LIFE & DEATH AND HOPE

When I became chaplain to Wellesbourne CofE Primary School, Year 5 welcomed me with a huge card of St Peter's Church set among lots and lots of gravestones and tombs. The several church windows all showed Jesus hanging on a cross. The picture got me wondering what people make of Christians focusing on Jesus' death on Good Friday: does Christianity seem a macabre religion to many? How about you? When you see a Cross, what do you think of?

A 3 year old who drew '+' on cards as a kiss rather than 'x' saw a Cross being carried in a church procession. “Look, Mummy,” he cried, “it's God's kiss!” (Yes, it is a true story). Christians see Jesus' death as pure, selfless love. God who, in Jesus, joined us in the middle of the muddle of our lives, stayed alongside us even to death. We believe that His life and love were too powerful for death to contain. He rose to new life on Easter Day. He shares His life, love and energy with everyone who chooses to give up the impossible task of trying to run their own lives, who has the gumption to admit they got it wrong and ask God to take over the controls.

Looking again at Year 5's card, I noticed a golden sun shining at the top of each crucifix-filled window: what seemed macabre at first sight actually showed Jesus' death as a source of light. And so the tombstones need not be feared: Jesus' resurrection promises life beyond the grave. Life, and death, can be faced with HOPE.

Children clearly have much to teach about Jesus, so why not join us in the Village Hall on Good Friday for the first of several HOPE08 events that Wellesbourne churches are holding together this year, and expect to be enlightened.

Wishing you a hope-filled Easter,

Kate Mier  

GOOD FRIDAY 21st MARCH 10.30am - 11.30am Children's craft workshop in the Village Hall. With drinks and hot cross buns for all Arranged by all the Wellesbourne Churches

THANK YOU ALL

To start off our 25th year of publication we had a little gathering and a drink or two primarily to say thank you to all the people who have helped and supported us over the years. As we said in the invitation, the writing may brilliant, the news interesting, the diary dates irresistible, the photographs delightful and the cartoons hilarious BUT if nobody delivers it it's a complete waste of time.

Some of our deliverers have been involved from day one, back in January 1984 and at least 5 of our original advertisers are still with us too. We still have the same printer, Philip Bennett as well. To all of you a big THANK YOU for without you we couldn't possibly afford to publish and it wouldn't be delivered anyway. I remember sticking the first edition together with glue and letraset and hand drawn illustrations, now it's computers and digital photos but however it's produced it's still greatly appreciated by the village - for how else do we know what's going on?

So thank you all again and here's to the next 25 years although I have my doubts that I'll still be around to be involved.

Mac  

WERE YOU THERE? A series of meditations for Holy Week led by Rev’d Andy Laird. Take 20 minutes to stop and think each day: Wellesbourne Methodist Church 17th - 22nd March '08 ALL AT 1.00PM ALL WELCOME