Christ Church Moreton Hall

Whenever I think of the "M" of March three other "Ms" spring to mind:
M for Mothering Sunday, M for Messiah and M for Mary.

Mothering Sunday is a very important time of the year for the church and the community. We are going to celebrate that on 22nd March not only with a special event for mothers, but also with a baptism and with a gift of posies to every lady who attends. At a time when family life is falling apart, partly due to changes in law and a taxation system which is against married families, it is good to celebrate the true meaning of family, marriage and motherhood and to reaffirm our commitment that we all need stable families to belong to.

As we progress through Lent I cannot but think of the Messiah who comes to us on Palm Sunday, 5th April, the Passion Play on Good Friday in Town and of course our special Easter day on 12th April. The film we made two years ago went all over the world and thousands of people from dozens of countries responded in addition to the two thousand people who were there. You can watch it at
Tangle. Or will you join us on Good Friday to see the spectacular Passion Plays and the true meaning of the Messiah – the one who comes to save – played out on the streets of Bury St. Edmunds?

Finally, I think of Mary. The Mary who bore Jesus, the Mary whose motherhood we are celebrating on Mothering Sunday, the Mary who went in agony with Jesus, as he suffered and died on the cross, but also knew the joy of His resurrection on Easter Day. Mary was there for the bad times as well as the good times. Particularly the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee where instructing the servants to fill the jars with water she said, “Do whatever He tells you.” John 2: 5. That seems to be becoming a motto text for Christ Church, Moreton Hall and also I think something all of us should bear in mind. When we follow the example of Mary and obey the teaching of Christ, not only do things start to come right, but God’s blessing is added to it. Although at Christ Church we face many challenges, including a 700% rise in water bills, we know that if we learn to listen to Jesus and obey everything He says, all will come right.

I hope you will join us for Mothering Sunday, our Easter celebrations, Good Friday, but most of all I hope you will hear the voice of Jesus speaking to you and that you will learn how to obey it and enrich your life through what He teaches.

With every blessing

Revd Jonathan Ford