FROM THE VICARAGE STUDY

My dear People,

Lent is not quite finished but we can still take stock. Our tableaux, illustrating the Church's sacraments, were, I believe, helpful and instructive, both to players and spectators. I was conscious, too, of a lot of goodwill and interest; help in fact came from many quarters, inside and outside the parish, as for example the cope from Newington, the mobile font cast specially for the occasion by Mrs. Noble and the bishop's mitre from Tenterden Operatic and Dramatic Society; particularly were we grateful to Gillingham Grammar School for the loan of the spotlights and to Murston Primary School for the platforms. The players themselves were accommodating and sensitive to their various roles. The point to make quite clear was that Almighty God through His Church has something to say to every individual at the important, sometimes critical, stages of his life - birth, teenage, marriage, moral failure, sickness. He offers a new start and special strength through His sacraments, which are outward, visible signs of an inward, spiritual grace. I hope that we shall have more drama in church from time to time. With drama often goes music and we are most grateful to the Sittingbourne Baptist Church choir for supplying this. As a convincing gesture of fellowship and unity they gave us the pleasure of hearing Maunder's Passion Music in our church on Good Friday evening, with two soloists from Rochester Cathedral choir.

Looking ahead next Sunday, 5th April, the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cole will be baptised during Evensong. This is not unfortunately the normal custom but it is as the Prayer Book instructs. It dates back to the practice of the Early Church, and above all makes sense of the words that the priest pronounces immediately after the naming - "We receive this child into the congregation of Christ's flock". Please do your best to make these words live by being present to receive and support with your prayers this new member of Christ's family in Hartlip. This is of course only the beginning. Our cover picture shows how our responsibilities remain — the Church continuing to instruct through its own school, founded and endowed by Mary Gibbon in 1678.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.