Category Archives: newsletter

Road to Emmaus

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Dear parishioners and friends of our 3 Churches:

This Sunday the Gospel is the story of the Disciples on the Road to Emmaus.
We know how Jesus explained the scriptures to them, and how they recognised him in the breaking of bread, whereupon they rushed back to Jerusalem to share their experience of the Good News. But we mustn’t forget that even before he explained the Word to them he was already walking beside them, even though they didn’t recognise him. That’s surely a bit like how it is now. Sadly we cannot truly meet one another, either for the sharing of the word or the breaking of bread. However, that should not blind us to his presence already with us. As we walk along the road, not of the streets outside but of life itself, and whether we realise it or not, Jesus walks with us. When this is over, let’s not find ourselves saying “Did not our hearts burn within us”, as the disciples did when they understood that he had been with them all along. Rather, let’s seek him now, maybe in new ways – in the pain of separation or aloneness too.  

Fr Matthew

A post feast of Easter message from Fr Matthew

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Dear parishioners and friends of our 3 Churches:

I hope you celebrated the great feast of Easter – as best we can anyway in these circumstances. Today we move on to so-called “Low Sunday”, when we see Jesus appear to the Apostles. They needed so much reassurance after Our Lord’s Death and Resurrection. Above all, Thomas needed to have his doubts dispelled. And, of course, Jesus did that by asking Thomas to do the one thing we can’t do at the moment – to touch Him. “Give me your hand” Jesus invites Thomas. We may not be able to grasp one another’s hands in the normal human way at the moment. But just take a moment and in your imagination picture the hand of the Lord being offered to you. Reassurance, presence, hope, peace, love.

Fr Matthew

Easter message from Fr Matthew

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Corona Virus – Help a Parishioner If you are well and able to do so, please think about offering help to our older and more vulnerable parishioners who may need help and assistance during this uncertain time.  

Dear parishioners and friends of our 3 Churches:

The BBC phoned today to make sure I am still OK to do “Wednesday Word” this week. This radio “”god slot” always has to be about something relevant to life. But life is somewhat dominated by one thing at the moment, isn’t it? Anxious not to repeat what the previous few weeks contributors have said, the producer told me she’d send their scripts to me, so I wouldn’t repeat their words! But what can we say to bring Easter to bear on this situation?

Yes, today and throughout this week and season we are invited to celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We search in the gloom of a pandemic, in the problems of isolation, in the gasps of ventilators and tears of the bereaved for glimmers of light. Can we find light? As Christians we must give a resounding “yes”! Christ remains with us – yes! He is the light, he calls us to be the light – yes! Easter is not always a dazzling flash, it can be a gentle murmuring of Jesus in our hearts
“I am with you”, or a gentle word from us to another, over the phone – or Zoom, Skype, FaceView or a card – “I am with you.”

Dear friends – He IS with you, with us – Yes, do have a happy and peaceful Easter!

Fr Matthew