Dear friends,

As I write, we have just shared together in the journey through Holy Week, and celebrated Easter Day. What a joyful day it was too, with so many friends at church for the morning Eucharist…. we ran out of service sheets and folks had to share! Wonderful! Thank you to all who attended over the week, and all who helped in any way. The church looked beautiful for Easter.

We are still in the season of Eastertide, and we have three significant days of celebration in our church calendar this month:

Ascension Day on Thursday 14th, Pentecost on Sunday 24th and Trinity Sunday on 31st.

Ascension Day celebrates Christ's exaltation. While on earth, he was a servant. Now in heaven, he is the ruler and Lord of all. By entering heaven as the representative of humankind, he completed the work of our salvation and guarantees the eventual glorification, the final, perfected state, of all who love Him.

At Pentecost, we remember and give thanks for the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and other disciples. God sent his Holy Spirit to empower the Church to perform the mission which the risen Jesus Christ has entrusted to it. It is often called the ‘Birthday of the Church’ and marks the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise to send a guide to empower all disciples to share their faith. What a birthday gift to receive!

Finally, at the very end of the month, we celebrate Trinity Sunday honouring and affirming our God in three persons: God the Creator (Father), Saviour (Son) and Comforter (Holy Spirit).

At St Stephen’s, we will be celebrating each special feast day and sharing with our friends in Formby at St Peter’s for Ascension Day. Do come along and celebrate with us, not just on feast days, but at any of our services! You are more than welcome. ‘Holy Spirit come, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Amen’.

God Bless
Keith

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