At St. John the Evangelist, Topsail, our Christian journey throughout Lent was quite a trip. Canon Jotie, assisted by Deacon Lisa, delivered an appropriate service each Wednesday evening, relevant to Lent, throughout the forty days. Then from Palm Sunday to the emerging of the blessed Easter event, he always emphasized in his delivery, the special relevance of each individual day during Holy Week.
All through the Lenten season, the continuity of the message contained in each sermon, kept us cognizant and mindful of Jesus’s sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.
Again this year, our Anglican Church Women displayed their usual expertise while engaging in the customary Lenten service on April 4th. The devotion was initiated by president Betty Hiscock, and she elaborated on the theme “Faith.” Her delivery was followed by Gail Trewhitt’s reflection “The Hour.”
Despite the sad event that is remembered in all of the Christian world each year during Holy Week, Easter is still a time to rejoice and be glad. It restores and makes new again our vision of faith, hope, love, and capacity to confirm humour in church. To quote the late Canon George Earle, “We must not confine humour to the secular, but allow it to permeate the spiritual.” I believe it is the fabric that maintains a happier and healthier environment in both worship, church commitment, and support.
So despite the multiple preparations for the most important event on the Church calendar, we made room to momentarily digress and formulate a plan to indulge in some comic relief by means of an Easter Hat Parade. The ladies donned a favourite Easter bonnet, and informally paraded around the decorated hall beneath our place of worship, while being refreshed with cake and tea.
With composure gained and gait restored,
Back to reality was the norm.
No chance to leave a stone unturned,
To greet the blessed Easter Morn.
“But God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.” Acts 10:40
