In our gospel this morning, John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15, Jesus promises his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is the spirit of truth which will teach us and guide us.  But, more than this, the spirit is sent to renew the world. In Acts 2:1-21, the Spirit moves through the house just as it moved across the waters of chaos in the beginning and fills the disciples just as it was breathed into humanity in the creation story.   Pentecost is a new beginning, a re-creation in which God choses us to be the ones in whom the spirit acts and gives us the task of carrying the Spirit of God out across the world.  Peter recalls the words of the prophet Joel, promising the gift of renewal and life to all without distinction, regardless of class, gender, race, religion.  In today’s service, as we each take a flame from the Easter candle, we remember that God offers this gift of light, love and life to every one of us, without exception, in order that we too may offer it to others, without exception.

Some major roof maintenance started this week. The old roof is being re-covered but with new upstands and skylights ( to replace the existing, many of which are broken). The new ones are triple glazed, improving heat performance.