Dear Friends

The first day is the Feast of St. David. All good Welshmen wear a daffodil on their outer clothing. Little is known about what he and his associates did in great detail but he did found a monastery at Pembrokeshire.

March 17th is the celebration of St. Patrick. Born in Wales He was kidnapped and sold by pirates as a slave in Ireland. He escaped by sea to France, entered a monastic order and after a number of years became a Bishop. Similar to our own St. Augustine, he was dispatched by the pope to Ireland along with some of his monks to broaden the base of Christianity and the authority of Rome, throughout the country. The Irish already had a Bishop Palladius. Patrick, however, was a speaker of power and force and impressed the local Druid chiefs. He adopted the three part shamrock to teach about the trinity and converted most of the population. He is reputed to have driven the snakes from the land. No where is it recorded though that ever had a serious infestation of reptiles.

St. Patrick has become as, if not more, popular outside of Ireland. The American constitution forbids public expenditure on religion. Irish immigrants In the United States were not put off by such small details. Historians found that during the revolution, General Gage was forced out if Boston with his British Army on March 17, 1777. The members of the Massachusetts Legislature decided prior to World War 1 to declare a bank holiday on "Evacuation Day" and appropriate money for parades and fireworks. All banners and flags just happen to be green, white and orange instead of red, white end blue.

Two days later, 19 March, is the Feast of St. Joseph. Respected today, Joseph was not held in high regard during the Middle Ages. The belief was widespread that the four brothers and two sisters (at least) mentioned in the Bible were from a previous marriage And that Joseph was a very old man during the Nativity. It was not explained to Christians how an elderly carpenter could undertake the high level of activity required during the early life of Jesus including a long trip to Egypt nor why a group of seven or eight adult children in their forties or fifties, were still living with a younger step mother during the ministry of Jesus. Today he is the patron of workers find those close to death.

Originally, Mothering Sunday, the first week in March, was the day on which parish members would hold a procession and walk to the mother church of the diocese. During the early nineteenth century domestic staff would be allowed the day off to return home to their families traditionally bringing a gift of Simnel Cake decorated with marzipan for their mother.

During the last week of Lent, our church will celebrate Holy Week. Based on Jewish history, Christ' s Last Supper was part of the Passion. It is from the word "Pesach" that the word paschal comes and recalls the exodus from Egypt by the Jews with Moses. The tall candle burns throughout the Easter season remembering the resurrection of Jesus (light of hope). During the late night service on Holy Saturday, candles held by each member of the congregation and lighted from the Paschal candle carried by the priest provides a sweeping source of light throughout the church. This ceremony represents the light of Christ spreading through the world.

All are invited to participate in the service.
John Upton
1st March 2005