Easter marks a time of new beginnings. For Christians, that centres of course around the new life made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus; for others it's about the arrival of Spring, with bulbs bursting into flower, lambs bouncing around in the fields, longer evenings, and the promise of better weather and more outdoor living.
This year, as we awaken from the hibernation of lockdown and look forward, soon, to being able to meet up again with friends and family, it's an especially poignant time. It's poignant for those who have lost loved ones; and for those whose livelihoods have been battered by the economic consequences of the pandemic. Poignant too for many who have struggled to maintain hope, when the world seemed to be falling apart around them. But the astonishing rollout of our vaccination programme, and the ground gained by this third (and worst) lockdown, gives us reason for hope that some degree of normality may not be far away now, after these recent challenging months.
As a group of parishes, we're also in a time of change, as we are between Rectors. Richard Rendall retired in January, and between us all we're working hard to maintain our church services and our church life. The job has now been advertised and we hope to be shortlisting for Richard's replacement soon, with interviews pencilled in for early May. We look forward with anticipation and expectation that our new Minister will soon be able to open a new chapter in the life of our churches in the Evenlode valley.
So as Easter comes, let's look forward to celebrating some better times, and let's pray that we'll learn from what we've endured, whatever the next few months bring.
Rev'd Dr Stephen Blake, Associate Minister