Glorious is not a word I feel we get to use much these days, but Easter at St Martin’s was indeed glorious. The pulse beat of the liturgical journey through Holy Week grew steadily stronger as the Great Three Days of Easter approached. The intimacy of Maundy Thursday, the exuberance of the Good Friday Walk, the severe elegance of the Good Friday Liturgy, and the mystical atmosphere of the new fire of Easter- opening us to a communal act of remembering the great events of our long faith story, all played their part in preparing us for the glorious celebration of the resurrection on Easter Morn.
It was so wonderful to see many old friends alongside visitors and new faces among the 400 strong Easter Day attendance. It is times like this when it really comes home to me that we are connected to a much larger community who identify with St Martin’s and for whom this church holds a special place in memory and affection.
If you are getting this e-message for the first time it is because you gave us your email details on Easter Day – enabling us to now add you to our weekly E-News mailing. Thank you for doing this. We trust that our weekly internet communications will help you to feel better connected to all the activities and energies bubbling away within the St Martin’s Community.
Of special interest will be the information about our portal ministries, so named because they open a door for members of the wider community to participate an aspect of St Martin’s life:
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the monthly Women’s Spirituality Group.
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the multiple group activities of Gander, the men’s spirituality group.
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and a new initiative called Askesis (little school) for the 20-30’s age group.
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The Knitting Ministry’s production of beautifully crafted shawls which are given
to the sick and those facing crisis points in life.
Let me conclude with thanking all who worked hard to make Easter so glorious: hospitaliers, choir, altar and flower guilds, and of course the brilliant and hardworking staff. Thank you all!!
See you in Church, this Sunday.
Mark+
