For Christmas we have the build-up of Advent, and Easter Day is preceded by Holy Week.  But when it comes to Whit Sunday, it just arrives!  Yet Pentecost is all about the birth of the Christian church and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Surely, that is something to get excited about!

For forty days following our Lord’s resurrection, Jesus appeared to His followers and taught them about the Kingdom of God.  Just before His ascension into Heaven, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Spirit.

Ten days after His ascension, it was the Feast of Pentecost and this was a significant festival for the Jews.  It was an annual occasion for    people to assemble in the Holy City.  The day marked the time when the barley harvest officially ended.  This feast day was characterised by religious ceremonies and the offering of sacrifices.  No work was done. It was a day of thanksgiving.  A time to remember deliverance from Egypt and God’s mercy and reconciliation with His covenant people.

On the day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus met together in an upper room. Its location was probably on Mount Zion to the west of Jerusalem.  The site can be visited although it’s not the Upper Room. It’s an ancient building dating from the 14th century and built on the site of a church destroyed by the Persians seven centuries earlier.  But the first floor chamber is large with old paving stones, surrounded by stone pillars and arches.  According to tradition, this is where Jesus ate the ‘Last Supper’ and His followers received the Holy Spirit.

On Whit Sunday we would do well to remember why the Holy Spirit was sent to us. We are given power to live God’s way:

– to lead us into the things God has prepared for us;

– to worship and glorify Him;

– to enable us to pray;

– to lead us into truth;

– to give us a desire to share the love of Christ with others and to help us trust God for all our needs.

This Pentecost may our prayer be for God’s Spirit to transform us, for the gentleness of His Spirit to lead us, and for the gifts of His Spirit to equip us.                            By Lester Amann writing in parishpump.co.uk s

Easter is now a distant memory for many.  Kids are back at school, parents are back at work and the world goes on, except it doesn’t for 300+ people who lost their lives in Sri Lanka.

Easter is a time for Christians to   celebrate.  It is a time when we remember that death is no longer a barrier to us.  Christ died on the cross and rose again so that we could live forever.  This is what makes Easter a joy and time to celebrate.  

A colleague of mine posted on Facebook on Easter Sunday  morning “He is risen – and the world changed for good”.  A moment that was meant to reflect the joy of the risen Christ.  We were in a good mood and joyful until the news hit us full on.  Celebration turns into shock and the shock turns in to anger and frustration.  Why do some people feel that the way they believe is the only way and that all who have a different opinion, are not only wrong, but deserving of death because of it?  On a day when the people of Sri Lanka were celebrating the Christian message of faith and resurrection (or simply enjoying a holiday in the sun) the lives of thousands of people are changed forever.  Those who lost a loved one during the bombings know only pain and suffering.  Those who escaped the destruction feel blessed for a moment and then begin to share the pain of others.  The rest of the world acts with outrage and anger and justifiably so.

The very reason why Jesus gave his life on the cross was so that the world could know change and change that was good.  Many people lost their lives on Easter Sunday; many more lives are now changed; but God is still at the centre even during death and destruction.  It can be hard for people to believe when such atrocities happen: how can there be a God when he allows things like this?  But we all know the truth: God isn’t part of the cause of suffering but is with all who suffer. Why people do what they do is hard to fathom but God is always the same today, tomorrow and forever.

By Rev David Teece, St Peter’s church 

You may have heard the news that we will soon be welcoming our new vicar to Stanley.  The Rev Glenn Coggins has been appointed as vicar of Stanley, Outwood and Wrenthorpe and priest in charge of Alverthorpe.  Rev Coggins is currently based in East Ardsley and will be licensed as lead vicar for our United Benefice at a service at St Paul’s, Alverthorpe on Thursday 6th June.

Since Bill retired a year ago, St Peter’s church has been in what is known as period of interregnum.  Interregnum is the term used to describe the period before a new vicar is appointed to fill a vacancy. During an interregnum, the administration of the parish is the responsibility of the churchwardens.

Thankfully we have a fantastic team at St Peter’s that we have been able to call on for help.  Huge thanks go to Rev David Teece and our two readers Vicky Wilson and David Greenwood-Haigh, who have done a marvellous job of keeping the Church services going!  As part of a United Benefice we have also been able to draw on help from     Father Jonathan Bish from Outwood and Rev Jo Kershaw from    Wrenthorpe, so thanks also to them.

During the interregnum the churchwardens are required to ensure the vicarage and any other property of the benefice is looked after. With the PCC we have been in regular discussion with the Diocese of Leeds (of which Wakefield is now part) about the sale of the vicarage. The building is not in a great state structurally and due to the high cost of repairs the Diocese has taken the decision to sell the property.  We as a church do not get any proceeds from the sale but there is a       commitment to buy another Vicarage in Stanley.  As a PCC we feel that this is very important and will continue to push for this.

So as we continue through Lent to Easter this year it really feels like we are building up to a big celebration in the Church; celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Day and looking forward to the   arrival of Glenn in June.  We would love you to join us this Easter and you will find full details of our Easter services this magazine.

By Jason Plant, Church Warden, St Peter’s church