Celebrating Easter 2006 In Style!

For us Christians, Easter is not only the start of our Church's year, but also the most celebratory time imaginable - Christ's resurrection gave all Christians the priceless gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

At St Michael's we take our celebrating seriously, and this Easter we once again made an extra-special effort.

Our celebrations started outside just after 9am with a rumbustious, interactive reading of St Hypolitus' Pascal Sermon. Dating from the 4th century, you'd be forgiven for assuming it's probably a bit "stuffy" - you'd be TOTALLY WRONG - click here if you don't believe us, but be prepared to be uplifted...

Moving inside, the festivities continued with our now traditional "Pascal Feast" where all the very best food and drink that our considerable culinary talents could muster were on offer, including fresh fruits, speciality home-baked breads, smoked salmon, fruit juices and sparkling wines.

Whilst all this was going on, our United Benefice Junior Choir, under the guidance of Sandra Harper, were busy putting the finishing touches to their musical contribution to our celebrations.

Oh, and to make sure that the little ones had a good time too, one of our Followers kept them busy in the run-up to the service with an "Easter Hunt" for hand-made chocolates hidden around the Church.

One of the largest congregations we've seen in recent times then celebrated Family Communion. The joyous theme was continued with music, lead by the UBJC, and intercessions from John Robinson which focussed on thanking God for all the good things he has done in the world over the last few weeks.The youngsters were kept busy making Easter Crowns in the creche by our Messengers leaders.

John Harper's sermon likened the emotion surrounding discovery of Christ's empty tomb to the famous 1966 World Cup commentator's phrase "They think it's all over". Of course, whereas the next part of that phrase "It is now", which followed the referee's whistle was a brilliantly timed piece of British understatement, it most certainly did not apply in Christ's case!

Date: Easter Sunday, 16th April 2006

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