FROM THE VICARAGE STUDY

My dear People,

You will have probably never heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was an extremely brave man whose epic story you can read of in the Inset this month. He was also an outstanding Christian thinker and it is an apt coincidence that some words of his introduce the Preface of our Parish Lent book "The Caring Church". Here they are - "The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity". Two thousand years earlier Jesus said (using the New English Bible translation) "Whoever cares for his own safety is lost; but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self." Now, isn't the same concept or basic idea behind each of these statements? The idea of forgetting oneself and thereby finding true happiness and a full life?

It is not a very popular idea these days. Our formula for happiness and a full life tends to be centred on self and the motorcar, the hoovermatic and expensive holidays. An increasing number of people do not want to 'commit themselves' to do something regularly for other people it may be voluntary service for the community, like running the Girl Guide company; it may be teaching in the Sunday School or leading the Church Youth Club. Whether for humanity's sake or for Christ's sake they do not want to 'forget themselves' for others. Yet those who do so constantly assert that they have found truer happiness than ever known before; and you can usually see it in their faces. This idea is shown, of course, supremely in the suffering and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ the dying of self that others might live.

I would ask all of you, whether churchgoer or not, to "think on these things". The response (as well as the duty) of all confirmed members of the Church can only be a firm decision to present themselves at the Lord's Table on Easter morning; behind it, the clear-cut intention of offering themselves afresh completely in the service of Christ and their neighbour.

A very Happy Easter to you all.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.

EASTER DAY

7.00 a.m., 8.00 a.m. and 12 noon - Holy Communion. 10.00 a.m. Children's Service.

11.00 a.m. Matins and Sermon.

6.30 p.m. Evensong and Sermon.