Dear Friends
Evenings are getting noticeably longer as we witness spring getting into full stride. Nature around us is crying aloud with the song of new birth and new life. We are now several weeks beyond the Equinox (20th March) and light is, once again, overpowering the darkness.
And in a poor land far away from civilisation, notable only for its unruliness and rebellions against the rule of law, a seemingly insignificant wandering preacher was put to death for the sake of his people. On this the chief priest said,
You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.
— John 11:49–50
But this death was different from any other. Christ was perfect life and Death was unable to swallow him up, unable to take hold of him, unable to bind him in Hades.
Every year we make a particular effort to celebrate this victory over Death. But our celebrations are not of an event from two millennia ago, they are a confirmation of the Resurrection of Christ here and now. We are called to participate in this mystery, to be a part of the mystery, to be witnesses of this mystery to the world—the Resurrection of Christ is now, it is here, it is within me.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, how will you participate? How will you join yourself to the Resurrection of Christ?
All are welcome! Come and See!
We will be having our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday 17th April after the Liturgy. This is an important event for our community and will affect our life in the coming year and beyond.
All are welcome to stay for the meeting but only members may vote. Details on how to join the Parish Assembly are available in Church or do make contact.
Do you wish to deepen your Faith and come closer to Christ’s Church? Can you offer your talents to the Lord? Do join us.
We now serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.
Do you, or someone you know, want to join our mailing list and receive our weekly email? Then let me know.
Services for Great and Holy Week and Pascha
All services are at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh SO30 9JA.
Eve of Palm Sunday (16th April)
6.30 pm — Vespers of Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday (17th April)
9.30 am — Divine Liturgy of Palm Sunday
Great and Holy Friday (22nd April)
2.30 pm — The Royal Hours and Great Vespers of Holy Friday: The Taking Down from the Cross and the Entombment in the Bier.
7 pm — Matins of Great and Holy Saturday: The Lamentations Service.
Great and Holy Saturday (23rd April)
9 am — Vesperal Divine Liturgy: Commemorating Christ’s Victory over Death
Great and Holy Pascha (24th April)
9 am — Matins, the Resurrection Service,
followed immediately by the Divine Liturgy.
Agape Meal
Agape Vespers
Please note: there will not be a nighttime service of the Resurrection.
Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
We live, dear brothers and sisters, in an age where we have grown immensely in the understanding of how the world around us works. Science has been able to understand, and continues to grow in understanding, of how a flower blooms, of how an unimaginably huge star explodes in a supernova, of how molecules and atoms interact with each other to produce reactions we can control. And in all this the world has as its guiding principle the words of René Descartes, “I think, therefore I am:” that all I can be certain about, the only thing which is real, is that “I am thinking”—all else must, therefore, be proven before it is accepted.
And our understanding has been radically affected by this reasoning because the words of Descartes could equally be, “I doubt, therefore I am.” And we are told something and our first response is, “Did that really happen? Is it really true?” Because we doubt what politicians tell us, we doubt instructions from our bosses, we doubt the assessments of our friends or of experts, we doubt miracles. We doubt. And the words of the boy’s father resonate in our age perhaps more than in any other, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Because we have been so conditioned by our society to doubt we doubt even God.
It is not wrong to doubt: every day it should occur to us, “I might be wrong.” But when we love, not merely like someone but truly love them, we do not doubt their words but we give them the benefit of the doubt. We listen to them and say to ourselves, “I have been led this far in truth, I will place my trust in them.” Because God, unlike how human beings might, will not let us down, will not waste the benefit of the doubt, will not fail.
…
Read last Sunday’s Sermon, I doubt.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 8th April
Prayers of the Salutations followed by a discussion on the book of Exodus, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 9th April
Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Sunday 10th April
Divine Liturgy, 9.30 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh
Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.
Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.
Attending Church
We will be meeting at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. Come and See.
Can I help you?
I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.
Can you help the mission?
Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.
Your prayers!
With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]