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[ St. Cassian ] [ St. Mary ] [ Bluntington Chapel ] April 2009 Newsletter The Vicarage Stone Dear Friends, The Resurrection: I looked at the books on my shelves – 24 of them!  Two dozen devoted to the resurrection, and many, many more dealing with it in a chapter, or in passing – the commentaries on the gospels, for example. But I have bought one more: Geza Vermes’ The Resurrection (Penguin 2008). I just had to add that to his earlier books The Passion (Penguin 2005) and The Nativity (Penguin 2006).  Vermes is a Hungarian Jew, a leading New Testament scholar and the doyen of Dead Sea Scroll studies. Much nonsense is written about the Bible, and much nonsense is believed about subjects like the resurrection. Scholars like Vermes save us from mistakes, and his Penguin trilogy is perfect for this purpose.  Good bible study helps us to avoid silly and sentimental views of the resurrection.  My advice: buy and read Vermes. Books, however, do not the resurrection make. I am happy to indulge in something that might seem silly and sentimental.  On Easter Day Jesus is first identified by Mary Magdalene as “the gardener”. A biblical scholar might concede that there just might be here a reference to the Garden of Eden and Adam the gardener.  No matter: whatever it is, the resurrection is a mighty act of God, an act of creation.  So I am happy to find resurrection in an English spring, to find in nature study a faith as important as a faith born of bible study. Nature is the garment of God, glowing with majesty and mystery, full of miracles everywhere. When I see my first swallow in Worcestershire or go to Norfolk for a swallowtail butterfly ..  “Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee .. How great Thou art! How great Thou art!” With Best Wishes, From the Registers Funeral February 24th _ Angela Kathleen Griffiths (63) FAMILY SERVICES SUNDAY 5 APRIL A Family Service for Palm Sunday GOOD FRIDAY 10 APRIL Our service will start at 10.00am. It will be a short Family Service, followed by a chance for children to help make the Easter Garden. SUNDAY 3 MAY The Good Shepherd. We are hoping to include sheep in the Churchyard, and children are welcome to bring well-behaved pets (in boxes, bowls or cages please!) to join in this service. SERVICES WEDNESDAY 10.00am HOLY COMMUNION AT CHADDESLEY CORBETT April 5th Palm Sunday CWL 479 8.00am (ST) Holy Communion 9.30am (CC) Family Service 11.00am (ST) Parish Communion (1662) 6.30pm (CC) Parish Communion (1662) April 9th Maundy Thursday CWL 498 7.30pm (ST) Holy Communion April 10th Good Friday CWL 501 10.00am (CC) Family Service 2.30pm (ST) Devotion 7.30pm (CC) Songs of Praise April 12th Easter Day CWL 533 8.00am (ST) Holy Communion 9.30am (CC) Parish Communion 11.00am (ST) Parish Communion 6.30pm (CC) Evensong (ASB 574 Is 12, Matt 28 vv1-10) April 19th Low Sunday CWL 538 For Sundays after Easter Readings are Psalm, Epistle, Gospel 8.00am (ST) Holy Communion 9.30am (CC) Parish Communion 11.00am (ST) Parish Communion 6.30pm (CC) Evensong (ASB 602 Ex 15 vv1-11, Jn 20 vv19-29) April 26th St George’s Sunday CWL 541 8.00am (ST) Holy Communion 9.30am (CC) Family Service 11.00am (ST) Parish Communion 6.30pm (CC) Evensong (ASB 766 Prov 15 v28-end, Eph 4 vv7-16) May 3rd Easter 3 (Fourth Sunday after) CWL 543 8.00am (ST) Holy Communion 9.30am (CC) Family Service 11.00am (ST) Parish Communion (1662) 6.30pm (CC) Parish Communion (1662) Vicar. The Rev'd John A. Cox BA  Dip.Th.    jacm.cox@ukgateway.net Churchwardens Christine Hickman-Smith 53, Warwick Ave. Bromsgrove 01527 870342 Anna Roe  42, Franche Rd, Kidderminster 01562 742358 Organist & Choirmaster                                  Sunday School Graeme Martin Beth Page 01562 777 136 Magazine Editors Audrey Cook Bartons, The Village, Chaddesley Corbett 01562 777 308 bartons@waitrose.com Joy Blakeway Wadehamet Farm, Woodrow, Chaddesley Corbett 01562 777 679 Advertisements & Printing Andrew Page C.A. Video 1, Fold Court, Chaddesley Corbett 01562 777 584 andrew@ajp584.e7even.com The Dairy Stores Harvington 015612 777 233 Distribution Betty Beveridge 01562 777 279 We thank all of the above for their work in producing the Parish Magazine