Easter Reflections, Jonathon Martin - Minister Buckland Rd,Baptist Church April 2026

Dear Friends,

I'd like to take a few moments to reflect on Lent and Easter from a personal perspective.

I'm grateful to those who designed the times of reflection and worship so I did not have to take responsibility for any of the Lenten material or the services in Holy week. Thank you. It was a joy to immerse myself in the services and the material offered over the last few months, beginning with carefully designed material on Shrove Tuesday, continuing with worship led online from Westminster chapel, Cambridge on the next day.

The website is full of riches. If you have not already done so, review the Lenten reflections on the Psalms. 

On Maundy Thursday Ian and Alan led worship and spoke. I was led to reflect on the blockages in my life that lead me unwittingly and sometimes deliberately to shut out God.

Good Friday saw a number of us gather at Parkstone United Reformed Church at 0830 before we walked together to Poole Town Square. Penny who is the Vicar of St George's encouraged me to think about our Saviour who has died for us, risen from the dead, will come again, who has shown us how to live ( John 1:14 ). We arrived back for the time of reflection that Jeannie led. It was brutally honest. I am still haunted by Malc banging the nails into the cross, and by the way Jeannie told the story of Good Friday, accompanied by David on the organ

Easter Saturday saw a number of us at the Good Shepherd, Rossmore, worshipping God together, one Shepherd, one flock, seemingly oblivious to denominational differences. Today on the beach we were guests of St. John's Heatherlands and St Clements Branksome, as we listened to the vicar of St Andrews, Kinson, challenge us not only to hear the remarkable story of Easter Day, but embrace it and live it out. When Sue and I left home mid morning for Buckland Road Baptist Church we had 27 hot cross buns, plenty we thought but as God planned one for each person who attended the 1100 service led by Alan and Ian. Six guests arrived, 2 from Nepal, 4 from Ireland, drawn by Christ through the words and pictures of our social media. 

For a small church rooted in the local community, we have been greatly blessed, and enriched beyond measure. I doubt that many medium sized or larger churches have been so well fed. On my behalf and ours this brief letter enables me to thank all of those who have spoken the Gospel to God's congregation at Buckland Road and led our music. In addition there are so many others who opened up and prepared the church, cleaned it, read, prayed, welcomed, operated sound and projection systems, and fed us; for once let me close by thanking my wife Sue for refreshments lovingly prepared and given.

As I write we pray for the Living Stones church as they welcome others into the church family through baptism. Praise God.

After 48 years of Christian ministry you would think I know better than to name people and thank them in a generic email, but I don't! I always trust that what I write will be received in the spirit in which it is written, with gratitude.

The website tells the story of our Lenten and Easter journey. It is a powerful resource. Do check it out regularly and sign up to receive updates and resources from it, a special gift if health or work or holiday prevent attendance at church. 

Jesus Christ walked amongst us.

Jesus Christ died on the cross.

Jesus Christ was raised to life.

Jesus Christ will come again

Blessings abound, Jonathan"