Dearest friends,
40 Days after His Resurrection Jesus was taken up into heaven. During these 40 days – just as we have been living them – Jesus spoke to many people, sat and ate with them, prayed with them, talked with them.
We have celebrated these 40 days together and we continue to do so – just as the disciples did all those years ago.
Luke tells us that after Jesus was taken up into Heaven,
‘They worshiped him and went back into Jerusalem, filled with great joy, and spent all their time in the temple giving thanks to God.”
They were instructed to wait in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit.
That happened not long after at the event we call Pentecost – we celebrate it in two weeks on June 8th – the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told the disciples that whilst John had baptised with water they were (not many days from now) about to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.
We are part of that event through our own baptisms and part of that command to the disciples to become witnesses for Jesus and all He had taught us – not just in Jerusalem and in the places that Jesus had taught – but ‘to the ends of the earth’.
There’s a lovely ending to the reading in Acts recording this event. The disciples are left staring at the sky after Jesus has ascended as two men in white ask them why they’re still looking – telling them Jesus will return. In other words, stop watching and go do what He told you!
Fr. Matthew
Notices
Quiz & Curry
Join us all for an evening of quizzing and curry (alternative option available) on Saturday 24th May. Do try to let Fr. Matthew know if you are coming (but don’t worry if you can’t, come anyway!) We start at 7pm in St. Luke’s.
BCP Choir
The Newton Abbot Parishes and St. John’s are uniting to build a new evensong choir. Our first rehearsal will be on the 19th June and the 3rd Thursday of every month thereafter at 7pm in St. John’s. We’ll start with a very simple setting that we can then sing on the Sunday (22nd June) and then start to practice simple Anthems and so forth.
The Ascension
Next Thursday is The Ascension of Our Lord. This is a solemnity – a holy day of obligation. Please make every effort to attend the 10am Sung Mass at St. John’s the celebrate this high fest of Our Lord.
(no mass at St. John’s on Tuesday)
Pentecost Walk
On Saturday 7th June, the day before Pentecost – we’ll be walking around all of the 6 churches in our benefice, pausing to pray in each one and at key points along the way. We’ll be starting at St Luke’s at 10 a.m. Then walking to St Paul’s, St Mary’s, St Bart’s, All Saints and ending at Abbotsbury around lunchtime.
Sunday 25th May
6th Sunday of Easter ⚪️
9:15am – Sung Parish Mass [SJ]
11am – Sung Parish Mass [SL]
Divine Office Psalter Week 2, C(I), Easter 6
Upcoming Dates
May
- 24th – Rosary Group, 10:30am [SL]
- Quiz & Curry, 7pm [SL]
- 29th – Liz Chelly Funeral, 11am [SL]
- 30th – Cheese & Wine Evening, 7pm [SL]
June
- 4th – St. Luke’s Ladies Group, 2pm [SL]
- PCC Meeting, 6pm [SL]
- 7th – Newton Abbot Team Benefice Walk, 10am [SL]
- 8th – St. Luke’s Parish Lunch
- Pentecost Cream Team & Evensong, 3pm
- 15th – Evensong, 6pm [SJ]
- 21st – Table Top Sale, 10am – 12pm [SJ]
- Parish Outing to Truro
- 29th – Joint Mass, 10am, followed by
Bring & Share meal [SL] - Evensong, 5pm [SJ]