MONTHLY MAGAZINE LETTER
Revd. Joan Lyon
MAY 2012 EDITION
Dear Friends
As I write this letter, we have just celebrated Easter Day and by the time you read this, many people across the country will be making plans for national celebrations -the Diamond Jubilee of her Majesty Elizabeth, our Queen as well as the Olympic Games.
It's good to have events like this to look forward to, particularly in smaller communities when we can come together in different ways in a spirit of celebration. I am full of admiration for the creative ideas springing up all over the place.
A positive community is developed and sustained by such events. What enables these celebrations to happen well is the building of good relationships day by day and week by week, whether these are neighbours, old friends, newcomers, visitors or wider family. For any relationship to be meaningful, we need to give it some attention. The good thing is that God is always ready to pay attention to us – we don’t have to stand in a queue and wait our turn. Perhaps we don’t always think of God as someone who needs our attention, someone who wants to be in contact, waits patiently for us to seek him out and delights in our company. When Jesus appeared to different people after his resurrection, he pointed them in the direction of building community – “Peace be with you. Love one another” – he said.
The new life which we receive at Easter takes us not only towards the next big celebration or the next big event in our lives but into each moment of each day. The crucifixion of Jesus was a one-off event but it has lasting consequences for the whole world because it helps us to live without fear and in a way which shows God's love for all of us. The joy of Easter is for every day, not just for the big moments or the occasional crisis. So rather than holding our breath and hoping that all will be okay on the big day (whatever occasion that may be for us), let’s be sustained and encouraged by the Spirit of the risen Lord coming to us day by day, hour by hour.
Joan
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