I do hope that you all had a very meaningful Easter as we now move on towards Christ's ascension.

For me, one of the highlights of Holy Week was the 3 hour meditation led by the Revd Adrian Esdaile, as he took us deeper into the suffering of the 'hanging' Christ. It was both moving and challenging.

He went through each of the different phrases spoken by Jesus from the cross, culminating in the words: 'It is finished' - not expressed as a feeling of despair and finality, but as a statement of triumph and completion of His Father's will bringing salvation and new life to the whole world.

Then Adrian referred to a crucifix in the German town of Munster. Having been damaged by fire the arms of Christ had not been replaced. In their place were 2 pieces of bare wood with the inscription: 'I have no arms but yours to save the world'. We had been led quite naturally into having to face the fact that it is now up to us to carry on the work that had been accomplished through Christ! With the help of God's Holy Spirit it is now our privilege and responsibility to be a Christian witness in a world in which there is so much pain, suffering and inhumanity.

And if that was not challenging enough, we were then led into the final 4 words of Christ: 'Father into your hands I commit my spirit' - the cry as a prayer of trust in God and of committing his spirit into God's care.

Are we in that place in our lives when we can commit ourselves, all that we are and all that we hope to be, into God's care as we surrender ourselves and our future into the will of God for the work that He has for us to do?

That was the further challenge thrown out to us - and one that moved me enormously as I thought about my own response.

It is the challenge I would like us to take into our Parish Away Day on 17th May at All Saints, Hampton. As we reflect upon that question during that day as individuals and as part of God's church here at St. Paul's, I would like us to ponder on what it means for us - for you and for me - to be Christ's disciples in the 21st century.

The Revd. Richard King will be leading us as we face that challenge - the challenge which faces all Christians and one which needs to be worked out again and again at different stages in our lives.

So for those of you who are up for the challenge, set aside that day and be part of what God is saying to St. Paul's in 2008!

With warm greetings

                           Angela