Dear FriendsI write this article in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks around the worldwhich have seemed to be escalating, and which has also left me, as I amsure it has left many of you, wondering about this world that we live in. I re-fer in particular to the bombings in Palestine/Israel and Ukraine/Russia.We can often in our lives think that the little things that get us down and up-set us are important, but… are they really? What would we feel if we hadhad a row over breakfast with our loved ones, and then found that we couldnot say sorry to them as they had been killed?Why do we get so upset over the small difficulties in life when we can seemat times to totally ignore the bigger picture?Jesus says ‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with allyour soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second isthis, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other com-mandment greater than these.” ‘(Mark 12:30-31. NRSV)I have been struck that we often do not seem to take these words to heart,and struggle to even like our neighbour, let alone love them. However, theopen letter from Antoine Leiris, (17th November 2015) which directlyaddressed the terror gang who gunned down his wife Hélène Muyal-Leirisin the Paris shooting really hit home for me, and so I would like to remindyou about what he said - just in case you missed it, or have forgotten hiswords as it is now 10 years ago.“On Friday night you stole the life of an exceptional being, the love of mylife, the mother of my son, but you won't have my hatred.I don't know who you are and I don't want to know - you are dead souls. Ifthis God for which you kill indiscriminately made us in his own image, everybullet in the body of my wife will have been a wound in his heart.So no, I don't give you the gift of hating you. You are asking for it butresponding to hatred with anger would be giving in to the same ignorancethat made you what you are.You want me to be afraid, to view my fellow countrymen with mistrust, tosacrifice my freedom for security. You have lost.I saw her this morning. Finally, after many nights and days of waiting. Shewas just as beautiful as when she left on Friday night, just as beautiful aswhen I fell hopelessly in love over 12 years ago.Of course I'm devastated with grief, I admit this small victory, but it will beshort-lived. I know she will accompany us every day and that we will findourselves in this paradise of free souls to which you'll never have access.We are two, my son and I, but we are stronger than all the armies of theworld.I don't have any more time to devote to you, I have to join Melvil who iswaking up from his nap. He is barely 17-months-old. He will eat his mealsas usual, and then we are going to play as usual, and for his whole life thislittle boy will threaten you by being happy and free. Because no, you will nothave his hatred either.“This open letter also then reminded me of another great act of forgiveness:William Ury wrote in his 1999 book The Third Side about the peace cam-paigner Gordon Wilson (25 September 1927-27 June 1995)In an interview with the BBC, Wilson described with anguish his last conver-sation with his daughter and his feelings toward her killers: "She held myhand tightly, and gripped me as hard as she could. She said, 'Daddy, I loveyou very much.' Those were her exact words to me, and those were the lastwords I ever heard her say." To the astonishment of listeners, Wilson wenton to add, "But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is notgoing to bring her back to life. She was a great wee lassie. She loved herprofession. She was a pet. She's dead. She's in heaven and we shall meetagain. I will pray for these men tonight and every night."As historian Jonathan Bardon recounts, "No words in more than twenty-fiveyears of violence in Northern Ireland had such a powerful, emotional im-pact."Pope Leo XIV has just said in the last few days that: "War is neverinevitable." "Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolveproblems but only increase them.""Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seedsof suffering."Let us all remember then that in this world that we live in we can all make adifference, and we can and should make this world a better place to live in.Yours in ChristRobert
Gentlemen’s LunchThe next lunch will be held at the usual venueThe Golden Pheasant,Plumley Moor Lane, Plumley.onThursday 19th June, 12.45 for 1.00pm.Please note, our following lunch will be on Thursday July 17thNew members and visitors are invited and alwayswelcome to join our social lunches.We meet every third Thursday of the month throughout the year.For further information please contact:Ed Wakefield 01565 830127 or Derek Moorhouse 01565 830398
Ladies’ Lunch CirclePlease note, our next meeting is atonWednesday 3rd Juneat 12 for 12.30pmOur Ladies’ Circle meet for lunch at various venues on the firstWednesday of each month.If you are interested in joining us or require further information please contact eitherJenny Holcroft jenny@highendheating.com Tel: 07785 776512or Hilda Moorhouse dm14041949@gmail.com Tel: 01565 830398
DIARY DATES3rd MayWedding ofJack Connor WRIGHT and Sophie Joan SPENCERat Dunham Massey7th MayFuneral ofColin Pendleburyat Altrincham Crematorium22nd MayAssistant Archdeacon Lesley Currie visited all four churches29th May10am Ascension Day service at St Mary, Rostherne - all areWelcomeSaturday 16th AugustAt St.Mary’s at 6 pmAdvance notice of aConcert byMereside BrassAny enquiries please email christophertetlow@hotmail.co.ukFrom the RegistersSt Mary RostherneBurial of Ashes18th March 2025 Harry Smith aged 84Norma Smith aged 912nd May 2025 Doris Haslam aged 84Margaret Smyth aged 8421st May 2025 Hazel Henshaw aged 92