Welcome, with open arms, was offered – on the Fourth Sunday of Easter – to David and Mary Parkin on their first return to St Edmund’s since their removal to Halifax 14 months ago. Our former Churchwarden and Church Treasurer, both looking well and feeling fine, though sorely missed here-and-there in Rutland, are now linked with St Jude’s Parish; still fulfilling estimable roles, not least to the immense advantage of their own family circle, now living “just down the road”!

As this ever – welcome GOOD NEWS comes into circulation, “June is bursting out all over”: the familiar, musical first line celebrates summer time’s enchantment with real zeal!

Time was when Whitsuntide disguised the Biblical title PENTECOST – fifty days after EASTERDAY -when the Holy Spirit burst strengths and merits all over Jesus’ disciples; henceforth, a lively crew, an irrepressible, surging, Christ-inspired force, to be reckoned with real zeal! The Acts of the Apostles chapter two onwards tells all!

Fred Pratt Green (born 1903), proved himself as a statesman of Methodism throughout most of the 20th century : he lived for more than a Century himself; a zealous poet & hymnwriter who commends the message of Pentecost – i.e. Whitsuntide – with his own, engaging, real zeal…

The Spirit brought to birth the Church of Christ on earth to seek and save the lost: never has He withdrawn since that tremendous dawn, His gifts at Pentecost…
Only the Spirit’s power can fit Us for this hour: come Holy Spirit, come:
instruct, inspire, unite and make Us see the light: come Holy Spirit, come!