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