LETTER FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Everybody, hello again.

The wind that blew over the tree in my last month’s letter also blew out a window in Elsing Church and brought down some branches into the churchyard. But even out of damage, good can come.

This Easter Day at 7.15 am (strictly for early risers) we shall light a bonfire in Elsing Churchyard made from some of the fallen tree limbs. Do come if you would like, it will be part of a short-ish vigil service. From as early as the second century, Christians lit fires at Easter, a new fire to show the new energy in the resurrection, so we’ll continue that tradition. Fire features in other religious traditions too.

We have to be careful of fire, and we teach children that it can be dangerous. But fire is also one of the most important things in our lives; heat for cooking, keeping warm, making machines move, the sun that is essential for life. And we also have words about fire in our emotions that are positive: “aglow”, “ardent”, “warm-hearted”.

There are lots of ideas in the one idea of the new fire. First, as we get rid of things in our lives that are dead or damaged, we are rewarded with light and warmth. Second, those who have died will move on, Christians pray, into a place of light and warmth. Third, even in the dark there is always the possibility of light. Fourth, a new fire is a beginning.

Because the date of Easter is governed by the moon, unlike Christmas which is a sun-date, and the days are already brighter, sometimes it seems to lose its radiance by comparison (and the Elsing bonfire will be after dawn). And you may find this same feeling in your life. Sometimes a most important thing is happening, but because it is not in contrast to its surroundings, it is not as obvious. The change of direction when we hit rock bottom can be dramatic, but sometimes we can be happy and change significantly, without it showing so much.

God bless you this Easter. David Head