Signs of life

One of the things that I love most about life is that whatever age you are there is always more to learn and discover about the world around.

One of the things I have recently learned and been fascinated by is how traditional hedging is done. Although I grew up in a village with at least five farms, I had never before witnessed hedge-making. The new hedge in Reed churchyard is definitely worth a look. It has brought a wonderful open feel to that part of the graveyard and is a work of craftmanship. (Tip: try going up there when the sun is setting on a clear day - the skies are wonderful.)

In order to make the hedge, a lot of wood needed to be cut down and pruned. At the moment, the hedge looks somewhat bare, but soon the leaves will grow again and it will turn green, and provide shelter and homes for birds and insects alike.

The life that the hedge will foster reminds me a bit of the Christian story of Easter. In order for life to develop in all its fullness, what was there before need chopping away and pruning. Many bits of wood needed removing totally, while others were bent and shaped to enable the hedge to be formed. There was life there before, but the quality of life that the new hedge will bring will be more abundant.

Easter is the season in which Christians celebrate the abundant life of God, brought about through the resurrection. Of course, life existed before then, but we believe that the resurrection enabled us to see more of God’s true life, a life that is positive and embracing of all, a life that is of a quality that only God can bring about.

That life begins with God’s love and acceptance. As I write, the countryside is bathed in sunshine and springtime. It is easy to feel truly alive at times like this, and we find our spirits buoyed by such lovely weather. But, when the sun goes in and our lives cloud over, we can be comforted by the fact that God’s life, that abundant life, continues, and is based not on our feelings but on God’s constancy and faithfulness.

I hope you will join me in celebrating that this Easter.

With best wishes, Sarah

Sunday 2nd March - Mothering Sunday/Lent 4
9.00 a.m. Parish Communion, St Mary’s, Reed
10.30 a.m. Mothering Sunday service with communion, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley, followed by PCC accounts meeting
6.00 p.m. BCP Evensong, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway

Monday 3rd March
8.15 a.m. Morning Prayer, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway
2.00 p.m. Lent Course, The Rectory

Tuesday 4th March
8.15 a.m. Morning Prayer, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway

Wednesday 5th March
8.15 a.m Morning Prayer, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley
10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Margaret House, Barley
12 noon (- 2p.m.) Lent Lunch, Town House, Barley
8.00 p.m. North Buntingford Group Lent Course, Rushden Village Hall

Thursday 6th March
8.15 a.m. Morning Prayer, St Mary’s, Reed
10.45 a.m. Holy Communion, Wheatsheaf Meadow House, Barkway

Friday 7th March

Saturday 8th March
9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley

Sunday 9th March - Passion Sunday
10.30 a.m. Parish Communion, with talk by journalist Rachel Harden, St Mary’s, Reed
5.00 p.m. Discover Sunday - Rhinos and Rainbows, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway

THE COMING MONTH
(Morning Prayer usually takes place each day: Monday and Tuesday in Barkway; Wednesday and Saturday in Barley and Thursday in Reed)

Monday 10th March
2.00 p.m. Lent Course, The Rectory
7.00 p.m. Barley VC First School Governors meeting

Wednesday 11th March
12 noon (- 2p.m.) Lent Lunch, Town House, Barley
8.00 p.m. North Buntingford Group Lent Course, Rushden Village Hall

Thursday 12th March
8.00 p.m. ICES Worship and Psalms, The Rectory

Saturday 15th March
5.00 p.m. Steve Price, Gospel Illusionist, Greneway School, Royston

Sunday 16th March - Palm Sunday
9.00 a.m. Parish Communion, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway
10.30 a.m. Parish Communion, St Mary’s, Reed
5.00 p.m. Holy Communion for Palm Sunday, meet at Barley VC First School

Monday 17th March
2.00 p.m. Lent Course, The Rectory
8.00 p.m. Holy Communion, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley

Tuesday 18th March
8.00 p.m. Holy Communion, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway

Wednesday 19th March
8.00 p.m. Holy Communion, St Mary’s, Reed

Thursday 20th March - Maundy Thursday
10.00 a.m. Barkway VA First School end-of-term service in church
8.00 p.m. Holy Communion and Watchnight Vigil, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley

Friday 21st March - Good Friday
10.30 a.m. All-Age Good Friday service, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley
1.30 p.m. (-3.00 p.m.) Meditation on the Passion with hymns
7.30 p.m. The Way of the Cross, words and music for Good Friday

Saturday 22nd March - Easter Eve

Sunday 23rd March - Easter Day
6.15 a.m. Sunrise service with holy communion and breakfast
9.00 a.m. Easter Holy Communion, St Margaret of Antioch, Barley
10.30 a.m. Easter Holy Communion, St Mary Magdalene, Barkway