April: Thoughts from Huw

Dear Friends

There is a very beautiful saying of Christ which is one of the unwritten sayings which do not appear in the New Testament at all:

Raise the stone and you will find me;

Cleave the wood and I am there.

It means as the mason works at the stone, as the carpenter handles the wood, the Risen Christ is with him. The resurrection means that every life can be walked hand in hand with the living Christ. The reservoir of the power of his presence is open for every Christian to draw upon. (William Barclay)

These words from Dr Barclay are very reassuring as we start to celebrate Easter, think about re-opening our churches and look forward to a brighter future. As we emerge from lockdown we will need to help and support each other at Wesley, and as a Circuit we will need to work more closely together.

We are living in times when the Church of God needs to stand firm and hold its nerve, for there are many forces at work against us. St. Paul would tell us it was also so.

Light will always have to fight darkness. Love will always have to fight hate. Truth will always need to fight falsehood. These are the things we proclaim when we, by word and deed, share the message that Jesus is Lord.

The human needs in our world today as a result of the Coronavirus are indescribable, innumerable and sometimes almost unbearable. You and I cannot do everything, but we can do something, and that something is summed up in the words of St. Francis;

Make me a channel of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me bring your love;

Where there is injury your pardon, Lord;

And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Hilary, Lucy, Harrison and Elle join with me in wishing you a very happy and peaceful Easter.

With good wishes and prayers

Huw.