Rev Chris’ Blog

Rev Chris’ Blog,

April 2026 ‘Hope’

When Keith hit rock-bottom, he walked. It was the only way he could cope with all that had happened to him and all the stupid things he had done to himself and to others. He walked. Not like Harold Fry on his Pilgrimage (in Rachel Joyce’s fictional story) – Harold had a destination in mind and a purpose, even though that changed with time. Keith simply walked to survive, to stay alive, to exist.
By the time he arrived at a shelter in Weston, he was in a bad way. His clothes weren’t really designed for all he’d put them through, his boots least of all, and his feet were in a real mess. At the shelter, to his amazement, in addition to food and a bed for the night, Keith found a chiropodist who attended to his feet without charge. When I met Keith at a drop-in centre near Oxford many years later, he told me about the difference that chiropody had made for him – he reckoned that by enabling him to keep on walking, it had been like a light shining into the darkness, it had given him hope – and had saved his life!

Hope comes in so many different forms – physical help, mental support, emotional or spiritual encouragement. I wonder what has given you hope? What difference that hope has made? ….and where it has led you?

In Greek mythology, when Pandora opened her box, despite being warned not to, she unleashed a multitude of harmful spirits that inflicted plagues, diseases, and illnesses on humankind. Spirits of greed, envy, hatred, mistrust, sorrow, anger, revenge, lust, and despair scattered far and wide looking for humans to torment. Inside the box, however, there was also an unreleased healing spirit named Hope.

At Easter we celebrate the hope of Jesus’ resurrection – evidenced by the empty tomb, and symbolized for us by a hollow chocolate egg. This hope is at the heart of the Christian faith. It is a ‘now’ and ‘not yet’ hope, linking together Jesus’ rising to new life and the anticipation of a final new creation at the end of all time. Tom Wright, in his book ‘Surprised by HOPE’, explains how ‘every act of love……every work of true creativity (every time justice is done, peace is made, families are healed, temptation is resisted, true freedom is sought and won) is a signpost of hope, ‘pointing back to the first and on to the second’.

This Easter, may we all be ‘Surprised by Hope’, and may the true joy of Jesus’ resurrection lead us into life, in all its fulness – both now, and not yet.

God bless you. Happy Easter!
Rev Chris

---

March 2026 ‘I am because we are’

At the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Kirsty Coventry (International Olympic Committee President) reflected on how the Spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than Sport – it is about us and what makes us human. She spoke of an African word, ‘Ubuntu’- which means ‘I am because we are’ – and explained its meaning: that we can only rise by lifting others, that our strength comes from caring for each other – no matter where we come from’. In this, she followed on from the President of the 2026 Winter Olympics Organising Committee, Giovanni Malago, who said that at a time when so much of the world is divided by conflict, another world is possible – one of unity, respect and harmony, in which sport can provide a universal language, uniting all into one Olympic Family. They were stirring words, and combined with the amazing music and dance, costumes and processions, they lifted the spirits of all present as well as those of us watching around the world.

One of the things that unites us across our villages is our local magazine – ‘Huntspill News’. Our schools and our churches also seek to be connection points – physically, mentally and spiritually – bringing our communities together. Our local councils do an amazing job of serving our area, as do our pubs, our various clubs, our garage and car wash and our village events – working together, serving our area, growing our community….. Alongside these, the power lies in our own hands – the power to make a difference, with a little kindness, compassion, gentleness and courage. Let’s keep doing all that we can to grow our communities and care for our villages – recognising that ‘I am’ because ‘We are’.

In January, Churches Together celebrated the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ with a special service at Burnham Methodist Church – bringing together many different traditions and styles of worship, recognising that we are all called to unity. The Lord’s Prayer is treasured by Christians throughout the world, and through March we are focussing on this in our Lent Group – to which everyone is very welcome. Prayer is an act of communication – when we speak to God, and when we listen too – and effective communication is surely at the heart of all true unity. Jesus gave this prayer to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray. May I encourage you to pray this prayer every day through Lent – focussing on each line of meaning and being open to where it leads you?

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.

Let us travel together toward Easter, seeking peace and unity on all levels and learning from each other as we go!
God bless you,
Rev Chris