A Letter from the Minister

Friends,

Spring is my favourite time of the year, seeing the swallows and swifts returning to our shores and the bluebells and hedgerows in full bloom.  In allotments and gardens, it’s the start of a new growing season, and plants are planted in the hope of food and colour.

I also love the season we are in the Christian year: the time between Easter and Pentecost.   I find it to be a time of transformation as we listen to the testimonies of people we may relate to; those who are grappling with things that didn’t make sense. 

We hear again how his followers encountered Jesus in a garden by an empty tomb, in locked rooms, on a walk to Emmaus and collectively “gone fishing” on the sea of Galilee.  It has been described as a place of “betwixt and between”.  A place where they wrestled in their grief, confusion, doubting and feelings of guilt, and into this Jesus repeatedly answers their questions and speaks peace into troubled and doubting hearts and minds, with the assuredness that He will be with them to the end of the world. 

As part of my probation studies, I have been reading Susan Beaumont’s book: “How to lead when you don’t know where you are going”.  It is a very interesting read and guide.  It talks about the liminal places, the “betwixt and between” places, or as someone said, “the place where all is stripped away and all that is left is the wonderful place of God and you”.   The book doesn’t come with a step-by-step process to follow, instead it encourages discernment and trust in God as we are led to a new place. 

Alongside this, I have been reminded recently of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight”.

I hope that as we journey in this season, alongside the Bible testimonies, we discern a fresh understanding of what it is to trust in the risen Lord in readiness for the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Every blessing,
Jimmy