Issue 41 April 2026

Parish life

A blessed Holy Week

What a blessed week it was to experience the strength and beauty of St John's Church throughout Passion Week. For every parent who brought a child along, our prayer is that you felt God's hand holding you, and that you experienced the true joy of parenthood as you watched your children share in the pain, joy and holiness of this sacred time.

We began with a joyful celebration of Christ's entry into Jerusalem, as crowds cried, "Hosanna in the highest," and His glory was felt, even if only for a moment.

As the week unfolded, we journeyed with Christ into sorrow, witnessing His experience of abandonment and rejection from those He served and loved so deeply.

A particularly moving reflection shared by Fr Luke centred on an icon depicting Judas Iscariot casting aside his halo.

It is a powerful image: a reminder that glory was within his reach, yet he chose to walk away. In the lead-up to Holy Week, we read of the twelve disciples performing miracles in God's name: twelve, not eleven. Judas was among them. This reminds us how close one can be to Christ, even part of His innermost circle, and still fall. He could be any one of us, but he should be none of us.

We were then led into Holy Thursday, where Fr Anthony and Fr Luke washed the feet of members of the congregation, humbly reflecting Christ's love and service. From there, we stood at the Cross on Good Friday, before gathering again in joy on Saturday evening to celebrate the Resurrection.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our clergy and all members of the congregation who contributed to such a rich, prayerful and spiritually nourishing Holy Week, one that will carry us forward into the year ahead.

From the pulpit

Loosen the colt

Fr Luke · Palm Sunday

Many Biblical commentators and Church Fathers consider Palm Sunday to be Jesus' most glorious day during His time on earth, as it was the day He was praised and recognised as Saviour and King. One character in the middle of this glory stands out: the donkey. In the midst of this glorious moment, it stands out as something base and humble, not matching the splendour of the day. Today, I thought we would contemplate the significance of the donkey.

We know Jesus tells His disciples to go and loosen the colt and "bring him to Me, for I have need of him."

Lord, on Your most glorious day, when the whole crowd recognises You as King, why do You need a colt when You have angels, horses, and could command chariots?

Loosened from what binds us

Donkeys were often tied up, grinding in mills. It is a bit like us as humans: we grind day in and day out, unaware of time passing as we fixate on the work at hand. Just like the donkeys, we too need to be loosened from our worldly commitments so that we may be awakened to God's glory.

Each of us here is tied down by different things. Some of us are busy. Some of us are distracted. Some of us are consumed by games. Some of us are tied down by selfishness: we are always thinking about our own needs. Others are bound by worry, and that worry cripples us and ties us down.

Today, Christ asks us to be loosened from the things that bind us in this world. We sing "Hosanna" today, which means "Lord, save us," and we ask that He loosen our bonds to the cares of this world.

Our greatest privilege in this world is to live in God's presence. Holy Week is designed to give us a glimpse of that. Sometimes we question why things are repetitive during Holy Week, yet we spend this time contemplating the gift of God in His final week on earth.

One of the early Christian emperors, Theophilus, commanded that all prisoners be loosened from their chains to attend church during Holy Week. He took the loosening of the colt literally.

Bring him to Me

The second command that God gave His disciples was to "bring him to Me." He seeks companionship and our presence. He wants us to be brought to Him, and He is kind and generous enough in His love to say that He, the Lord, has need of us.

Another way we experience God's presence is through confession. We are given the opportunity to connect with God for cleansing.

We are brought to the Lord when we read our Bibles. Particularly in Holy Week, we are brought to the church to stand before the icon of the crown of thorns, allowing us to contemplate the suffering of the Lord. Let us be loosened and brought into His presence.

The Lord has need of us

Why would the Lord need the colt, or us? What do we have to give? We are empty and full of sin. Why does He still need us? The Lord answers mercifully and chooses us daily. We read in the prophecy of Zechariah: "Rejoice… your King is coming to you… lowly and riding on a donkey." This passage was written 500 years before Christ fulfilled it.

Let our prayer this week be: "Lord, open my eyes to how You can use me in this world." Our life should always be focused on Him. Our Lord wants us to understand our purpose. Pope Shenouda used to begin each day with a prayer to be guided to act according to God's will.

The Lord desires to use us so that others may encounter Him. St Paul says we are the fragrance of Christ. We are called to spread that aroma throughout the world. Let us minister His word and live His purpose.

Let us reflect on these things. Let us be loosened so that we may be found and used for God's purpose. The Lord says He has need of us, so let us show up for Him.

From the pulpit

Good Friday

Fr Elijah · Good Friday

On Good Friday, we contemplate the shocking scene of God on the Cross. He is naked, humiliated, and in a compromised position. It is important for us to remember that the Cross is not something that just happened to Jesus. The Cross isn't something He merely carried. It is not something we simply mourn: it is something we share.

As we read in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." St Paul does not only say that Christ was crucified (though that is, of course, true) but that we have been crucified with Him. This demands a question: how do we share in the Cross? Because that is what we are called to do.

The way of the thief

There is an obvious clue in the actions of the thief on the right. Was it coincidence? Was it good fortune, to be crucified beside Christ? Perhaps. Yet we hear little of the other thief.

The right-hand thief shared in the Cross when he crucified his ego. He acknowledged his sin and said, "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom" (Luke 23:42). In that moment, the old man died, and a new creation was born.

Can we do the same? Can we hang our past, our sins and our excuses on the Cross, and allow the old self to die so that a new one may rise?

The way of Simon

There is another way to share in the Cross: the way of Simon. In Mark 15:21, "they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian… to bear His cross." Simon did not choose this Cross. It was given to him.

Perhaps we are like Simon: called to carry crosses we did not choose. Grief, hardship, family burdens, struggles beyond our control. Yet Simon carried it faithfully. Through the Cross he did not choose, he found grace and salvation.

Some crosses we choose, like repentance. Others are given to us. Both lead to salvation.

As Romans 6:8 reminds us, "If we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him." We do not just die: we live. This Good Friday, the invitation is clear: carry the Cross. Crucify sin, pride and ego.

For the Cross is not only where Christ died: it is where we must die also.

An ode to St John's

A place to call home

What a special place, so full of grace,
Where in every pew you glimpse God's face.
Where kindred spirits, knowing smiles,
Gently help you walk a mile.

Where a crying child is warmly adored,
Where patience is taught and faith explored.
Where judgment fades, and rarely seen,
And every heart is held between.

Where children are carried, cherished, and known,
And weary parents can rest and be grown.
Isn't this church simply the best,
A haven of peace, a place to rest?

Like oxygen waiting at the door,
We breathe it in as our knees touch the floor.
Look around, you are not alone,
Others are praying, hearts fully known.

Eyes lifted high, in quiet prayer,
Holding your burdens with tender care.
What a gift it is to have this sacred space,
A living reflection of love and grace.

Here, your church family is steadfast and true,
Its riches far greater than gold we pursue.

How blessed we are to have found God here,
To walk in His love and let Him steer.

What a home, what a path, what a place to abide,
Where we're held together, side by side,
Bound in His love, endlessly embraced,
By grace and abundance poured out in this place.

Good Samaritan Service

Respite for single parents

In the spirit of Christ's call to care for one another, the Good Samaritan Service is looking to support single parents within our community by offering an afternoon of rest and refreshment.

We recognise that single parents often carry a heavier load, and we would love to come alongside you in a practical and meaningful way. We are currently gathering expressions of interest, including names and suitable times, to help shape this initiative.

Our hope is to offer a monthly or bi-monthly babysitting service, complete with engaging activities for your children, so you can enjoy some well-deserved time to rest, recharge, or simply take a moment for yourself.

If you are a single parent who would benefit from this service, or you would like to volunteer to support it, please speak to the church office or reach out through the St John's app. We look forward to supporting you and walking alongside you as a community.

Notices

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