April 2025 Newsletter
Easter: A Season of Light and Love
By Rev Jenny Bland
Easter is the great celebration of life, light, and love overcoming death, darkness, and fear. As we journey through Lent into Holy Week (13th), through the solemnity of Good Friday (18th), and into the joy of Easter Sunday (20th), we are reminded of the heart of the Christian faith: that God loves the world so deeply—loves you and me so profoundly—that He gave His Son, Jesus, to show us who He is and to do for us what we never could do for ourselves. Jesus, deeply loved yet fiercely rejected, was put to death on a cross, taking upon Himself the weight of the world’s sin. But three days later, He rose again. His friends were shocked, then overjoyed, as they realised the truth—death had not won! Jesus declared that all who believed in Him would share in His resurrection and receive eternal life with him.
His followers couldn’t keep this news to themselves. They told everyone, gathering to worship, writing his story, and sharing his love. Today, that message continues to change lives with over 2.4 billion Christians worldwide celebrating the same hope, the same light, and the same love that first broke through the darkness that first Easter morning. This month we will cheerfully declare “He is risen, alleluia!”, honouring, remembering and celebrating what Jesus has done for us.
For me, Easter Sunday is a day of pure joy, but it doesn't take long to be reminded that at present, we live in a world that often feels marked by shadows, uncertainty, suffering, and grief. But if we are open, we can see, feel and know God’s love, life and light breaking in all around us. God’s generosity, kindness, mercy and beauty are very present, they make the ordinary extraordinary and lift our eyes from darkness or shadows to light.
This year, Easter at All Saints, Earls Barton, will be made even more bright with the launch of HALO, an extraordinary art installation by international artist Tobias Zehntner. Opening on Holy Saturday, HALO will bring to life an interplay of light and shadow in church— suspended above, the installation will gently shift and change, moving light in circles and shadows being formed and banished, evoking the presence of something of the Easter story, the power of light and the presence of holy halos all around.
Accompanying HALO through the installation ( 19th-29th April), musicians, performers, and community groups are invited to bring their creativity into the church, transforming it into a living expression of Easter’s message. HALO will be open daily from 10am to 9pm (except during special events), with free general admission. Visitors are encouraged to take time to sit in the space, allow the light to speak to them, and reflect on the Easter story in a new way.
Donations to support All Saints, Earls Barton, are welcome but not required. To find out what performances or events are happening, find us on Facebook, visit www.allsaintseb.com or contact allsaints.earlsbarton@outlook.com.
This Easter, let us step into the light, embrace love, and celebrate the hope that never fades, thanks be to God!
Our services this month
April Sunday Services *HC denotes Holy Communion
6th - 9am HC, 10am All Together, 2:30 Messy Church at Methodist Hall, 6pm Evensong 13th - Palm Sunday 9.45am on the Rec followed by 10am HC
20th – Easter Sunday 6am Sunrise HC followed by breakfast, 10am HC 27th - 10am HC
Everyone is welcome to join us for our services and we warmly encourage children. We have an area with books and toys for families and a toilet a short walk away in our Church Hall.
Refreshments are served and friendship and fellowship encouraged after every Sunday 10am service in the Church Hall.
April Seasonal Services
17th – Maundy Thursday 7.30pm HC and Washing followed by an optional vigil.
18th – Good Friday 9.30am Walk of Witness form All Saints Church followed by 10am Service at the Methodist Church.
19th - Holy Saturday, launching “Halo” an installation of light and hope at All Saints Church, doors and refreshments from 7pm, presentation of talks and music from 7:30pm
Every Day
We are open every day 10am - 4pm* for everyone in our parish to make use of their parish church. So pop in, have a look around, make time to pray, read from the Bible or enjoy a pit stop with your little ones as they play with the toys. We’re open for you.
*Subject to occasional offices (weddings, funerals, baptisms) and special events/circumstances.
Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday - 9:30am Holy Communion.
On the first Wednesday of the month there is a short service of Holy Communion in the Church Hall at 3pm followed by refreshments - everyone is welcome, we often have new people joining us. Monday to Wednesday : 8:35am Morning Prayer
A message from Helen, our Church Warden
Electoral Roll
In 2025, all Church of England churches are required to renew their Electoral Roll. This is the register of all those in our parish who are entitled to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and stand for election to the PCC.
This means that this year, everyone must come off the roll and re-apply. There are several options:
1. If you are on the electoral roll and would like to reapply, please follow the link below and complete and submit the form: https://earlsbartonallsaints.myiknowchurch.co.uk/form/load/M243TGpJeUxmS3ZoTDQy ZHF rMHRmekFYSU50Ymt2QitDcWhOd3AybXB4bG9ScFd2UTlsaHpHSHY2dGMz
2. If you are not on the electoral roll but would like to be, please follow the link above and complete and submit the form.
3. If you are on the electoral roll and do not wish to reapply, please ignore this email as you will be automatically removed as part of the process.
4. If you are not on the electoral roll and don’t want to be, please ignore this email.
If you would prefer a paper copy of the form, these will be available in church. Please take a copy and complete it and return it to Helen Winrow or me, Laura Ward.
Please note that the form must be completed and returned no later than 18TH MAY 2025.
A message from Derek, Our Treasurer
Messy Church is now a regular feature of our church life but it needs resources every time it meets so we have now set up a separate fund to support this work. If you would like to contribute financially to the ongoing work of Messy Church please contact our Treasurer, Derek Bish and he will advise on the best way to do this: treasurer.earlsbarton@outlook.com or 07543400385.
A message from Simon, Our Lay Minister
Earls Barton Primary School
We have grown a friendly and trusting relationship with EBPS. Sarah, with Angela and Simon, has led assemblies; we welcomed two Year Groups to Church for the Easter Experience; and we have some volunteers going in to read with individual children in the afternoons (we’d LOVE more!); Sarah, Helen and Simon (and anyone else who’d like to get involved – please?) will be running a Happiness Club for about 10 children after school ends, next term.
We see this as a core element in our mission to the village. Please pray for the school, the children and our volunteers!
FAIRTRADE NEWS from Nicola
Sadly we have just heard that the 'Recycled Candle Company' is closing it's business so we need to get the word out there that we can no longer recycle candles. Unfortunately, this means candle waste will just have to go to landfill unless we find someone else to recycle them. Please do let us know if you know any candle recyclers! And we do still have a few of their beautiful candles for sale in our shop...
Let’s be fair about CHOCOLATE! Many of us love chocolate but perhaps have given it up for Lent, so maybe you’re especially looking forward to some tasty eggs this Easter?? We’d love you to buy fairtrade chocolate as many other cocoa farmers are really struggling, especially as most other cocoa farmers do not earn enough to cover their basic needs &their children may end up working to help out, meaning they miss out on education. This is in part due to unreliable market prices and an unfair supply chain. In recent years, the price of cocoa beans has slumped. Disease and age are damaging cocoa trees, while climate change is making crops harder to grow.
When terms of trade don’t work for cocoa farmers, it exacerbates poverty and contributes to persistent problems like discrimination, exploitation and deforestation, which threaten the future of cocoa farming communities and the future of cocoa itself. Many of the younger generation are choosing to work elsewhere due to the poor returns so there will less cocoa available and I’m sure most of us lucky enough to have the choice to buy chocolate want it to be available in future….
However, when you choose Fairtrade chocolate, you know that:
farmers in places like Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are getting a fairer price for their cocoa.
farmers and workers receive the Fairtrade Minimum Price for their crop.
It means they are more likely to be able to cover household costs like education, food and healthcare.
they also receive an additional ‘Fairtrade Premium’ which they can choose to invest in their communities and to fight the effects of climate change.
So this Easter and beyond, enjoy choosing fairtrade chocolate - we can help as we have eggs & other products in stock and can order extras. Pop into our shop any Saturday 10 -1 & join us at our next:
This Month’s Events
FAIRTRADE CAFÉ & SECONDHAND BOOKSALE on SATURDAY 12th
April MEND & REPAIR* events alongside a bit sooner than usual. PLUS we will be joined by the Children’s Society so bring your collection boxes or just come & find our more about what they do. Lots of new products including for a fairtrade Easter and our gardens & wildlife. Enjoy chatting, browsing our products & secondhand books, & fresh coffee & yummy homemade cakes… Everyone welcome! Please note we will be closed for the Easter weekend on Saturday 19th April
Other events in April
6th April - Messy Church, 2.30-4pm in the Methodist Church (a joint church project between the Anglican and Methodist church), on the theme of Easter, with activities, stories, crafts and food. All are very welcome!
12th April – Fairtrade Coffee Morning - 10am to 1pm, the Church Hall.
6th & 13th April – Lent Lunches (Surprised by Generosity). Video in church and then 12pm discussion and soup and bread lunch, donations for lunch welcome.
13th April - Crucifixion by Sir John Stainer, 6pm at Mears Ashby Church. Join members of All Saints Choir and other choristers from the Wellingborough Deanery for a meditative start to Holy Week.
14th April – Pints of View POSTPONED this month.
19th April to 29th April - Art at All Saints. HALO, an art installation by international artist, Tobias Zehntner. HALO is a suspended light installation that creates a moving interplay of light and shadow that illuminates the church’s architecture and forms halos above the audience. Open every day from 10am to 9pm (except when one off and group events limit general access).
General admission is free (donations to All Saints EB are optional). Opportunities are available for performers to use the church during the installation to create an interactive experience for performers and visitors.
Events currently scheduled:
• 19th April – Launch event – a mixture of talks and music, with the artist present to chat over refreshments
• 21st April – Organ recital by Alan Cufaude
• 24th April – 7.30pm Chaos in the Church – The Ukes of Chaos take over All Saints!
• 25th April – Organ and Harp recital by James and Lizzie Thomas
• 26th April – 2pm to 4pm rehearsal – an opportunity to hear local upper voices choir, Amicorum rehearse Vivaldi’s Gloria and Fauré’s Requiem for their next concert on Saturday, 28th June.
More details on the above events to be published very soon
For more information or to enquiry about using the church as part of the event, please contact allsaints.earlsbarton@outlook.com
27th April - All Saints Youth Group 7 - 8.30pm, contact Sarah Howes for location details.