We are now in the season of Sundays after Easter – six of them! We are learning about the first days of the early Christian church. What a time of turmoil as the friends of Jesus stepped into the unknown without his physical presence to support them. There would have been the all too familiar jostling for position, heated discussions, disagreements and fear – were they following the lead of Jesus as he wanted them to? Had they learned enough from him to give them the knowledge, understanding, strength and determination to go out and spread the good news of Jesus Christ? Sounds familiar?

The answer to all of those questions is of course, yes. That doesn’t mean the way forward is always easy or comfortable or without sacrifice. It does mean that we, like them, have Jesus to turn to in prayer whenever we feel in need of support or strength to deal with whatever life throws at us.

Thursday 14th May, forty days after Easter, is Ascension Day, when we mark Jesus’ ascension to heaven, and ten days later Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. This marks the birth of the Church, when the Apostles began their mission to spread that Good News.