Tell us, Mary, what did you see on your way?

(Roman Rite, Easter Sequence)

 

As co-Presidents of Churches Together in England, we greet you in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus. The yearly celebration of his resurrection is the gift of God the Father for the whole of creation, held together in the unity of his loving purpose. In these Easter days we give thanks for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the renewal of our  commitment to go out and bear fruit that will last (John 15:16).

 

Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus in the garden opened her eyes to the blessedness and unity of God’s will in his risen Son. The Church is called to be a foretaste of that blessed unity in the work of the Lord’s disciples for the unity of the Church and the world. It is a source of great joy to us that collaboration and co-operation between Churches and Christian communities across our nation is so rich. Through these encounters we grow together into the fullness of the risen Lord, and discover more of our calling to serve him in the world. And so we encourage ecumenical encounter and witness especially in local communities across the land.

 

The personal covenant which we share as Presidents has allowed us to receive Christ’s gifts from each other, and we are grateful for that and the friendship that we share in the gospel. It is with gratitude that we particularly acknowledge the leadership and ministry of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, and wish him every blessing in his retirement as Archbishop of Westminster and co-President of Churches Together in England.

 

We encourage you to continue in your patient work of praying and working together, to assure you of our continuing prayers for the unity and mission of the Church, and to ask that you will continue to pray for us in our ministries of Christian leadership.

May the risen Lord Jesus open our hearts and minds to new possibilities of witness and service for the unity of the Church and the service of the world.

 

With our prayers and blessings for this Easter season.

 

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed.

Alleluia!

 

Nathan Hovhannisian, Bishop, Armenian Orthodox Church

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

Cormac, Cardinal Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster

Elizabeth Matear, Free Churches Moderator