Easter Newsletter
Welcome... to the Easter Newsletter!
It's nearly 2000 years since an itinerant preacher who spoke unpalatable truths to political and religious power was captured in a night raid, brought before a corrupt court, sentenced to death and dragged off to be executed on a Roman cross. That would and should have been the end, Jesus the Nazarene would not have gone down in history, he would simply have gone.
The story didn't end there: the one who loved, could not be defeated by hate; the one who brought healing, could not be corrupted; the one who welcomed the marginalized, could not be subsumed by the powerful and the one who died-to-self would not stay dead. Jesus rose and Jesus is alive. The transformed, incorruptible, resurrected Jesus walked out of the tomb on that first Easter morning into a whole new day and into a changed reality. The world need no longer worship on the altars of power and violence, selfishness, hatred, greed and death, there was a new choice and a new option. But evil does not go gently into its good night: for nearly 2000 years the principalities and powers have tried to push that stone closed across the grave and force the world to place its sacrifices once again on those age old altars.
In the events of Easter we see the very heart of the Christian faith: it is in and through Jesus' death and resurrection that the world is changed and the depth of God's love is revealed. The choice for all of us is to consider where our own worship is located, on the old altars or in the risen Saviour, and love of God.
In this month's newsletter: 
Easter Services
Holy Wednesday
One of our Parish traditions is to read the whole of a Gospel together in one stretch in Holy Week. Hearing the Gospel read in its entirety is both deeply moving and thought provoking, casting new light on the worship in the days ahead.
Reading Matthew's Gospel
7.00pm St Peter's Rooms
All are welcome to share in reading, or to listen as others read.
Maundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday, the members of the Ministry Team travel to Chester Cathedral for the Chrism Eucharist. This Service contains the blessing of the oils used in Baptism and for Anointing and also the renewal of ministerial vows.
In the oil we remember that Jesus went to the Mount of Olives to pray - a place where olives were harvested and crushed to make olive oil.
7.30pm Holy Communion We remember Jesus and the disciples at the last supper and celebrate the institution of Holy Communion.
Re-living the events, we remember the mood as it changes from celebration to stillness. After the Service we remain for 'the watch' - a time when we wait and pray silently in Church, just as the disciples waited and prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.
Good Friday at St Peter's
On that first Good Friday, Jesus was handed over to be crucified - which was a brutal, humiliating, agonising form of execution. In recollection of this, our worship has a more sombre theme, reflecting on both the sacrifice involved and the enormity of God's love for us.
10.00am Family Service
Worship for all ages, as we journey through Good Friday with activities, readings, hymns and worship songs.
12noon Meditation on the Cross
A reflective service of worship as we journey in readings with hymns and anthems that draw on the rich choral resources helping us to focus on Jesus, the Cross and what that means for us: themes Keith picks up in the Poem below.
Unholy Hour
Dew and tears soak the grass
He crouches, helpless, friendless
His praying desperate, hopeless
Where is the Father’s voice
that he has loved and leaned on for so long?
He only hears the silence of despair
And then the whispered starting of his ending
Until, at last their voices stumble, mourn and grieve together
Son of my heart, blood of my blood, hope of my World
I must not interfere, I must stand back
and let it happen
Then must it be not as it was for me?
Close, safe, my future bonded to the Source
but now embraced no more?
Instead turned loose to face the gloating hate
of raucous crowds, and undergo
their seething lust for murder.
All that I was abandoned to the abattoir
of things that I must suffer.
And yet your will not mine be done my Lord
I drain the cup. And Amen to my ending.
Keith Ravenscroft
Good Friday at St John's, Adlington
11.00am Good Friday Reflection
A quiet reflective service gathered at the foot of the cross.
Easter Eve, Saturday
Easter Eve is a time of waiting and preparation. It is a when we remember the disciples, scared and hiding, wondering if they would be next to die. We remember Jesus lying dead in the tomb and with him the disciples hopes and dreams from Palm Sunday, lying dashed and broken.
Church lies quiet on this day in anticipation of what is to come.
Easter Sunday
On that first Easter morning, the women came to the tomb, the stone was rolled away and the tomb was found empty. Death was defeated, God's love had triumphed, Jesus was risen and the world was changed forever.
Our Easter celebrations all draw on different aspects of that first Easter: followers gathering early, a lighting of an Easter fire, sharing breakfast, celebrating Holy Communion, hunting chocolate eggs and singing songs and hymns of joy and praise.
Easter Sunday at St Peter's
6.00am Dawn Service and Easter Fire
The lighting of the Easter fire is followed by the first Holy Communion of Easter and the Easter Breakfast.
9.30am Family Service
A celebration of Jesus' Resurrection for all ages, including an Easter Egg hunt.
11.00am Holy Communion
The Choir lead us in favourite Easter hymns and anthems as we share Holy Communion together.
At St John's
11.00am All Age Holy Communion
This will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus and share Holy Communion.
Church News
The Vicar's Sabbatical
After Easter, from 20 April, the Vicar will be on sabbatical until the end of July.
A sabbatical is a time approved by the Bishop for personal and vocational renewal, ministry-related study and experience, recreation and refreshment .
What does it mean for the Parish?
Most of church life will continue as usual: the PCC will meet, ministry team and prayers will happen on a Monday, Young Church and Pram Service will happen. One thing that won't happen is this newsletter and the next edition will be in September. We are in the process of recruiting a part-time Communication Officer but sabbatical has arrived before we have been able to complete this. Rota updates will be sent out by the office and the Saturday email will come out as usual.
What happens with the Services?
The pattern of services will continue as normal at St Peter's and St John's.
There will be Wild Church, Breakfast Church and also a special Deanery Service at St Peter's for Ascension Day.
At St Peter's: We are delighted that the Rev Elle Bird will be joining us for the duration of the sabbatical to help with our morning worship alongside the home team: Avril Ravenscroft, Sue Hawkins, Norman Jones and Rob Green. Simon Bessant will also be helping with a number of our Choral evening services,
At St John's: In addition to Sue, Avril and Norman, Licensed Local Ministers Wendy Moss and Helen Watson will be supporting our worship at Adlington, assisted by our Occasional Worship Leader designate, Arthur Bell.
Who is in charge?
In an emergency the Bishop, Archdeacon or Rural Dean depending on how big the emergency is. For everyday matters our Standing Committee is responsible (Sheila, Steve, Anne, Andrew and Sue) . In practical terms, the Church Office is the information hub, the Building Team pick up any building matters, the Wedding Clerk wedding issues, and Anne, our Pastoral Worker, pastoral issues.
Pastoral Offices?
Elle, Avril and Sue are taking the wedding services arranged during the three month period and will similarly cover any funerals.
St Peter’s Church – a Pilgrim Place
St Peter’s is joining hundreds of churches in the North of England in becoming a Pilgrim Place, part of a ‘Faith in the North’ initiative.
Most people know that pilgrimage is a ‘special journey to a special place with special meaning’. Some brave people undertake huge walking challenges such as the Camino to Santiago da Compostella in Spain, or more modest visits to sacred places like Holy Island in Northumberland, or Iona in the Hebrides. But you don’t need to be wearing hiking boots or carrying a rucksack to be a pilgrim. We are all pilgrims of one sort or another on our journey through life, and we can make the most of the special places on our doorsteps.
Being a pilgrim in a special place offers space to pause and explore our own experience and thoughts. It helps to take time out of the ‘ordinary’ to think about our journey through life.
Look out for our Pilgrim Place signs, Exploring Faith trails and Being a Pilgrim prayer cards. Please use these and encourage visitors to use them too. Who knows where it will lead you!
Find out more here: Pilgrim Places - Faith in the North
APCM Thank you
What an amazing turn out for the APCM, every seat was taken (and a few more!) and each table was full.
Some special thanks:
To Sheila our PCC Lay Chair for all her hard work before, as well as during, the meeting.
To Jeanette our PCC Secretary for sending out agendas and capturing minutes.
To Steve our Treasurer for presenting our finances in ways we understand and whose speedy work on the accounts means we can have an APCM before Easter.
To Mike for presenting the buildings report.
To Sue the electoral roll officer for all that she does so efficiently.
To Andrew for the music report including a special thank-you to John Syner for his many faithful years of choral singing.
Also to Alex, Scott and Anne for their hard work in the kitchen cooking our very first APCM breakfast, which gave the morning a wonderful start!
Norman Chapel Open Days
As part of being a Pilgrim Place we will be opening the Norman Chapel for visitors one Saturday per month from 10.30am until 4.00pm during the summer.
These dates are as follows and will be advertised nearer the time:
Saturday 2nd May
Saturday 6th June
Saturday 4th July
Saturday 1st August
Saturday 5th September
If you would like to offer help with talking to visitors during these times please let the Parish Office know. Or you could just turn up on the day and join in the conversation – all are welcome!
Save the date!
Foxhill Quiet Day for St Peter’s & St John’s
Tuesday 2 June 2026
This year’s St Peter’s & St John’s Quiet Day will be an opportunity to reflect and relax away from our usual environment – at the Diocesan Retreat House near Frodsham (Foxhill | Retreat House | Foxhill House and Woodlands, Frodsham, UK).
There will be no pressure to do anything, but there will be worship, themed workshops and activities on offer, conversations to have with old friends or with new ones, or if you prefer, you could just sit in stillness and embrace the quietness of Foxhill and its lovely surroundings. A full programme will be available in due course, but ask Anne Stirling if you have any immediate queries. There will be sign up sheets soon, and the cost will be in the region of £40 (the same as last year) to include a two course lunch, and refreshments throughout the day.
The Bible Course
Exploring God's Story - one step (and one Monday) at a time.
Beginning on 13 April we will be following The Bible Course in our Monday evening exploring-together sessions. Each Monday evening we will take another step through God's whole story: following the big-picture of events all the way from Genesis to Revelation.
Using video, discussion and a variety of other resources, we will navigate the sweep of scripture, stopping to reflect, explore questions and ask - what does this mean for me? All the ingredients of Exploring at St Peter's ... through the bible. There is a Guide to accompany the course and so if you would like to come, please sign up on the sheet in both St Peter's and St John's, to get your book and the most out of our journey together.
When?
Monday 13th, 20th and 27th April.
Monday 11th May and 18th May.
Monday 1st, 8th and 15th June.
Where? In St Peter's Rooms from 7.30 - 9.15pm.
What do I need to bring? Nothing! No experience needed, and you do not need to attend each week as the videos will be available - so you can catch up. All welcome.
For more information contact Beverley Angier.
Christian Aid Week 2026: 9-16 May 2026
A few numbers to begin with:
£2000: the amount raised by Prestbury churches (Prestbury C of E parish and the Methodist church here) in Christian Aid Week (CAW) 2025 (not including Lent lunches).
£4.5 million: the amount raised nationwide by CAW 2025.
26: the number of countries supported by Christian Aid in 2024 (including the occupied Palestinian territory, Israel, Lebanon and Ukraine, all of which are sadly in the news right now with terrible suffering on our screens).
£62.4 million: the amount spent by Christian Aid in 2023/2024 on both humanitarian emergency relief and long term development aid I am sure you will agree that the need for Christians to work to relieve human suffering has never been greater.
So let’s try to raise more than we did last year.
How will we do that? There are several things happening:
The annual quiz, again with Julian Goodrich as quizmaster, but this time happening in St Peter’s Rooms, on Thursday 7 May, starting at 7 pm. There will be a bar selling wine, beer and soft drinks, and a supper with choice of chilli con carne, vegetarian chilli, or pasta bake with chicken, and the usual excellent raffle. Watch out for more information soon about how to get your tickets!
Envelope delivery. We will be delivering envelopes to many houses in the village, to be returned either to the parish office or to a neighbouring house. Please do let us know if you can volunteer either to deliver envelopes, or for your house to be a return “postbox”.
Church service: there will be a special church service on Sunday 10 May at 10.30 am, when the collection will be for Christian Aid.
The country of focus for CAW this year is Kenya, where some readers may have been on holiday. At the service we will learn more about the fantastic work Christian Aid’s partners do there to empower people and help them build their lives and communities.
Finally, do speak to one of us if you are inspired to do something yourself, such as committing to take on 70k in May by running, walking, cycling.
This is a Christian Aid fundraising idea which individuals can take on and we would be happy to support any such individual initiatives.You will be delighted to learn that Carolyn’s Lent lunches this year have raised an amazing £915 for Christian Aid.
Please do continue to give generously, and help us exceed last year’s £2000 in CAW 2026.
Social Justice and Environment Hub: Kate Collins, Richard Collins, Steve Hill
Support to Ukraine
May i take this opportunity to thank all those who gave so generously to
‘ONE PROJECT UKRAINE 🇺🇦’.
On Wednesday all donated items will be delivered to the drop off point.
Again, thank you for your support to the front line soldiers.
Joyce
Churchyard Working Party
There is a lot of brash and prunings, as well as dead and fallen timber in the churchyard. After Easter Steve Hill is organising a Saturday working party to gather and move these to the back gate where, with the tree clearance work having taken place, there is space for a bonfire. If you would like to help let Steve or the Office know.
Steve Hill
Prayer Resources
O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
set your passion, cross and death
between your judgement and our souls,
now and in the hour of our death.
Grant mercy and grace to the living,
rest to the departed,
to your Church peace and concord
and to us sinners forgiveness,
and everlasting life and glory;
for, with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
you are alive and reign,
God, now and for ever.
Amen.
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.
Amen.
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Remember, Lord, what you have wrought in us
and not what we deserve,
and as you have called us to your service
make us worthy of our calling
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Community News
Easter Experience
Closing Thoughts
Good Friday is not the end...
Rebirth
The birth of a light beyond all human seeing
Shining on all things
A future of bliss that transcends mere existing
Borne up on His wings
Grace showered down from compassionate hands
With a love unrequited
More than we dimly could yet comprehend
We, so benighted
How to respond to such love undeserved
From our place of apartness?
By embracing the lucent new world we are offered
As we flee from our darkness
And into the light of this day without night
That we call Easter Sunday, the wellspring of light.
Keith Ravenscroft