Articles - From the Curate

The clocks have gone forward and the evenings are beginning to lighten, we can enjoy more time in natural daylight and we can begin to look forward to those longer spring and summer evenings. In addition, the bulbs we planted are beginning to flower and the trees are starting to come into leaf. We sense stirrings amongst the wildlife and the birds are building their nests. All these signs of new life can make an enormous difference to our levels of energy and sense of physical and emotional wellbeing, Our God, the God of creation, shows to us the signs of new life in so many ways.

In April we reach the climax of our Lent journey when we enter Holy Week. This is the week when we are confronted with darkness and death more than any other season in the liturgical year. We are required during this week to look upon the death of Jesus who is both God and man. We are challenged to look upon him dying on a cross and to find there the meaning of our own life and death. If we make this journey faithfully with Christ through Holy Week then our experience of Easter Day is deeply profound; we find at last, the meaning of joy.

Nature, in many ways gives us glimpses of new life, moments to cherish, reminders of our God present in all creation. But Easter Day brings us the news of resurrection, the announcement that evil has been overcome by good, it is our glimpse of eternity, new hope, new life: now and forever.

May you experience in all its fullness the joy, reassurance and hope of Easter.

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay