Dear friends,
As I am writing this we are not too far from Holy Week and Good Friday will soon be here. We will go from the songs of praise of Palm Sunday, to the anger
in the temple, a meal with precious friends, and the devastation of Good Friday before we reach the beckoning light of Easter Sunday.

On Good Friday we remember that the cross of Jesus stands as a witness to all the pain and suffering in the world and we can’t avoid being aware of the brokenness of the world right now. In the cross, all our hatred is heaped upon Jesus and in this great moment of giving love, he dies a most humiliating death. In this moment Christ stands alongside all who are broken and despairing, all who are unfairly treated, all who are crushed by the hatred of humanity. Darkness falls and seems to overwhelm the world.

But we know that is not the end of the story. The women go to the tomb in the early morning of Easter Sunday. The dawn is emerging with the promise of daylight, a new day, a new beginning. All of the gospels talk of the women who are first at the tomb. In John’s gospel account we read that Mary Magdalene runs to the disciples to say, ‘I have seen the Lord’, she cannot keep silent but they say it must be an idle tale and they don’t believe her. It is only later, when they share in their own experience of the risen Jesus that they realise Mary’s truth. Perhaps they were a little ashamed then.

Resurrection might seem like an idle tale to so many in our world today yet our faith inspires us to speak out about hope and new possibilities. We cannot pretend that life is always easy. There are times when we feel pushed to the limit, exhausted or stressed. Family pressures, money worries, exam stress, relationships that crumble, we know these things are currently a reality for many people. Yet, in the resurrection of Jesus we are encouraged to think differently. When we feel we have no hope left, God is there with us. If we are blinded by tears God whispers our name and reminds us that we are loved.
When we feel all is lost we come to realise that we are not alone. When we want to give up God lifts us up and says, I am here, you are important to
me, we will do this together.

I have planted numerous seeds recently, every year, and when they germinate and grow I am bowled over that such tiny things can produce, mostly, prolific growth, flowers and food. They inspire me with hope.

This is the Easter message: Love will win, death does not have the last word. This is good news and something worth talking about. It is not an idle tale, it is a story to live by.
Alleluia! Christ is risen… He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Sending you and yours, prayers and best wishes for Easter.
Helen