I wonder how we approach Easter - the most important, profound and meaningful period in the Christian year - with anticipation, with excitement, with a sense of awe and wonder? God's commitment to us his people is shown in the life of his son, Jesus, whom he raised from death to life. The Christian hope lies in this Easter God, who has promised us that, being in our pain as well as our joy, we shall have life and have it abundantly, even beyond this life!   Because of its importance I want to draw your attention to one or two changes that we are making this year to our services leading up to and over Easter:

On Palm Sunday, we will be meeting at St. Lawrence School at 9.45am for a short time of reading and meditation, before singing our way back to St. Paul's for our Holy Communion service in church. If you are not able to come to the school, please arrive at St. Paul's as normal and we will join you as near 10.00am as possible. This is followed at 6.30pm by a service of music and reflection entitled 'Behold the King'.

Because the Enactment of the Last Supper with Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altars on Maundy Thursday went so well and was very moving, we will be repeating this at St. Mary's at 8.00pm. The Stripping of the Altars will then be followed immediately by a Night Vigil which will mean that we can stay and use as much or as little time as we choose to pray, reflect and meditate. If you choose not to stay after the service, please do leave in silence to respect those who will be staying.

Our Good Friday meditations will be focusing on the seven words of Jesus spoken from the cross and will be led by the Revd Canon Adrian Esdaile. He is someone known to me from my days in St. Albans Diocese, having been Rural Dean of Barnet and subsequent Honorary Canon of St. Albans Cathedral. He is now retired and is licensed to officiate in Epsom. The meditations commencing at 12 noon and finishing at 3.00pm will be interspersed with readings and hymns, if you do not wish to enter into all these meditations, please arrive or leave as and when, but so as not to Interrupt the worship of others.

Between now and Good Friday, there is opportunity for you to reflect on the Stations of the Cross if you would like to do so. There is a splendid booklet prepared by Kit and Mollie to help with your reflections and as the church is open until dusk every day, you can choose the day and time that would suit your own personal situation.

We will be entering into a Vigil again on Easter morning - but this year it will be at 7.00am (rather than 6.00am as before) and we will be joining with the Methodist church by the river, the other side of the Sadlers Ride car park. The Vigil service will lead into communion. If you wish to take part in the Vigil and not take communion, or wish to take communion later at St. Paul's, please feel free to leave at the end of the Vigil service. For those of you who will be taking communion at St. Paul's, we will be having two Holy Communion services. The first one will be at 8.00am

and this service will be followed by breakfast in the parish room before our All Age Communion service at 10.00am. As usual, refreshments and an Easter egg hunt will be available.

I hope that the above events and services will provide many different and varied ways in which we can enter into the mystery of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. I trust that the experience will enable us all to get to know the Risen Christ in deeper ways and so strengthen our faith this Easter.

With warm greetings

                           Angela