The Rector writes . . .

New Life . . .

Well, here we are, Lent is finally over – our 40 days of self-denial and abstinence have come to an end. Err, well, actually, I think I’d better make a bit of a confession – I didn’t actually give anything up.
All those around me were abstaining from wine, chocolates, biscuits, sweets, cakes, etc., but I still didn’t feel any major need to join them. However, it took the words of our seven year old to put me to shame and prick my rock-hard conscience, when he said to me, “What did you give up Dad?” Err, well, Son,” I replied, “I, err, actually, erm, prefer to approach Lent from a more positive viewpoint and would rather take something on, thereby contributing to a better society.” The look said it all, “Yeah right!” He wasn’t swallowing any of it. He in return had given up his Playstation – 40 days without ‘Lego Star Wars 2’. In that one action from my own child, I felt total humiliation and vowed to prove to him that next year I would join him in his Lent abstinence.
Now that the house is buzzing to the sounds of the Playstation it is also groaning under the strain of the huge quantity of chocolate it now contains. Too much, in fact, for three young children – so as hard as it is, Catherine and I have offered to help them out – only to save their delicate little teeth!!!
Easter is a wonderful time of year. It can make us feel positive and brighter. Summer is on its way with the promise of (hopefully!) better weather and holidays. The clocks have gone forward and the light evenings stretch out before us. New life is all around us, with the wonderful sight of baby lambs skipping in the fields. New life has also finally appeared in our family too with the safe arrival of baby Imogen to my brother-in-law Chris and his partner Wendy. This much anticipated child is already bringing joy to us all and reminds us yet again of the miracle of a newborn baby.




However, it can be all too easy to over simplify Easter as a time only of daffodils and hot cross buns. We think only of the celebration of Easter Sunday. It is easier to skip over the events of Good Friday, to not dwell on the pain and the suffering of Jesus.
For some of us our life feels only like Good Friday, we are broken and weary. Our life feels dark and lonely, like Jesus himself, lying broken and battered. But at some point our Easter will come, when we rise up and out of the darkness to feel the sun on our faces again - the first buds of new life and the promise of better things to come.
Spring is here so lets take the opportunity to do the best Spring clean ever – not just the windows and the grubby bit down the side of the bath – but a little reflection of our own life and things in it that we need to clear out.
Ah, well, better go, I think I can hear the chocolate Easter bunnies calling!!!

Catherine, Joshua, Amelia, and Bethany join me in hoping you all had a wonderful Easter.

With love, Kesh x


Saving the Easter bunny . . .

A man was blissfully driving along the highway, when he saw the Easter Bunny hopping across the middle of the road. He swerved to avoid hitting the Bunny, but unfortunately the rabbit jumped in front of his car and was hit. The basket of eggs went flying all over the place.
The driver, being a sensitive man as well as an animal lover, pulled over to the side of the road, and got out to see what had become of the Bunny carrying the basket. Much to his dismay, the colourful Bunny was dead. The driver felt guilty and began to cry.
A woman driving down the same highway saw the man crying on the side of the road and pulled over. She stepped out of her car and asked the man what was wrong.






"I feel terrible," he explained, "I accidentally hit the Easter Bunny and killed it. There may not be an Easter because of me. What should I do?"
The woman told the man not to worry. She knew exactly what to do. She went to her car trunk, and pulled out a spray can. She walked over to the limp, dead Bunny, and sprayed the entire contents of the can onto the little furry animal.
Miraculously the Easter Bunny came to back life, jumped up, picked up the spilled eggs and candy, waved its paw at the two humans and hopped on down the road. 50 yards away the Easter Bunny stopped, turned around, waved and hopped on down the road another 50 yards, turned, waved, hopped another 50 yards and waved again!
The man was astonished. He said to the woman, "What in heaven's name is in your spray can? What was it that you sprayed on the Easter Bunny?" The woman turned the can around so that the man could read the label. It said: "Hair spray. Restores life to dead hair. Adds permanent wave."


A man wanted an Easter pet for his daughter. He looked at a baby chick and a baby duck. They were both very cute, but he decided to buy the baby chick. Do you know why? The baby chick was a little cheeper!