A warmest of thanks and appreciation to the Edge Hill Players for their production of 'Paul'. I have had numerous people commend me for the quality and profundity of the production. The only shame I sense is that there were only two productions. Some are sad that they could not make the two shows yesterday.

Wendy Tansey needs to be specially thanked. She labored hard during last year's Pauline year. Nothing adequate could be written. She somewhat apologetically approached me one Sunday outside the church asking 'permission' to delay any Paul production. Sometime this autumn, she once again approached me saying something had finally been written and the delay allowed her to incorporate Nick King S.J.'s book on Paul into her dramatic presentation. I eagerly read the script and then encouraged her to put it on soon. Looking at the diary, a late January date seemed appropriate, shortly after the feast of Paul's Conversion on 25 January.

In 'Paul' the personality, decisiveness and inspiration of Paul shines through. In Paul's engagement of enemy and friend, the Romans and fellow apostles, he is shown to keep his eye and heart on the centrality of God's Revelation in Jesus Christ. Nothing, not even the Law, could be held more primary than the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Yet Wendy is able to do all this while providing a very human picture of Paul, Peter, James, Mary Magdala among others. With humor and discord, the messy dynamics of the early Church can be lived through. Central to the play is Paul's understanding of the transforming power of God's redemption cannot be limited to the Jewish people but is meant for all mankind. Wendy does not steer away from possible controversies concerning Paul. Paul is confronted with the way in which his writing will be used to perpetrate evils against Jews as being Christ killers. In addition Paul's perception of the place of women within the Christian community is lovely presented, leading to I think the most powerful part of the play: Paul’s monologue on Love, which coincidentally is the second reading in today's mass. Another significant component of the lay is Paul confronting modern secularism of the Dawkins type, here made present in the Roman intelligence officer interrogating Paul throughout the play.

You can see I can go on and on. But I won't. If you stop me on the street, I will go on about it. But for now thanks again for all who presented this to the parish. Thanks to all for giving over £900 to our Capital Campaign for the church floor.