May 2025 Clergy Letter

As I write the world has been shocked and saddened by the death on Easter Monday of Pope Francis. Like his namesake, Francis of Assisi, the Pope had a deep concern for the global poor and travelled widely bringing words of comfort and hope, whilst challenging the comfortable among us to do more.

I am sure many who met him will have their own personal stories to tell. It has caused me to reflect upon the power of personal encounter in a world where so many of us spend hours behind our screens.

Jesus, like Francis, was always on the road. His public encounters with ordinary people and his private instruction of his closest followers’ form most of the Gospel narratives. Much ministry today is from a computer or a phone but going out and about and meeting people in our 8 villages is always both a priority and a highlight of my working week. It is often through others, especially in times of need, that I most clearly see Jesus.

This year we will once again carry the Benefice Cross around our 8 villages between Ascension (May 29th) and Pentecost (June 8th) to pray for one another and the life of our communities, to pause and chat with those we meet on the road.

On Ascension Day, 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus returned to his Father in heaven. He instructed his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift he would send them. They gathered, waited and prayed. After 10 days, on the feast of Pentecost, they experienced God’s powerful presence with them visibly as tongues of fire and audibly as a rushing wind. This presence strengthened them to carry the good news of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ to all nations.

Today Christians continue to know personally the presence of God with them as their comforter and guide on life’s journey. The Holy Spirit also helps us become more like Jesus. Pope Francis prayed daily the simple 7-word prayer taught him by his grandmother, ‘Jesus make my heart more like yours.’

Perhaps we might make this our prayer during this Easter season.

Rev Becky Richards