​The theme set for this month’s magazine is “Peter or Petertide.”

I have always had something of a soft spot for Peter. Unlike some of the other saints, Peter is so reassuringly like me. At times hot headed and impetuous; opening his mouth before engaging his brain, he gets so many things wrong! And yet it is this fallible and changeable man that Jesus describes as the rock on which he will build his church. If Peter does nothing else for us, he surely proves that God has a sense of humour!

The prompt which the editors gave me for this month’s letter was ‘Apostles’, prompted by the feast of Saints Philip and James on 1st May. Were I Greek Orthodox, then I would be celebrating a ‘double name day’ on that date, with the two saints for which I am named sharing a feast day. (I am almost certain this was not in my parents’ thoughts when they named me, but it is a tidiness of which I approve.)
There would be an epic party and everyone would give me lavish gifts to celebrate…
Back in the real world, this does raise the question of what an apostle is. It is a word used so much in the Church that we never really think about it. There is clearly something special about being an apostle, as is obvious by how desperately Paul

The churches of St John's and St Michael's require a new Parish Administrator following the resignation of the current one, who is moving away from the local area.

In 1147, a headstrong fourteen-year-old gathered together a group of mercenaries in France and invaded England. The boy would go on to be one of the most successful of English kings after he was crowned Henry II, seven years later, but right now he was hopelessly out of his depth. His plan was to make good the claim of his mother, Matilda, to the throne currently occupied by King Stephen, but few took a boy barely into his teens very seriously.

“Thou visitest the earth, and blessest it” – the theme for this month’s magazine - may be quoting from Psalm 65, but for me, the words take me straight back to my childhood and youth in Claines. No harvest festival would have been complete without the choir singing Maurice Greene’s anthem, which, although I didn’t realise it at the time, is based on this psalm. Beginning at verse 9, the rest of Psalm 65 is a celebration of a successful harvest, one in which the generosity of God’s provision is seen and joyfully proclaimed.

‘I don’t have time to…’ Think, honestly, how often you have used that line, or heard others around you use it. In some cases, it is absolutely true, and through no fault of the person concerned as they try to hold down a job and raise a family and just keep everything going. In others, however, it is almost a badge of honour to be or appear busy, consumed with activity, never having time to stop.

“New beginnings” is a theme we usually associate with the start of a new year – whether that is the calendar, academic or Church year. So why, you might be wondering, has it been chosen as the theme for a magazine we’ll be reading in June? Well, if we think back to the events of May, we will find that the theme is, in fact, very appropriate.

The coronation of Charles III this month is an almost unique event in the contemporary world. None of the other European constitutional monarchs are crowned, instead simply having a ceremony to swear an oath, and the longevity of Elizabeth II means many only know a crowning as a historic event. While the King became king at the moment of his mother’s death, this is still a highly symbolic moment. Seven decades have passed since the last coronation, hence the majority of people alive today will never have seen one.

Lent is nearly over! We will soon be celebrating the most joyful day in the Christian calendar. Before we get there, I encourage you to take a moment to look back on the last thirty or so days and ask yourself: What have I missed most during the season now coming to a close? Perhaps it’s indulging in your favourite tipple in the evening; the cake, puddings or crisps missing from your meal times; or maybe it’s the time you no longer spend playing video games or looking on social media. Perhaps you’ve been missing the flowers in church?

Alleluia, Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
With these words of the Easter Acclamation, church lights are thrown on, bells ring, and, according to the service rhetoric, noise is made! It is a bright and joyful scene, in sharp contrast to the days which have gone before. Holy Week, particularly the last few days of that week, is a dark and highly emotional time as we commemorate the final days of Christ’s life on earth.