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Pastoral Letter for April

By the time you read this the solemn period of
introspection during Lent and the contemplation
of Jesus’ death on the Cross will have been
followed by the joy of celebrating Christ’s
Resurrection on that glorious Easter Day.

Some of you will have marked this special day,
after an unusually brief night, by joining fellow
Christians on the beach to watch the sun rise and
to worship God. As we huddle round the bonfire to keep warm it
always reminds me of the meal of bread and fish Jesus shared with
his friends soon after the first Easter as recorded by John. At the
end of the meal Jesus drew Peter aside. I wonder what thoughts
went through Peter’s head as he remembered how he had denied
knowing Jesus despite his earlier boast that “Even though all fall
away on account of you. I never will” Matt 26;33. Did he fear being
rejected by Jesus or at least expect a dressing down? Instead
Jesus asks Peter, “Do you truly love me?” and Peter replies, “Yes
Lord, you know that I love you”. Much has been written about this
passage including the significance of the two Greek words both of
which we translate as love, but the message I’d like us to take from
it is that although we all fail at some point to be the best we can, if
we honestly love our Lord he will forgive us and use us to care for
others in need.

I have always loved this service ever since we moved to Swanage
some 25 years ago. It is never the same. Very occasionally we
have been blessed to watch a spectacular sunrise as the sun
appears to come up from the sea into a clear blue sky; sometimes
it peeps out from a bank of cloud; it can appear as a shadowy ball
of light struggling through the mist; on a few mornings the sun has
been hidden completely by rain clouds, but we know it is still there
as the light to the beginning of another day.

It is the same with God’s Son- sometimes we see Him clearly and
experience His love vividly, times to be treasured and recalled to
help us through difficult periods; at other times, when worldly
concerns can get in the way, we are aware of His presence

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