It's been a poignant week in the life of our church family. Colin Ray has been a member of St Francis for many years - it all started when he and Julia saw an advertisment for a new junior church, and they took their youngest two along! Colin's health has declined over recent months but it was still quite a shock to hear that he died at the start of this week. Our thoughts and prayers are with Julia and their family, and as a church family, we too will feel the loss of Colin.
And alongside our sadness at Colin's death is joy at getting together again through café - it was a delight to see each other in person, some for the first time in a year! We were able to operate very safely and the weather was on board with our plans. Hope you like our new gazebo, in the photo. And we're livestreaming our service at 10am from the church building, thanks to the amazing efforts of the AV team who've set up the new system, ably lead by Peter Rhodes.
The conflicting emotions of sorrow and joy so often run side by side in our lives. We see these conflicting emotions in the disciples as they come to terms with all that happened at Easter with Jesus' death and resurrection. Their own reactions to it included denial and doubt. God is the one who holds us steady in the midst of such emotions, and through these times of change that we're in.
Deuteronomy 33: 27a expresses that truth so beautifully: 'The eternal God is your refuge, and his everlasting arms are under you.' May we know His everlasting arms holding us steady in these times of transition, in joy and in sorrow.
Read the rest here: Newsletter 220421
