At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

            Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 20:13-16 (NIV)

Do you get it? do you really get Easter?

In our Gospel reading today there are a few examples of people not really getting what’s going on. Peter and John are dashing about trying to understand, trying to get it. But they go home, back to the others. The reading says that they believe but it’s not entirely clear what it is that they believe. Perhaps they do believe that Jesus is risen but do they really get Easter yet.

The angel talking to Mary seems like quite a pained conversation, I’m not at all sure that they were both on the same page at all. Mary is mourning the death of Jesus and the angel is celebrating Jesus’s victory over death and sin.

So, he asks “why are you crying?”.

Then Jesus calls Mary by name and she got it, she got Easter. Jesus calls us all by name, do you hear him calling your name today?

Reverend John (Vicar)

Following recent guidelines from the Church of England and the government.

All churches will be closed for public worship until further notice.

This now includes private prayer and funerals.

Funerals can still be held at the crematorium and at the grave side with a maximum of ten mourners.

All weddings are postponed until further notice.

Website

Our parish communion will be posted on our website www.melthamparish.co.uk this will be pre-recorded but Rev John will be repeating the service at 10:30am though you can join in at any time to suit.

Happy Easter

Please find below the link for the zoom service for Easter Sunday. This will be a service of Holy Communion led by Rev’d Dennis. Looking forward to seeing everyone for this special service. Please join from 11am ready to start the service at 11:15am

Topic: Easter Sunday – Holy Communion service

Time: Apr 12, 2020 11:00 AM London

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/566117716?pwd=TVNMekl4M1NZWjhucHcrUTdWcm56dz09

Meeting ID: 566 117 716
Password: 767905

Hallelujah, Christ is Risen!
He is Risen indeed, Hallelujah!

Join us for our on-line Parish Communion at 10:30am to celebrate Jesus, Risen from the dead! This can be viewed at any time but Rev’d John will conduct the service at the vicarage at this time to make the worship spiritually live. The service words will appear on the video but you can also follow via the service booklet.

The service can be viewed here via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWwODgrKVo0

The choir of St Bartholomew’s #Meltham had planned to sing Stainer’s Crucifixion this year. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances, this is not possible. We do however, have a recording from 2003 which we are sharing and is available to listen to on-line.

Traditionally, St Bartholomew’s Choir have sung either Stainer’s Crucifixion or Olivet to Calvary on alternate years. We also have a recording from 2004 of the Olivet which is available to listen to online.

The choice is yours! We know some people prefer one to the other. Hopefully you will enjoy either or both.

Visit the ON-LINE SERIVCES page to listen in:
http://www.melthamparish.co.uk/pages/onlineservices/

An hour at the Cross – a series of dramatic readings featuring characters involved in the Crucifixion story. Usually takes place between 2pm and 3pm.

Pause the recording and take a few minutes to reflect between each one.

If you are prompted to download the app, or sign-up or sign-in, please ignore it. It should enable you to listen without the need to.

Listen here: (audio only file)
https://1drv.ms/u/s!ApUFY78M1xXegykaYIwzslGnBSyb?e=8L5QZ3

Join Rev’d John at 7pm as he conducts a short service of Holy Communion for Maundy Thursday.

This is available as an audio only file – you can also download the service booklet to follow the words and join in.

You can find the link here on our new ‘ONLINE SERVICES Portal’ page. The latest service is also displayed on the banner on the website also:

http://www.melthamparish.co.uk/pages/onlineservices/

Jesus and his disciples are beginning their Passover meal when Jesus, without warning or explanation, takes on the role of servant and begins to wash people’s feet. Peter looks on, we can’t be sure what order Jesus did this in, but it seems that Peter was not the first one that Jesus came to. On this occasion Peter thinks for a little while before he speaks. As he watches some of the others having their feet washed, he tries to understand what is happening and how he should respond…………………..

Read the rest of the reflection here:

We can’t be sure exactly when todays story happened. It occurred somewhere between the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday and the last supper on the evening of the following Thursday, so we have a window of about 4 days. For those who may follow Jesus there is no thought of his death, his arrest on Thursday night and crucifixion on Friday seem to come as an unexpected shock even to the apostles. For the Greek visitors, who I’d like us to focus on today, the sounds and sights of Palm Sunday, when Jesus rode into Jerusalem as a triumphant king and great crowds shouted “Hosanna in the highest, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Blessed is the KING OF ISRAEL” would have been ringing in their minds……….