Today Easter Day we celebrate the pinnacle of the Christian year – and our forty days of prayer and penitence in Lent has now completed for this year- but some may say why go through all that trouble for just one day in the year? 

The point of the preparation in Lent is to appreciate, to understand and approach God with humility, aware of who God really is and who we really are- in our human weaknesses as well as our strengths. 

In our Lenten preparation, as we walk with Christ on his journey towards the cross, as we also recognise the ‘Good Friday’ world around us and within us, with its suffering and pain, its unfairness and grief.

How much more then can we appreciate and understand the power and hope of the Resurrection of Christ, defeating death and making all things new. This will surely change the way we view life and live life as well as act and pray for the world around us.. 

It means that we realise our Christian status as God’s ‘Easter people’, that is, people who are signs of the living hope which Christ’s death and resurrection bring to the whole world. 

Any grace has a consequence: it is always for sharing, for reverent using. It is never just for ourselves. 

What would it mean to receive this particular grace, to be one of the three people in the world who knew that Jesus had risen?It is not easy even to be one of the few Christians in our neighbourhood who know! 

What does God ask of us? The very least is that we should show in how we live that we have our eyes fixed on the Lord and not only our own concerns. 

Others who are not so fortunate as we should sense something in us that speaks to them of God.

Sister Wendy Beckett : The Art of Faith

I pray God gives you all hope as you celebrate the joy of the Resurrection through your worship, prayer and everyday life- and being part of God’s Easter people here in Marnhull!

BIBLE READINGS FOR EASTER DAY

Isaiah 65:17-end

Acts 10:34-43

Luke 24:1-12

THIS WEEK

Sunday 20th Easter Day

8am  Holy Communion (traditional language)

10am Family Parish Communion- with eggs!

Weds 23rd

9am Morning Prayer

10.30am School Worship

Sat 26th 

9-11am   Working party on church/ churchyard 

NEXT WEEK

Sun 27th   Easter 2

8am  Holy Communion (traditional language)

10am Parish Communion

11.30am   Annual Parochial Church Meeting for everyone. Please read the report ahead of the meeting and contact Chris if you haven’t already received one by email or in person.

Mon 28th St George’s Day – deferred because of Easter Week

Weds 30th 

9am Morning Prayer

10.30am School Worship

LOOKING AHEAD

Revd Gaenor is on post-Easter leave 3-13 May

Weds 7th May

11am Monthly Holy Communion – led by Canon Richard Hancock

Thurs 8th 

11am RBL VE Day 80th anniversary service at the War Memorial- led by Revd Andrew Gubbins

Fri 9th

12pm  Village Prayer at Marnhull Methodist Church.

Tues 13th-Sun 18th  Salisbury Cathedral ‘Spirit of Water’ Flower Festival, featuring the work of two of St Gregory’s Flower team! For information and tickets go to https://www.salisburycathedral.org.uk/flower-festival/

Weds 14th

7pm for 7.30pm Deanery Synod meeting here. Please speak to Sharon if you can help with refreshments

Sun 18th

10am All Age Service

Tues 20th 

12-12.30pm Organ recital by Stephen Binnington 3/3. Donations welcome for church funds. 

OTHER NEWS

• A very BIG thank you to everyone who contributed to all our Holy Week services and to our Flower team for the beautiful Easter displays

•  Ahead of the APCM (27th) we urgently need to elect a second churchwarden and four more PCC members. Please consider this for yourself and speak to Revd Gaenor or Chris Langhelt ahead of the APCM if you would like to know more.
•  St Greg’s Singing Group Thursday 7-8.30pm. Open to new members. Spring/summer practice dates 24th April; 8th May; 29th May; 5th June; 19th June; 3rd July:17th July. Contact [email protected] 

PRAYERS

• Pray for the people of God, that they may proclaim the risen Lord
• Pray for God’s creation, that the peoples of the earth may meet their responsibility to care
• Pray for those in despair and darkness, that they may find the hope and light of Christ
• Pray for those in fear of death, that they may find faith through the resurrection
• Please pray for all in or from our parish who are currently ill in body, mind or spirit- for healing and wholeness

CONTACT US

Rector Revd Gaenor Hockey    

01258 821605  [email protected] 

Part time: Sunday, Wednesday and Friday 

Licensed Lay Minister Judith Male 

07852 780517 [email protected]

Churchwarden Barrie Jenks 

01258 821604 [email protected]

Church is open daily:  9am – 4.30pm

ONLINE

Parish website : www.stgregorysmarnhull.org.uk

Facebook pages: stgregschurch and musicatstgreg

Diocesan website:  www.salisbury.anglican.org