April Services at the Shrine Church of Pennant Melangell

I have recently had iritis, for which I’m still receiving outpatient hospital treatment. It began with a sore, red eye which I thought at first was conjunctivitis but, when I had to close my eyes to get the milk out of the fridge because its internal light was too bright to bear, I realised it was something more serious. An urgent appointment at the eye clinic established what medication was needed but the drops made matters worse initially as my eyesight became blurred. It was a confusing time as I adapted to the limits of what I could see clearly and I wasn’t certain where the path was or what I was looking at. All this is temporary – hopefully! – and normal-for-me vision should resume in due course. 

Not being able to see clearly what’s in front of you was part of the Easter story for Mary Magdalene who went to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body but could not see it. Being distraught when it seemed it had been stolen, she thought at first that the figure before her was the gardener, until one word was spoken: her name. Mary realised then that it was Jesus, alive after his terrible death, and so began a different way of life and hope, as Mary overcame her bewilderment and saw him in a new light and way of being.

Hope and love could not be killed off, despite Mary being unable to recognise at first who was in front of her and what had actually happened. Perhaps the same is true for us, too, for all sorts of reasons. So, may the Easter message inspire us to look more carefully and to see more clearly than is sometimes the case – and may its blessings last more than just the Day itself!

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

The following services will be held this month:
Maundy Thursday 2nd April, noon: Holy Eucharist and liturgy for Maundy Thursday.  
8pm: The Watch, in the Churchyard.

Good Friday 3rd, 10am: Stations of the Cross.       2pm: At the Cross.

Easter Eve 4th, 10am onwards: church cleaning and decoration. 

8.30pm: Easter Vigil and service of light.

Easter Day, 5th: Everyone at St. Melangell’s wishes you a joyful Eastertide.
6.30 am: All in an Easter garden – meet outside by the compost heap at the back of the church, Jesus having been crucified at Gehenna, a rubbish tip. Bacon butties will be available at the Centre afterwards. 
10am: Holy Eucharist. Due to this, there will be no service at 3 pm.
Thursday 9th, noon: Holy Eucharist and service of healing.

Low Sunday 12th, 3pm: Service of reflection. 
Thurs 16th, noon: Service of the word.

Third Sunday of Easter, 19th, 3pm: Service of reflection.
Thursday 23rd, noon: Holy Eucharist and service of healing.

Fourth Sunday of Easter, 26th, 3pm: Service of reflection.
Monday 27th, 10.30am at the Centre: Julian Group.

Thursday 30th, noon: Holy Eucharist. 

For further details or to book the Shepherd’s Hut and the Centre, please ring 01691 860408 or contact admin@stmelangell.org