“Peace be with you…”

Jesus often says these words, and it is always a benediction, a blessing. Peace is above all what we need most in these times. Peace in our hearts, with a sense of inner tranquillity and calm in the face of almost complete uncertainty and unknowing, is a gift that we all crave.

It is this kind of peace that I think Jesus offers us. The kind of peace that allows us to face the unknown, the crisis, the trauma and the tragedy, with the certainty that whatever is thrown at us, God is with us.

To say that God is with us is absolutely not to say that we will never endure suffering and struggle. We have only to look at the example of countless Christians over the past two millennia who have endured the most terrible struggles and privations, whether because of their faith or simply because of the situation and time in which they lived.

The knowledge that God is with us does however give us hope and strength to continue in whatever crisis, struggle or tragedy that we find ourselves in, taking each day at a time, trusting that above all we are not alone, and that we are loved.

One of the things I have found most helpful in the past weeks has been to give thanks for the smallest blessings. It’s easy to say thank you for the big things. But it is the little things that can make or break our emotional, mental and spiritual stability in the moment. In the midst of the grief, bereavement and struggle that we are all going through, in different ways and on different levels, it is often remembering the small blessings that allows us to continue to smile and gives us the strength to face every new challenge.

These small things, the small blessings, will be different for each and everyone of us. But if we can slow down enough to notice them, and then to say thank you to God for each one of them, then we may be able to notice his presence with us in and through those blessings. We are indeed in a time that is unprecedented. And the fear that this brings because of the uncertainties can be overwhelming, especially for those who are older, isolated and unable to be self-sufficient in the way that they used to.

I do not wish these words to be in any way trite or to be a gloss over the very real pain and struggles that we all face in our individual situations and as humanity as a whole. But I do hope that for those of us who have faith in God and in his son Jesus, the Easter hope of resurrection, renewal and transformation may speak to the doubt and the darkness in our hearts and shine a light there, so that our own hope is renewed, and that we in turn can shine a light for others. 

I am reminded of the hymn, Brother Sister Let me serve you (YouTube link) by Richard Gillard. I have put the words below.

Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too. 
We are pilgrims on a journey, and companions on the road;

we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping; when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;

I will share your joy and sorrow till we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven we shall find such harmony,

born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

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This Sunday, 19 April, we will again be live streaming our Sunday morning service at 10 AM via YouTube. This week will be a Service of the Word, and I will be joined by my colleagues in the clergy team, Revd. Jim, Revd. Tim and Lucy G.

We will send the link for the YouTube live stream on Saturday morning so that it is near the top of your inbox and easy to find on Sunday morning! Thank you very much those of you who shared so much positive feedback on last Sunday’s service – you’ve given us the faith to keep going!

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Our community groups are going from strength to strength in the various villages, and if you haven’t already connected into them or are not sure how to, please do be in touch with us and we will put you in touch with the group leaders. 

Please know that the clergy team and our wonderful churchwardens are here to support you in any way we can – the church buildings may be closed but the church is very much open and we are here for you as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is in times like this that faith and the support that we can offer one another is so very important for us all. 

With love, light and peace, 

Revd. Talisker

and the Ministry Team