Today's guest is no stranger to our blog. Marilyn has shared thoughts with us twice and treasures once, so please give her a great big warm welcome back with a special post about Pentecost and her new book, Enigma of Fire.....
Happy
Birthday Church, English Style
Just imagine watching young people all dressed in
white, instruments playing and voices lifted in song as they march along. You would be among the spectators of a
Whitsun Sunday procession in long-ago England.
Pentecost Sunday, in that fair land, is known as
Whitsun. It celebrates the event of the
Holy Spirit being given to the church.
That event turned followers of Jesus, who had fled and hid during Jesus’
trials and death, into bold preachers of the Gospel, many of whom eventually
died for their Christian faith. What a
wonderful gift: the grace of empowerment, the celebration of an abundant life. It’s been declared the day of birth for the
Christian Church.
In England, Whit is related to an ancient word
meaning wisdom, which is recognized as coming from the Holy Spirit. Also, the newly confirmed of the church would
wear white, wit, and parade through the village with music and singing. England’s Canterbury Cathedral is one of many
ancient churches to have an architectural feature called a Holy Ghost hole. It’s a hole in the roof to allow entry to the
Spirit. During Whitsun, the holes are often
decorated with flowers. Dove forms are
also added as a sign of welcoming. Red
handkerchiefs were often handed out to be waved in celebration and, today, red
balloons can be added to the joyful atmosphere.
There are all kinds of festivals and activities on the Monday following
Whitsun as well. In England, it’s a bank
holiday.
In my book, Enigma of Fire, the area churches are
having a boat regatta on the Monday holiday. It’s a carnival atmosphere.
This coming Sunday, June 5, is the church’s
world-wide recognition of Pentecost.
It’s a wonderful time to thank God for all the amazing and wonderful
gifts He gives to us. You may not see a
procession with a brass band this Sunday, but as my character, Berdie Elliott,
would say: “Happy Whitsun.”
At the age of nine, Marilyn wrote her first play with a childhood neighbor, “The Ghost and Mr. Giltwallet”. It was a mystery. And she’s been writing in one form or another, hobby or livelihood, since. As well as teaching art, she’s had the opportunity to co-author several plays that have been performed on both church and secular stages, as well as two screenplays. Marilyn has had the good fortune of “discovering her roots” while visiting England where she developed lasting relationships with wonderful people there. It has greatly impacted her writing. A great fan of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and David Cook’s Hetty Wainthropp series, Marilyn was inspired to write her Berdie Elliott Mystery series. It takes place in a small English village where the vicar’s wife, Berdie Elliott, is the divine sleuth. Marilyn lives lakeside in a cottage on the outskirts of Denver near the foothills.
Find Marilyn at the following places...
When English village, Aidan Kirkwood, experiences an explosive fire, the entire parish is aflame with rumor and innuendo until Berdie Elliott, the scorching sleuth and vicar’s wife, can douse the flames with cold, hard facts that expose the perpetrator. A heroic dog, elusive book, and military champions come together to reveal the enigma of fire.
“Cedric. Don’t chance it. Please.” Doug’s voice trembled as he shot out the command.
“Don’t what?” Berdie asked herself as much as Doug.
“Down, Mrs. Elliott.” Doug’s eyes wide, his breathing was short and rapid for the toil of making his wheels go toward them as fast as he could manage.
“Down? What are you talking about?”
Berdie suddenly experienced a jolt to her body that propelled her to the ground with such force it left her breathless. A stab of pain coursed through her while the reverberation of full-on colliding trains penetrated her ears. The horrific ache that shot through her knees focused her senses as she tried to gather her thoughts. Grass etched itself into her cheek, making it itch. Then the smell of acrid smoke assaulted her nose. She worked to catch a breath of air. What’s happened?
ENDORSEMENT for Enigma of Fire...
Are you an Agatha Christie fan? Does the thought of an English village make you long to grab your passport and head across the pond? Are cozy mysteries your cup of tea? If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, you won’t want to miss Marilyn Leach’s newest release, Enigma of Fire.
Intrepid heroine Berdie Elliott, a vicar’s wife whose sleuthing skills were honed as an investigative reporter, faces her most challenging mystery yet when her husband’s former military comrades come to the sleepy village of Aiden Kirkwood for a sculling regatta. From its riveting prologue to the final resolution, this story showcases Leach at her best. ~ Amanda Cabot, CBA and ECPA bestselling author
Find Enigma of Fire and Marilyn's other books at Amazon!
