Bunnies, Chicks, Eggs and Empty Tombs 

Last week I was ranting about greeting card companies telling us what to do on a Sunday (there’s some great pictures on Facebook and the website from weekly worship). This week’s rant is about chocolate manufacturers using an empty tomb to sell their wares but covering the landscape with bunny rabbits, chicks and eggs (chocolate ones wrapped and boxed). But I feel like a hypocrite because I like chocolate, especially Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.
 
Roll Away The Stone
When two of Jesus’ friends, the two Mary’s, went to check out the tomb where Jesus’ brutalized body had been buried, they were met by an earthquake and an angel - who rolled away the stone in front of the tomb for them. That wasn’t so that Jesus could escape, it was so that the two distressed Mary’s could see inside. And the tomb was empty.
 
Sometimes, although the same power that raised Jesus from the dead has set us free from our prison of sin and death, we can’t quite believe it and we go looking for where our old life was buried. When the stone is rolled away, we see that all that is left are the clothes in which we died. We can see that He has given us new life and a new life to live. Freedom, power, transformation, eternal life. This is our song of thanks and praise at Easter. Chocolate bunnies, chicks and eggs don’t do it justice.
 

We celebrate Easter in three main ways this year:
Firstly: Traditionally we have had a Passover Service event but this year we are doing it differently. During Easter week many housegroups will be sharing Passover or communion in their groups instead. Check with your housegroup leaders - if your group isn't running one then you are welcome to visit another group which is.
 
Secondly: Good Friday Breakfast on Ilkley Moor - meeting in the car park at 10.30am. Full details on the website. An Easter Egg hunt, a sizzling breakfast together, a short reflection and then a walk across the Moor.
 
Thirdly: Easter Sunday weekly worship; "Roll Away the Stone". 11.00am at Headingley Methodist Church.
 
Romans
We return to our series on Romans this Sunday. Romans 1:18-2:4. Not an easy passage to dwell on these days, but encompassing some important truth. This week the theme is The Gospel Reveals Our Choice.
 


 
By the way, the Welcome Supper on Monday has been cancelled.
 
 
David