We were delighted that once again the Revd Canon Dr James Rosenthal conducted our major Passiontide services including of course, the main Easter Day Eucharist service which was attended by more than 85 people, including a visiting family of six from Ohio, USA.

During the Festival Eucharist, Canon Jim, who has now been assisting at St Matthew's for more than a year, also led us in the renewal of baptismal vows.

We are pleased to reproduce here an extract from Canon Jim's Easter sermon:

"It's too bad that dying is the last thing we do; it teaches us so much about living". So says Dr Bob Herhold in his book On Our Way Home. Today, the Queen of Feasts, churches all over the world are full to overflowing. This is the day we ponder what one unique death by crucifixion - outside a city wall - has meant to millions over the centuries, a death that was not the last thing done, but was the road through Hades to a new expression of resurrected glory. We have completed remembering the week that changed the world. Buildings such as the lovely one in which we celebrate Easter today, speak mightily of the vast expanse of God's love for all creation and serves as power station of hope, where we sing "may we go where he has gone, rest and reign with him in heaven.' A dying woman tells her worrisome priest: 'don't fret Father, I know where I am going.'

"Our hope is in the Word made flesh, not in a book or an institution, but in the One who today shows the dazzling light of God even in the midst of darkness and death, to bring us into a realm of light. Scripture exhorts us: 'if ye be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, set your affection on things above."

"The proof that the power of resurrection abounds in our world today seems abundant to me as indeed there are so many contrary forces at work aiming to destroy the essence of resurrection found in the beauty of God's people and world. Resurrection is simply life, life to the full. Wars, crime, greed, the litany grows weary – racism, intolerance, ageism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia, to name a few – are the current agents tearing down our hopes and dreams, of re-sealing the tomb."

St Matthew's Director of Music, Gary Eyre, led the choir of 12 superb voices through a magnificent array of music from Palestrina's Regina Caeli to Communion Service Collegium Regale of Howells, as well, of course, as many favourite Easter Day hymns.

Easter Eggs were found in abundance after the service, thanks to the generosity of Gillian Reynolds and Arthur Morren. All attending the Easter services signed a special wedding card to be sent to Prince William and Catherine Middleton for the great wedding.

LITTLE EASTER – As Canon Jim reminded us, every Sunday is a little Easter with services at 8.15am, 11.00am and 12.15 p.m. All are always welcome.