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The Anglican Free Communion “The Episcopal Free Church” The Free Protestant Episcopal Church
Pastoral Letter Easter 2015
Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK - March 26th 2015
My Dear Sisters and Brothers, Peace, Love and Joy from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.If you live in Europe it is easy to know Easter is in the air with the sight of the beautiful emerging array of Spring flowers and blossom. In a real sense the journey to Easter, through the Lenten season, is a microcosm of the journey of each human soul. A journey of desolation, abandonment and suffering. The very nature of Lent is a path of both endurance and transformation. We endure the deprivati ons of material things in the expectation of experiencing renewal. The Cross finds a certain centrality in the forty days and yet unlocks the true meaning of the journey in glorious resurrection. The hymn writer reminds us in the memorable words: Take up thy cross the Master said if thou wilt my disciple be. The resurrection is the crowning glory of our faith, but can be seen as empty as the tomb unless the Cross shines forth in great array. The very struggles in life are reflected in the Cross, yet we know those struggles paint not the full picture of what life is about. The True Resurrection, as Harry Williams of the Community of the Resurrection wrote, is the eventual overcoming of the inherent pain of the world. In our Communion across the globe, some wi ll experience the fragrance of the Spring flowers, others the wilder regions of a dusty landscape. Wherever we happen to be in our respective Churches and Fellowships, we each share the good news that love will succeed, evil is conquered by good, and death swallowed up in victory. May the rays of the risen Lord penetrate any areas of sadness with the assurance that He has overcome the world.
My Easter blessings and love to all our people throughout our Communion.
The Most Rev’d Dr. Richard Arthur Palmer Archbishop Primus