Some of you will have heard my stories of the great book battle going on in my house! It is a domestic battle about which books to keep and how to accommodate them when there are more books than shelves! However, the sorting out process has thrown up some interesting discoveries, including the prayer card shown at the head of this newsletter.

I have no idea where this card came from but it appeared amongst the books at a timely moment after a weekend in which half a million people marched through London to proclaim that “yes we will welcome the stranger”.

At least 2000 of those were representing churches from across the UK, you can see the contingent from our two parishes and the Diocese here: From an ancient ‘rune’ to a 2026 ‘Together Alliance March’ the message remains core to our faith and a core principle to those who marched under other banners. On these large marches one gains a huge sense of solidarity and of hope in humanity, there are multiple conversations with strangers and a lot of joy and love. In our bloc we sang hymns, shared stories and snacks and I was reminded of Paul’s encouraging words in his letter to the Ephesians…

‘Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.’ ‘…… sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts’
Ephesians 5. Verses1-2 and 19

I hope that like those of us who were able to be in London before celebrating another raucous procession, 24 hours later on Palm Sunday you will feel encouraged and uplifted by the witness of those in our community who stand up for the stranger in our midst and show us all by their example how to be ‘imitators of God’. For, as we are reminded every year at Easter, we are all beloved children of God and every time we see Christ in the other we are living out the resurrection.

This comes with greetings for a Blessed Holy Week and Easter Celebration and the precious hope that comes with the Risen Christ that love is stronger than hate.

Easter Blessings