Most of us remember the precise moment when something amazing and something very good happened.

‘There are people on the pitch. They think it’s all over! … Hurst! It is now!’

The famous commentary from the 1966 World Cup Final as people ran onto the pitch before the final whistle, thinking the game had finished. Confusion at the end. They thought it was all over.

In a much more serious way, so did the followers of Jesus. Hopes and dreams were shattered. Jesus had been crucified. They had watched him die. They thought it was all over.

The women went that first Easter morning, to finish the job properly, anoint Jesus’ body, and say their last farewells. To their amazement the stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. It is too much to take in, and there is running and confusion at first.

Gradually and slowly the glorious news of Easter sinks in and their lives are transformed forever as they meet with Jesus, risen from the tomb.

They thought it was all over, but it wasn’t. In fact the story of Jesus was far from over.

We too are invited to become part of the Easter story, along with the initially frightened and unbelieving followers of Jesus. Along with the millions of people down the centuries and all over the world whose experience is of a living Lord.

Along with the people who have been part of our own journey and who have helped us discover and grow in faith, and the people who are part of our church now.

Because of Easter, Jesus is with us now, and invites us to place our faith and our lives into his loving hands, which still bear the marks of crucifixion.

The story is not all over – far from it and the risen Lord Jesus wants us all to be a part of it.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Stan and Dorothy Brown

18 April 1949

Married at Wigginton Church

Two stalwarts of St Matthew’s Church in Shuttington.

Stan and Dorothy have lived in Shuttington for 53 years.