Dear Friends,

As I sit down to write this in the middle of March I’m struck by how much uncertainty fills our world at the moment. Every time we turn on the news, there seems to be more and more to worry about. The cost-of-living crisis is affecting us all. I know many in our villages are feeling the pressure, whether it’s the cost of heating, the price of food, or the uncertainty of jobs… life feels like a struggle.

And it’s not just the economy that unsettles us. We live in a time of global instability, political upheaval, and social change that can feel overwhelming. Many fear for the future, fear for loved ones, fear they will not having enough and it’s hard to hold on to hope.

As Christians, we are called to be people of hope… not a shallow, wishful thinking kind of hope, but a deep and certain hope rooted in the very heart of our faith. That hope is what we celebrate at Easter. Easter tells us that, no matter how dark things seem, the story is not over!

The disciples must have thought that everything was lost on Good Friday when Jesus was crucified. Their dreams were shattered. They were afraid, uncertain, and in despair. And yet, in the quiet of the tomb, something beyond their understanding was happening. Death was being undone. Life was stirring. And wonderfully on Easter morning, the impossible happened…

Jesus rose from the dead !

The resurrection of Jesus is not just a historical event; it is the foundation of our faith. It tells us that darkness does not win, that fear is not the end, and that God is still at work even when we cannot see it. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the power that sustains us today. This does not mean that life will suddenly become easier or that all our troubles will disappear. But it does mean that we do not walk through them alone. Jesus is risen, and because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Because He lives, we can have hope… not in the economy, not in governments, not in things that fade, but in the unchanging love and faithfulness of God… a God who loves and cares for each and every one of us.

So, as we journey through this season of uncertainty, let’s hold onto that hope. Let’s be a community that lifts one another up, that offers kindness in hard times, and that reminds the world around us that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… and know that because of Jesus we can have hope.

Happy Easter,

God Bless, Cathy