Dear Friends

‘We are an Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song.’ This phrase is now so ingrained in me that I can’t remember where it comes from; whether it is a liturgical phrase or a quote form some famous Church Father (the recorded words of women about Christianity in its early centuries are very sparse) or more recent theologian.

It has a wonderful celebratory feeling, hopefully capturing something of the feeling Christians have on Easter Day. Christ is risen, our life is changed forever and a natural response is to rejoice and praise God for this gift of undreamt of new life.

But what happens in the weeks of Easter pass. A friend rings to tell you of a close family bereavement, your child has to go into hospital, the depression which so plagued a neighbour has returned, yet another suicide bomber wreaks more devastation in Iraq. What does resurrection mean in daily life; the mixed bag of daily life with its minor and major crises, its joys and funny side.

This was true from the earliest days; Thomas doubting, the church being persecuted having to go into hiding, the martyrdom of early Christians for their faith, disputes between Christians about the way forward, about doctrine and behaviour.

One of the most important aspects of Christianity is that it has a strong focus on hope; not a sort of blind optimism or the empty smile designed to smooth over even the most difficult situation with a flourish. Rather it is something which might only be a tiny grain, a seed; but with God it is a distinct possibility reflected to us from an eternal future. The light of resurrection shines in the world, however dimly it might be in some places. Our sense that God’s love for creation goes to unfathomable depths, makes it possible that human love like ripples through a pool can multiply.

Just before Easter two men from Caleb, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation project in Bradford, came to tell us more about the project, which we have now been supporting for a year. They each spoke movingly about their experience of being dependent on drugs and alcohol, their low self esteem and how their habit had taken them to the very edge of life itself. Thanks to Caleb and the rehabilitation on offer through the project which uses a 12 step plan similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, they spoke of how they had found a life worth living, which included God. They talked easily of what God meant to them. They were now both part of Caleb, as a result of the mentoring love of staff on the project, who had cared for them going to ultimate lengths, taking them into their homes for many weeks as they recovered.

Challenging, emotionally draining work these men who spoke to us recognized the value of such work even for one more person to recover, although the hope is that there will be many who find new life. This is the resurrection hope, that even against negative odds, there is new life. It might be fragile, a struggle, one day at a time, but a life with a future that God holds.

There are many sparks of hope in our world in 2005; our hope this year for a new future for the people of Africa, our hope for fairer trade (we have just become a fair trade church – a tiny beginning), our hope that poverty will become history. We may feel insignificant in the face of such need. The message of resurrection is that we are not. We can be sparks of hope, with others lighting beacons that will not go out, but speak of love, of God and of a future for all creation. In the reality of our world, Christ has come to us and we can say, ‘We are an Easter people and Hallelujah is our song,’ and mean whatever happens.

Yours in Christ,

Ruth