Easter Day

Christ is Risen, Alleluia!
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

We have just left the Easter morning service here at Queen's College. We woke up this morning to snow. Not a lot of snow - just a light covering on the ground, with flakes falling as we gathered around the flames outside chapel at the start of the Easter service.

The last month has been very busy. While we've been here at Queen's, both of us have been working to finish MPhil dissertations. We started these while we were still in Leicester, and they relate to work we have been doing on inter-religious relations. (Ruth has been researching Christian clergy's experiences of ministering to, and praying with, people of other faiths. Malcolm has been researching Christian and Hindu experiences of inter-religious dialogue.) Finally, last week, the last version of the dissertations were approved by our supervisors at the University, and the theses have been printed, bound and submitted. Now we just have to wait three months or so to find out what the examiners think of what we've written.

We fly to Belize in three days time, so the last couple of weeks have also been busy with final preparations, and saying some goodbyes. We have managed to have time with family and friends; stored a final couple of boxes for when we eventually come back; and disposed of lots of things we won't be needing. Our car has gone to friends from a previous Parish; winter coats and jumpers have gone to charity shops, and other things have gone to students here in College.

Tomorrow (Monday) is a public holiday, and we are having a final get together here in Birmingham, with a few people also staying over until Tuesday morning. Then we aim to empty the flat, finish packing the suitcases, and have an early night. The taxi is booked to collect us just after 5am on Wednesday, to get us to the airport to check in at 6. We fly first from Birmingham to New Jersey; then change planes and go from New Jersey to Houston. We stay in Houston overnight, and continue to Belize early on Thursday morning.

We are staying in Belize city for two nights, and Bishop Philip Wright is showing us round the cathedral and introducing us to some of our new church colleagues. We finally get to Belmopan on Saturday morning, and will meet some of St. Ann's congregation that day. We also have some dates, so please remember us in your prayers!

Sat. April 5 is Ruth's licensing as Priest-in-Charge of St. Ann's, at 3pm.
Wed April 23 is Malcolm's institution as Director of the newly re-furbished Anglican Theological Institute, as well as the ground-breaking ceremony for the new St. Ann's Church Primary School.

Easter is a good time for new beginnings.
We wish you all a peaceful and happy Easter.
Alleluia, the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!