Spring covers some of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. March 23rd is Easter Day and May 11th is the Day of Pentecost.

Easter marks the most important event in the history of our faith, indeed in the history of the world. On Good Friday we remember the fact that Jesus died so that those who believe in Him might know their sins forgiven. Easter Sunday is Resurrection Day on which we celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin, the devil and death itself and giving victory to all those who enjoy a personal relationship with Him. Following the first Easter day, Jesus walked this earth in His resurrected body. He showed Himself to His disciples and also to those who had not previously believed in Him. He explained many things to His followers and taught them to go and share the good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. After 40 days Jesus ascended bodily into heaven, first warning the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit knowing that they would receive power from the Spirit and they would be able to witness for Jesus wherever they went. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, on the Day of Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came. On that day alone 3,000 people believed in Jesus and a handful of ordinary men, filled with the Holy Spirit, went on to turn the world upside down.

I trust that all who read this page will know personally the reality of Easter. They will know that Jesus died that their sins might be forgiven and they will know the presence with them of a risen saviour. However, I meet many Christians who live in the “50 days” between Easter and Pentecost. They have never gone on to experience an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in their lives in a way that transforms them and equips them to tell others about Jesus.

I would like to invite you to join us in worship at these special Christian Festivals. But more than that, I would like to encourage you to ask God to make these special days meaningful to you. May you know the joy of sins forgiven and may you know the power of the Spirit in your life.