Vicar’s Letter for Easter
Dear everyone,
Things had got as bad as they could get.
As the Jewish feast of Passover approached, the political and religious forces of the day had aligned to see Jesus arrested, given an overnight trial and strung up on the cross by nine o’clock the following morning.
For three years, Jesus had inspired, healed and taught the people, revealing God’s way in words and in action in ways that captured the hearts of huge numbers. He was a tremendous force for good – more than that, many
were recognising that he was the promised Saviour. Not long beforehand Peter had declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
(Matthew 16 verse 16).
We’ve all read stories in recent years of times when bad times have only worsened. Times when misfortune has been compounded and we feel things have got as bad as they could get.
I write as barely three weeks into the war erupting through the middle east. It’s difficult to see how it might de-escalate, and all too easy to see how things could deteriorate further. We fear things haven’t yet got as bad as they could get, and we are already feeling the shock waves with steeply rising fuel costs. Yet, from the depths of despair came joy and new life.
On that first Easter morning, first the women and then the disciples were perplexed to find the tomb of Jesus open and empty. The body was gone – and later they encountered Jesus alive – larger than life; the same yet
utterly different.
It’s exhilarating to read the accounts at the end of the gospels and see the way the penny dropped for different people at different times. It was the last thing they expected – or thought was possible. They were thrilled and awestruck in equal measure – and their new-found confidence was irrepressible. The authorities were powerless to counter their enthusiasm or provide the evidence to thwart them. There was no body to produce.
Easter is a time of joy and hope, even as spring bursts around us. For fifty days the church hears again the stories of the resurrection and wonders again about wrongs undone, sins forgiven and hope restored, culminating in the celebration of Pentecost on May 24th.
If you find yourself daunted by depressing world events, remember there have always been dark times – at the close of Jesus’ earthly life, things had got as bad as they could get. The best of men had been tragically silenced – they thought for ever.
But God’s plans were different, and Life triumphed over death.
May you ever find light in the midst of darkness and may hope ever live in our hearts!
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Read Matthew chapter 28, Luke 24 and John 20-21; search and add the ‘everyday faith’ app and have a Happy Easter season!
Revd Tom Ringland
For Easter services including Witness of the Cross - see the Services page
Facebook: We now have a Benefice Facebook page up and running. This will be useful for sharing services and events with the wider community. Please search for ‘The Penhill Benefice’ and ‘follow, like and invite’! Thank you.
Churches Open:
Preston under Scar and Wensley - Daily
Aysgarth - daily
Castle Bolton - daily
Redmire - Daily
West Witton - daily
We ask that you are mindful of the environment and kindly remove cellophane and ribbon when placing fresh flowers at the graveside of loved ones in our churchyards.
Revd Scott Lunn is now curate in Penhill Benefice. For his own introduction and photos click here
Christian Aid - The Lent Lunches in six villages around the Benefice raised a total of £1,248.05 including Gift Aid for the Christian Aid Lent Appeal. Thank you to everyone who took part and contributed in any way.
Wensleydale Filling Station: The speaker at the meeting at Thornborough Hall, Moor Road, Leyburn DL8 5AB. at 7pm on Friday 10th April is Andy Peace of Yorkshire Camps at Threshfield.
On Friday 8th May. the speaker will be Graham Emerson from Church in the Barn, Penrith.
Filling Station contact:
Church Afternoon Tea: 2-4pm, Wednesday 15th April, Redmire Village Hall
Annual Parochial Church Meetings -
Bolton cum Redmire - Thursday 23rd April in Redmire village hall 7.30 pm (7.00 pm Refreshments)
Preston with Wensley - Tuesday 14th April in Preston Village Hall.
West Witton - Sunday 26th April After 9.30 am Service in church.
Prayer and Praise Live! 7pm, Friday 24th April, Chantry Hall, Bedale, With The Rt Revd Anna Eltringham, Bishop of Ripon.
For more information email
Prayer Fellowship
The Prayer Fellowship usually meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm at Aysgarth Institute to pray together for the benefice, the wider church, local, national and international issues, and for personal concerns and each other. We begin with a Bible Reflection and short discussion. .Next meetings: Tuesday 28th April. and Tuesdaty 26th May.
The Very Narrow Bridge of Life: Stories Through the Church Year by Revd Peter Jenner
This is a book about finding joy in a world that sometimes seems difficult to navigate. Through a collection of engaging stories, which were originally delivered as sermons, Peter invites us to reflect on our own faith journey and encourages us to be ‘fully part of the adventure of life…appreciative of God’s creation, of human interaction and delighting in what is and ought to be.’ Peter died shortly after retiring, and during his final months the book was edited by Louise Redshaw who lives in Carperby. Profits from the sale of the book will be shared between St Andrew’s Church, Aysgarth, and the Stuart Warren Foundation which supports a PhD student from the South African Region to study Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Copies are available for £10 from:
Aysgarth church -
The following are now available online -
War Memorials and Graves at Aysgarth church
The printed illustrated guide to War Memorials and Graves in the churchyard is available in Aysgarth church.
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044. Callers will hear a special greeting from the Archbishop before being able to choose from a range of options, including hymns, prayers, reflections and advice on COVID-19. Please let your family and friends, who are not on internet, know about this. More information click here
Hear To Help
Just 'B' is offering emotional wellbeing support to people in the Harrogate District, Hambleton and Richmondshire, with its Hear to Help phoneline, available to anyone who may need help with such issues as grief, low mood, isolation, anxiety or isolation. The line is manned by trained staff and volunteers and is available seven days a week, 8am-8pm. For more information see Hear to Help.