This thought-provoking article from Matt Jolley of LICC reminds us that ‘to be a Christian is to be well-acquainted with the tension between the now and the not yet, as we see both beauty and brokenness on our frontlines’, reminding us through the witness and testimony of Grammy-award-winning artist Jon Batiste that ‘Jesus, pioneer and perfecter of faith, endured the cross because of the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:1–3). As we fix our eyes on him, the same joy bleeds into us, giving us strength when we’re weary and hope when we’re losing heart. Through his sacrifice, we’re liberated from the darkness to dance to the music of the resurrection.’

Worth reading and dancing!

Dancing in the Shadow of the Cross

On Good Friday, we traditionally reflect on the death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. It is important to do this, but it is not the end of the story, despite what we may think. Death is usually seen as the end (and not a happy ending.) It speaks to us of tragedy, pain, loss, separation. I can imagine those who gathered at the crucifixion hoped for a different ending and went home that day saddened beyond words, and quite possibly confused and bewildered. They had hoped for a different ending.

That ‘different ending’ would indeed come, but not before the bitterness of death had had its moment. So it is for us. Our reading today (Mark 15:42-43, Mark 16:1-8) is not a traditional Good Friday reading, for it looks beyond that day. It’s a reminder that Christians are people who must learn to ‘look beyond.’ We must learn to look beyond sorrow, look beyond pain, look beyond suffering, persecution, doubt and despair to the God of hope, to the God of resurrection.

Even on Resurrection Day and beyond, there was fear and doubt, as the Gospel accounts make plain. We don’t easily or automatically adjust to hope and glory! But we can be sure, even as we stand at the cross on Good Friday, that this is not the end of the story and therefore there is hope.

Today is Maundy Thursday, traditionally the day in the Christian calendar when we remember how Jesus washed the feet of His disciples (see John 13:1-35). Jesus demonstrated His love for them in this selfless act of service; it was, John says, a way that He showed them the ‘full extent of His love.’ In this chapter, Jesus told them to ‘love one another as I have loved you.’ It is significant that He included Judas, who would betray Him, in this act of service: ‘despite the betrayal, despite the hatred, bitterness, envy or disappointment – whatever it was that motivated Judas – Jesus cut through it all with His offering of love.’ (‘Sharing The Easter Story’, P 208)

We are all made in the image of God, and ‘loving each other as if there were none other in all the world’ is the ideal to which we should all aspire. Because we are loved so much by God, we are set free to love as He loves.

After our planting outdoors, we were glad to be welcomed to Furlong Road Methodist Church and given homemade soup (cooked in a Wonder bag, no less!) and sandwiches and hot cross buns. Our thanks to the helpers at Furlong Road and to Alison Sykes from the Salvation Army for providing the free food at this event.

Then we could do Easter crafts.

We were very blessed to be given Easter eggs by Verity.

We’ve had a busy day today, helping to plant flowers at Thurnscoe Flower Park and at Goldthorpe Railway Embankment. We’re grateful to all the families that came out to help and to the volunteers who work tirelessly at these venues all year round, helping to make our area beautiful.

We planted different perennials at Thurnscoe Flower Park and Japanese anemones at the Railway Embankment.