Dear friends,
I hope this finds you safe and well.
On Easter Sunday it was so lovely to gather in church together again (albeit socially distanced and wearing masks…) as we proclaimed:
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Some of our choir members had recorded in two quartets on separate evenings, so we were able to listen to glorious Easter hymns. We started our service with Hymn 271:
Jesus Christ is risen today, alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss, alleluia!
This hymn is noted for having ‘Alleluia’ as a refrain after every line. The word ‘Alleluia’ is associated with joy and is especially favoured in the time between Easter and Pentecost. We should sing our ‘Alleluias’ out loud all year round – we are people with Good News to share!
I do of course recognise that this year has certainly been difficult for so many people. That goes for us too in the church and I reflected on this at our Easter General Vestry meeting on Wednesday evening. For most of the year our church buildings have been closed, and we have faced incredible challenges that I don’t think any of us would have considered this time last year. We are sociable people at St Molua’s, we love to gather together in times of fellowship, and we have missed being together and seeing everyone. We look forward to better times ahead, and give thanks for the swift rollout of the vaccination programme.
Other challenges in our church have been with regard to finance and fundraising as so many plans have had to be put on hold. Our proposed flower festival for one, which we were so looking forward to… We do hope and pray that this will go ahead in the future.
But whilst we do find ourselves in challenging times, we certainly do not wish to be all doom and gloom. We give thanks that our parish is blessed with wonderful, dedicated parishioners who have generously continued to support us in whatever ways they can.
On Wednesday we gathered together for a short service to give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy, to look ahead to the future, and to elect the Select Vestry for this year. The Select Vestry have been tirelessly working away on your behalf behind the scenes for many years and we give thanks for their service. The following people were appointed:
Rector’s Churchwarden: Mr Malcolm Stanley
People’s Churchwarden: Mrs Audrey Healey
Rector’s Glebewarden: Mr Denis Hill
People’s Glebewarden: Mrs Frances Hastie
Vestry Members: Mr David Beck, Mrs Sharon Beck, Mrs Melanie Carmichael, Mrs Audrey Gillian, Mrs Elaine Hamilton, Mrs Jean Hill, Mrs Heather Loughridge, Mrs Helen Poots, Mrs Edwina Tester, Ms Margaret Turner, Mr David Watkins.
I’m so grateful for all of these people agreeing to stand. Please do keep them in your prayers as we manage our finances, look after our buildings and pray for our plans as we look forward to new opportunities for mission and outreach in our community. Thank you.
I do recognise that not everyone feels happy coming along to public gatherings at the moment. Please be assured that in St Molua’s we are doing everything we possibly can to keep you safe.
If you do not feel able to come along to the church building, I do hope and pray that you still manage to feel connected to your St Molua’s family, by joining our online and phone services.
Always remember – we are people of hope! And in this Easter season we continue to proclaim:
Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
With love and prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Emma