On the 7th of April at 7.30 pm at St Bede, we welcome Revd Viv Ashworth to be Priest in Charge and Revd Tim Ashworth, (Viv's Husband) to be Non Stipendiary Minister of St Bede and St Thomas and St John Lostock.

What a joy it will be to welcome them both to ministry in our midst. Bishop Chris and Archdeacon David will lead the Licensing Service that evening and there will be a church full of people to lend prayer support, encouragement and backing to God's call to this wonderful new ministry.

What a wonderful time to be 'celebrating a New Ministry', here at Morris Green and Lostock, a fresh and exciting time is ahead for all of us, as we travel along the road of the Gospel of Salvation with the renewing touch of God's Holy Spirit, as Jesus is lifted up amongst us in His resurrected Glory, at this Eastertide.

Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate a new ministry and the opportunities that it brings with it, the end of the time of doubt and sorrow, the end of travail in the wilderness. Jesus having gone through all that, and through the pain and terror of crucifixion, emerges on the Third Day, that first day of the week, Sunday, resurrected, alive and victorious over sin, the world and the devil. Never again can He die, 'He is Risen' the enemies of God are on the run. Now is the end of any doubt we may have that we are not good enough for Jesus to have died for us, because He has done this for us, and secured our Salvation and the gift of Eternal life with God.

The Gospels start with the story of the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, the Christ child. That wonderful, heart warming story of Christmas, giving hope and a light in the darkness. Later towards the end of the Gospel story comes the unfolding of the Easter Story, which at first seems like bad end to a good story, on Good Friday that is, but look on to Easter Day and beyond, and we see 'The Light of the World' shining like a beacon for all people to see, dispelling the darkness and lighting our way ahead to the Kingdom of God.

Wars are not won without pain, Jesus paid the price for our sin. He 'paid on the nail' We are redeemed, bought back, with the price of His death and glorious resurrection. If there had been no straw in Bethlehem, there would have been no nails at Calvary, no nails at Calvary then there would have been No Salvation in Jesus for us. But thank God there is!

We have come through an interregnum, there have been challenges and blessings, we have experienced the joy of seeing the faith of the people of God in Morris Green and Lostock being, as always underwritten, encouraged and rewarded by The Holy Spirit, we have been blessed. 'He is risen, He is risen indeed Alleluia . Together with Viv and Tim, WE ARE AN EASTER PEOPLE, going onwards in the faith of the Risen Jesus. HAPPY EASTER to you all.

Malcolm W Bristow