Dear Friends,
The arrival of March traditionally heralds the beginning of spring and the promise of brighter days ahead, even if we occasionally still encounter a final flourish of winter. There is an old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and whatever the weather may bring, this month is rich with meaningful moments in the Christian calendar.
On 1st March we celebrate St David’s Day, the national day of Wales, often marked by the cheerful sight of daffodils and leeks. This year, I am sure Rev’d Andrew will be out and about celebrating St David and sharing in Welsh traditions. However, I shall be turning my attention to St Patrick, whose feast day follows on 17th March. It may leave some wondering whether there will be a friendly “battle of the Celts” between dragon and shamrock. I suspect any contest will be joyfully settled with laughter, fellowship and a shared celebration of how both saints faithfully shared the Gospel in ways that spoke to the people around them. Their lives remind us that faith often grows strongest when it is lived out in the language, culture and everyday life of ordinary people.
Throughout March our focus rests deeply within the season of Lent as we prepare for Good Friday on 3rd April. Lent offers us space to pause, breathe and reflect on why Christ came among us. It invites honesty about who we are and the world we inhabit, gently guiding us towards the hope found in Christ’s saving love. In a memoir set in Berlin, writer Amy Liptrot reflects on the beauty and fragility of human life, concluding with the words, “I am battered and scarred and alive and beautiful.” Though not written as a Christian work, these words echo the Lenten journey, reminding us that to be human is to carry wounds and stories, hopes and disappointments. Lent encourages us to place all of this before God, trusting that we are deeply loved.
The word “passion,” which we associate with Good Friday, comes from a root meaning to endure or to undergo. In the Passion of Christ, we see Jesus willingly enter into the brokenness, pain and suffering of the world. His love is revealed not through power or dominance, but through sacrifice and surrender. At times, our world can feel like a long Holy Saturday, where we witness injustice and suffering while waiting and hoping for renewal. Yet Easter assures us that love is stronger than death and that hope is never lost.
We will be running a Family Service, on the 22nd March in Eagle at 4:00pm. This will be a joyful and welcoming service with lively music, dancing, creative crafts and time spent sharing the Gospel in ways that are engaging for all ages. It will be an opportunity for children, parents, grandparents and friends to explore faith together through creativity, celebration and storytelling. Whether you join us regularly or are visiting for the first time, you will receive a very warm welcome as we gather to share fellowship, fun and the good news of Christ’s love. Please do join us.
Yola