Dear Friends
Christ is risen!
In the coming week we will come to the end of the celebration of Pascha: for more than a month we have lived in the paschal joy. We have greeted one another with the greeting “Christ is risen!” and have continued to sing this in Church. We like this, we love it, and we long to sing it: it is the best summary of the Gospel, the heart of our Faith.
The Transfiguration must have had at least some similarities for Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36). They were with Christ as his clothes became the brightest of whites and his face shone like the sun, and Peter said, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” But they could not remain there. They had to journey down the mountain and towards Jerusalem, up high on Mount Sion. They had to leave the joy—and fear—of the Transfiguration so that Christ could achieve his victory.
We, too, to a lesser extent must leave behind the joy of Pascha as we return to our lives—enlivened by the Resurrection of Christ. We must journey towards our own Jerusalem where our own cross awaits us. We are called to take part in our own lives in what Christ has accomplished for all: we are called to be Christians, we are called to be true human beings.
The Lord will not leave us alone in this journey, he both has sent and will send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, to be with us: we will commemorate this event at Pentecost.
But in the meantime, when we greet one another and when we take our leave—when we arise in the morning and when we retire at night—let us remind ourselves of the certainty on which our Faith is based,
Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling down death by death
And to those in the tombs
Bestowing life!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Services this week
Friday 4th June
Discussion on the book of Genesis, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 5th June
Vespers, 3.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 6th June
Liturgy, 9.30 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
You must register in advance before attending services because of Covid regulations, we are presently limited to 10 families (bubbles) being present for each service (see below).
Online session is via Google Meet, please get in contact for the details.
Attending Church
We will be meeting at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. You must register beforehand. This is for two reasons, we must limit the number of people in the hall and this will facilitate NHS Track and Trace. We will restrict attendance at any service to 10 families (bubbles) and ask that you stay together in the service. Registration by email to [email protected] (please state to which services you would like to go and the names of those in your family). I will send confirmation of your registration by email: regretfully it is possible some may not be able to attend if we have reached the maximum number.
There will be a signed one-way system, entrance by the car park. You must wear a mask at all times when inside unless you are exempt. We must ask that we do not socialise at all inside in the current regulations, though we may do so outside in groups no larger than 6 (or containing only 2 bubbles). On entry we ask that you sanitise your hands and there will be sanitiser available for your use.
We do not yet have banking facilities. Please do not give cash as a donation nor for candles. When we have the details we will circulate the details and ask that you give by bank transfer or standing order.
No services 12th & 13th June
There will be no services on these dates.
Our bishop, Metropolitan Silouan, has asked me to go to our community in London where he will give me the blessing to hear confessions. If you would like more details about this then please get in touch.
Your prayers!
With love in the risen Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]