HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES - 16TH - 23RD MARCH 2008

PALM SUNDAY AT 10.30 A.M.
PROCESSION OF PALMS AND PARISH EUCHARIST

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 7.00 p.m.:
Holy Communion - on Tuesday this is followed by a Quiet Evening until 10.00 p.m.

MAUNDY THURSDAY AT 7.30 P.M.
SUNG EUCHARIST AND VIGIL OF PRAYER UNTIL MIDNIGHT

GOOD FRIDAY
AT 12.00 NOON - STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR CHILDREN
AT 2.00 P.M. - LITURGY OF THE PASSION OF CHRIST

EASTER EVE (SATURDAY) AT 9.00 P.M.
VIGIL AND FIRST EUCHARIST OF EASTER

EASTER DAY (SUNDAY) AT 10.30 A.M.
PROCESSION, PARISH EUCHARIST and BAPTISM

These services are the most important during the year for Christians. In essence they go back to the beginnings of the Church's worship, helping us to enter the mystery of the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The intention is that, having walked closely with him, we will be able to bring his love more fully into the everyday world in which we live.

JUST PEOPLE?

We've been keeping Lent in preparation for our annual celebration of Holy Week and Easter, which is the most important time in the year for Christians. This year we are hoping that more of us will be able to be at St Thomas'. Easter is as early as it can possibly be, coinciding with the spring equinox for the first time in my life, so the schools are having their holidays later. Perhaps that means you can join us too. You are certainly very welcome.

We are delighted that this year Stephen, Bishop of Stepney, is joining us for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Day itself, when he will confirm 8 adult members of the congregation and baptize two children. This is the most appropriate day for welcoming people, as Easter is the birthday of the Church. Jesus Christ is raised from the dead and we are born to new life with him.

During Lent all of us at St Thomas' have been focusing in varying degrees on the call of the Jewish prophet Micah to 'act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God'. So often we underestimate what we can achieve when we set out in the right spirit. At other times other people discourage us or make us feel powerless. Millions of people in our world are not given the chance to be raised up to their full stature as human beings. All of us are thereby deprived of their gifts.

We can only start where we are with what comes to our attention, but every action, however small it may seem, contributes. If we do things together, then much more becomes possible. We hope and pray that at St Thomas' we will discover ways in which we can help to transform this amazing part of London. The Church should be at the centre of all such things. Do you have any suggestions? Perhaps you are already involved with something to which we could bring additional time, energy and ideas. In our best-known prayer we are called to work with God so that his kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven.

We've also been raising money for the parish with which we are linked in Mozambique. In June they are celebrating 100 years since their church was built. They want to do something substantial to serve their community. Their country is one of the poorest in the world, still recovering from a bitter civil war, made worse by foreign involvement, and afflicted by recent severe flooding. Their spirit is uplifting despite many people being affected by HIV/AIDS. Please help us give them a generous present for their centenary. Gift Aid increases the total.

BELONGING TO ONE ANOTHER

We are more likely to work together for the good of the whole of Finsbury Park and Highbury if we come to know each other better. There used to be more opportunities, but in recent years these have often been restricted to campaigning against something. Many of you were involved in trying to keep Arsenal's building developments and application for a concert license within reasonable limits.

In the next few weeks a number of things are happening that might bring us together:

Saturday 29th March at 8 p.m. Highbury Chamber Choir is giving a concert in the church. Tickets £5 or £3 for concessions.

Friday 4th April at 6.30 p.m.The End of Suburbia, the film that launched the Transition Towns movement, is being shown free in The Ecology Centre, Drayton Park by the Friends of Gillespie Park, Highbury Community Association and Islington Friends of the Earth, followed by a discussion in The Auld Triangle on the corner of St Thomas's Road and Plimsoll Road. There is a plan to knock the pub down and build flats so we're stirring up the ghost of Samuel Plimsoll, philanthropist.

Sunday 6th April from 2 until 5 p.m. Zimbabwe Art Show in The Ecology Centre to raise funds for Greystone Park in Harare, which is twinned with Gillespie Park. Pictures by Zimbabwe school students for sale @ £10 +. Refreshments too. All welcome including children.

Thursday 10th April at 7 p.m. Highbury West Safer Neighbourhood Team of Metropolitan Police are holding a public meeting in Elizabeth House, Hurlock Street, off Blackstock Road. It's your neighbourhood.

Thursday 1st May London elections for Mayor of London and members of Greater London Authority. Many of you will be voting at the church hall, as it is one of the local polling stations. Please vote. It really does matter and people in many other countries pray that they had the opportunity. A low turn out usually helps extreme candidates. I certainly don't want members of the British National Party influencing decision-making in our city. Do you?

Monday 5th May from 2 until 5 p.m. we are intending to host our third May Day Street Party outside the church in Monsell Road. We hope that there will be activities for children, refreshments and stalls as well as some entertainment. Some of you know that Sustrans have been given some money to work with local residents and the council to make Monsell Road more people and less traffic friendly. We hope that those involved will be in a position to tell us what is emerging from the consultation during the afternoon. Why not help us to make it happen? Do something together and get to know one another better!