April 2025

“I’m sure now I’ll see God’s goodness in the exuberant earth. Stay with God! Take heart. Don’t quit.

I’ll say it again: Stay with God.”

Psalm 27: 13-14 TMSG

Greetings,

It’s the Vernal Equinox! Eastertide is upon us.

The season of burgeoning life, brightening light, & bolder hopes is here!

At church, we have been contemplating light and life and hope in the context of God’s kingdom: the peaceable and just realm that Jesus lived and died for. The kin-dom of wellbeing for all Creation that Paul promised.i

Wholeness, holiness, and wellbeing have been “Love’s redeeming work”ii from the beginning of all things. And will be until the Kindom is sorted. But, at certain times and in certain places, Love goes into overdrive. At the cosmos’ creation, for example.

And whenever conflict or callous disregard threaten ANY of God’s beloved. Holy Week and Easter rank among Love’s top output periods.

What a week! An anti-Empire parade on the Sunday. A Monday marked by a demonstration against oppressive religious structures. Thursday was bittersweet for Jesus – and for Love. Freedom was celebrated, food was shared, goodbyes and good advice were exchanged. Only to end in horror: evidence-less charges, excruciating torture, and execution by the cruellest method available. Jesus died. Love took a brutal beating.

But then came Sunday: it was BRILLIANT! Jesus was released from death and reunited with his friends. Love was revived! Hope was reborn!

But what happened on the Saturday?

Neither heaven nor the tomb have shared their secrets of that day. (Jesus did not go down into hell. Hell is a heart condition, not a cosmologic quarter. “Down” is Australia and New Zealand – lovely places!)

The more important question is, what was Saturday like for Jesus’ followers?

How did they pass the 30 or so hours from Jesus’ last breath to Earth’s whole new inspiration? What can they teach us about coping with grief and despair?

Jesus’ relatives and friends, pupils and colleagues came together. They gathered in solidarity to weep, and laugh, and pray. Men and women, brave or fearful, hope-filled or hopeless, held onto one another. They clung to memories of Jesus and to his message. The Kingdom stayed fully in focus.

The caring, committed Jesus community created the space for resurrection to happen. Their love helped make Love’s redeeming work a reality.

Sunday is coming!

Renewal and revival will occur!

But, right now, it’s still Saturday – and much work remains to be done.

WE CAN DO IT!

WE WILL HELP ACOMPLISH THE KINGDOM!

LOVE IS ALREADY RISING!

Wishing you a Holy Week and Easter filled with God’s richest blessings,

Brenda

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i Isaiah 11: 1-9; Luke 4: 16-21; Romans 8:19-22

ii Charles Wesley, “Christ the Lord Risen Is Today”, 1739

March 2025

“You are the salt of the earth…. You are the light of the world.”

Jesus

Greetings,

Happy March! Happy Lent! Happy spring!

This is the season of renewal and revival. A time when resurrections happen -

in our gardens, in our faith story, and deep in our souls.

Every Lent, I read a book that focuses on this sacred time. This year, I chose “Wild Bright Hope”. i Although Lent does not begin until March 5th, I couldn’t resist getting a headstart on my studies!

My skimming has revealed that 70% of Christians are from Global Majority Heritage backgrounds. I LOVE that! Coming from a former colonial power, I am overwhelmingly grateful that God, through Jesus, has mitigated the evils of empire.

My second pre-Lent browse took me to a chapter on hope in politics. It was longer and more hope filled than I had imagined! And includes a verse from the hymn, “We Seek Your Kingdom,” a song about God’s vision of peace, love, and justice for all people in all places. (Lyrics included in this newsletter.)

The hymn is deeply moving and inspired me to look deeper into its origins and meaning. My “Google” search took me to a church in East Londonii and a Christian organization that was founded by the great evangelical leader, John Stott.iii When I was in nursing school, I attended his services at All Soul’s Church. (For those of you familiar with London, it’s just behind the big shops on Oxford St.)

The LICC website includes this quote from Pastor Stott.

“If the house is dark at night, there is no sense in blaming the house.

The question to ask is, ’Where is the light?’

If the meat goes bad, there is no sense in blaming the meat.

The question to ask is, ’Where is the salt?’

If society becomes corrupt there is no sense in blaming society for its corruption.

The question to ask is, ‘Where is the Church?’

‘Where is the salt and the light of Jesus?’”

My Lenten preview has taken me all the way back to Sundays in nursing school. And carried me forward to a vision of how you and I – the Church and CBC – can make God’s Kingdom a reality.

The Spirit’s a clever old thing, isn’t she?!

Wishing you a Lent of salinification and illumination!

Deepest blessings,

Brenda

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i “Wild Bright Hope”, SPCK 2024

ii St. John’s, Hoxton stjohnshoxton.org.uk

iii London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, licc.org.uk

February 2025

Greetings,

and Happy Late Winter!

In this morning’s “Guardian” newspaper, Emma Beddington lamented that it was the “95th day of January”!i

She is proposing to survive until spring by NOT following typical winter wellbeing advice such as eating healthily and getting outdoor exercise. Beddington’s “wellness-free tips” include eating chocolate, and wrapping up in a cosy cape whenever she steps outside. She refers to this item of apparel as “the cape of good hope”.

Many of us can relate. On cold winter days, snuggling under blankets or warm clothing has a lot of appeal. Fortunately, by the time you read this newsletter, February will be on the doorstep. Meteorologically, we will be in “late winter.” Spring is almost here!

The columnist’s suggestions did, however, get me thinking about spiritual “cosiness.” Pastors and spirituality professionals lean towards the brisk and the bracing. We tend to act more like sport coaches than supportive companions. My school hockey mistress comes into mind more than my Nan when I’m preaching!

Being spiritually fit is a good thing. Running straight races an apt metaphor for the faith journey. But Jesus also invited us to rest, to lift lighter weights, to choose the comfortable over the challenging, when we can. February is the perfect month to follow this advice.

Treat yourself to some delicious bread and reflect on Jesus nourishing your soul. (How is he your butter? And your jam?) Curl up with a heartwarming book or film. C. S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” is good reading and good viewing. Or anything by the late Tony Campolo. A Baptist minister who throws a surprise birthday party for a prostitute will brighten up the darkest winter day!ii

Spring is close by. Lent and Easter will soon be upon us. Take this opportunity to enjoy some late winter cosiness. Wrap yourself up in God’s love – it’s like a vegan puffer for our souls! And don’t forget Jesus’ fresh bread.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Come to me.

I’ll show you how to take a real rest.

I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”iii

Sending you warm and cosy blessings,

Brenda

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i Emma Beddington, “Somehow it is still January. Here are my nine wellness-free survival tips”, The Guardian, 20/1/2025

ii Tony Campolo, “The Kingdom of God is a Party”, Thomas Nelson, 1990

iii From Matthew 11: 28-30 The Message