The Risen Lord Greets Us!

Today we are having an Easter Carol Service in the Chapel. One of the hymns we shall be singing picks up the scene shown here:

Lo, Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting:
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won.

Easter Lilies at Latymer

The lilies in the Chapel of the Resurrection are now at their best (yes, week-end, and no one will see them)! But they are there to give Glory to God! I decided to pop into school, take a photo, and publish it so that others can enjoy the sight.

The Lord of Life is risen for ay;
Bring flowers of song to strew his way;
Let all the Church rejoice and say:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The trumpet-shaped flowers really do appear to be singing their praises!

Agnus Dei

One of our younger altar servers said to me the other day, 'I like the lamb on the altar frontal, it is sort of cute!' Well I suppose it is!

It is only during Eastertide that we use an altar frontal - and the Lamb of God is a perfect image to have on the altar in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

At the Lamb's high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King:
Who hath washed us in the tide
Flowing from his pierced side;
Praise we him whose love divine
Gives the guests his blood for wine,
Gives his body for the feast,
Love the Victim, Love the Priest.

The self same server (who attends Holy Trinity, Brompton) was asked, along with the other children at HTB, how they could show that they loved God. He said 'we could offer Him a Lamb.' What an answer! Small wonder he won some pop corn!!

Easter Glory!

After the solemn Season of Lent, when the Chapel is decorated very simply, it is a joy to see it in festal array for Eastertide!

Welcome Back!

On Shrove Tuesday we had to send our dear friend 'Alleluia!' packing - it was not welcome in the Chapel of the Resurrection during Lent. Well, I returned to work today after the Easter break, and the first thing I did was welocme our friend back. This lovely ceramic greets everyone as they enter the Chapel of the Resurrection, and prepares them for the multitude of Alleluias which resound in the Chapel during these Great Fifty Days.

All the fun of the fair!

This week-end we have had a fair on Ham Common, and I have been watching it from my living room window. I am fond of fairs, and felt attracted by the bright lights and music, and was eager to have a ride on the big wheel. However, I was rather hesitant to go, because I thought I might look a right twit if one of my parishioners were to see me!

However, the opening prayer at Mass this morning gave me courage:

God our Father,
may we look forward with hope to our resurrection,
for you have made us your sons and daughters,
and restored the joy of our youth.

So, with my youth renewed, I went and had a great time!

It is the Lord!

In the Gospel for the Third Sunday of Easter (Year C) we hear John say to Peter 'It is the Lord!' John and Peter recognise the Risen Lord and are filled with joy. We recognise the Risen Lord hidden beneath the forms of bread and wine. The most important place in St Thomas Aquinas Church (other than the altar when Mass is being celebrated) is the tabernacle, for there we see the Risen Lord. We too should be filled with joy when we meet Jesus.

Here our humblest homage pay we;
Here in loving reverence bow;
Here for Faith's discernment pray we,
Lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou art here, we ask not how.