have lost their Lord, their hope, their reason for being. In this darkness they are lost and confused, they cant think or hear clearly. But whilst it was still dark, we discover that we can anticipate the light of Easter. God had been at work, in and through the darkness.
We sometimes face the darkness but in the Easter story are reminded of hope. In the darkness and sorrow we sometimes experience in our lives, God is at work often in mysterious ways, leaving traces of his presence for us to see and wonder. In the Easter story and the power of the resurrection we receive the important message of hope - This is not the end but a new beginning.
Christ has arisen ! Now all can see
How humankind is meant to be free.
Though powers of darkness threaten their worst,
Through every barrier Jesus has burst.
Let heaven echo, let the earth sing:
Jesus is saviour of everything.
All those who trust him, Christ will receive;
Therefore rejoice, obey and believe !
(John L. Bell – Singing the Faith 304)
 
 You can join with friends from the Church and Circuit by joining the weekly Zoom Service at 11.30am each Sunday morning (by either computer or telephone) using the links below.
Topic: Sunday Service 11.30 am – Our Service this week will be All Aged Worship led by Rev Pam Roberts and Norman Prophet
Time: This is a recurring meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4775422768
or just click here.
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768 (No password is required)
Dial by your location
0203 481 5237
0203 481 5240
0203 901 7895
0131 460 1196
0203 051 2874
Meeting ID: 477 542 2768
We also have a telephone service each week using WhyPay at 10.00am on Sunday morning.
If you wish to join this the number is 0333 0110 946 and the Room Number is 47927697# and the Pin is 1145#
Please do continue if you are able to pray at 6.00pm each evening and join with others from our Church so that we can unite in the power of prayer.
Please also pray for those on our prayer list.  
Ashley, Debbie and family
Stuart and Sylvia
Frank
Ralph
Pat
Kevin and family
Robert & Jocelyn
Beryl
Karen
Ken and Pat
Chris and Dianne
Malcolm, Anne and family
Arthur
Eileen and Carl
Rev Alex
Don
Margaret B
Alan
Doreen
Jean
Beaulah
Alan and Heather
Linda and family
Carol, Dave and Logan
Janet, Steve and family
Les, Olga and family
Charles
 You can find reflections and biblical stories on our Circuit YouTube channel including new material added weekly from Rev Linda, Rev Jeff and others at
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBhbVptj0forVkUfmmsvd_w
or just click here.
Please continue to stay safe and know that you are surrounded by the love and prayers of your Church family.
Wishing you a blessed Easter
Ian