In the informal settlement of Dagoretti in Nairobi, many parents wake each morning knowing they must earn money that day. If they do not, their children may not eat that night. For Fridah Moraa, this pressure is constant. She is a recently widowed grandmother and the sole provider for her family. Rent, school costs, water and food all depend on what she can earn. Fridah lives with her children and grandson in a rented corrugated metal shelter. There is no running water and space is extremely limited. To support her family she sells vegetables at a market stall. With no refrigeration or storage, she travels long distances to buy produce, six days a week. Some days she earns enough. Some days she does not.Fridah’s situation began to change when she joined Imarisha Kilimo, an urban farming project run by Christian Aid’s partner, Beacon of Hope. At first, the idea felt impossible, ‘I was wondering, where can someone farm here?’ Through training, tools and seeds, Fridah learned how to grow food in small city spaces. She learned how to use cone gardens, make compost and conserve water. At the end of her narrow alley, she now tends her own urban farm. She grows kale, tomatoes and indigenous vegetables. Some feed her family. Some she sells. It’s more than food; it means stability and choice. She can plan and help her family.At Holy Trinity our young people will be hosting a coffee morning in the workshop on Saturday 16th May to fundraise for Christian Aid’s work. There will be a Fare Trade stall. Please come along. In addition, there will be envelopes for any donations you feel you could make. Alternatively go online to www.christianaid.org.uk to find out more or donate there. Thanks, Julie
New life is the theme of Easter as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. When Mary came to the tomb early that morning, she found not only that the stone had been rolled away, but the risen Jesus standing nearby. The Gospel writer, John, tells us that at first Mary didn’t recognise Jesus.This initial non-recognition of Jesus became a feature of his post-resurrection appearances to the disciples. Like when the disciples were fishing and they didn’t recognise Jesus standing on the shore, or the two disciples walking to Emmaus who didn’t know at first that their companion was Jesus.It was the same Jesus, but he was somehow different.Life never stays the same. To be alive is to change. The writer Kate Bruce remarks, “Hope does not return to the old state of being. It propels us towards something new.Few people like change.There’s an old joke about how many Anglicans it takes to change a light bulb! One answer is ten. One to change the bulb, four to argue about how to change the bulb, and five to comment on how much better the old bulb was!If things changed for the disciples after the resurrection, they changed completely after the Ascension. Yet in the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, bestowed in all its fulness at Pentecost, they went on confidently to proclaim the Gospel and to build the church. Even though circumstances had changed and many challenges faced them, they pressed ahead, looking forward rather than backwards.I know that ministry has been fruitfully sustained in Holy Trinity and St Michael’s over this past year. It is thanks to Julie, Ministry Team, Church Wardens and all who have been so supportive, that the love of God has remained so evident in this time of interregnum. And now, as the disciples did, we look forward with hope to all that is to come.I look forward to worshipping with you this Ascension Day May 14th at St Peters Church at 7.30pm with our friends in the local Church of England churches.May we look forward to new life, as we celebrate Ascension and Pentecost.Every blessing,Anne
MAY 2026 NEWSLETTERJulie Writes...Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) - Ascension Day to Pentecost – Will you join in?Since it began in May 2016, God has grown TKC from a dream of possibility into a movement that unites more than a million Christians in prayer in nearly 90% of countries worldwide, across 85 different denominations and traditions, so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ.It is our hope and prayer, that those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and His love for the world, will hear it for themselves and respond and follow Him. Specifically, we again invite each and every Christian across the globe to pray that God’s Spirit might work in the lives of five people who have not responded with their ‘Yes’ to God’s call.This is something we can all do and at Holy Trinity and St Michael’s we have again ordered booklets to help us in this essential task. Please collect one in Church and read it during the period from Ascension Day -Thursday 14th May for 11 days until Pentecost on Sunday 24th May. The booklet is introduced by our new Archbishop Sarah Mullally and I hope it will be encouraging. We have prayed now for 2 years for God to grow our church let us continue and during these 11 days at least concentrate on our 5 people. This may be a very ongoing discipline for you and the knack is never to give up!For more details take a look at Thy Kingdom Come I also hope as many of you as possible will join me at St Peter’s Formby for the joint service for Ascension Day on 14th May at 7.30pm. Lifts can be arranged if needed.Trinity Sunday -31st May 2026Last year we had a joint service for the whole Benefice – Holy Trinity and St Michael’s to worship together. Many of you said you had enjoyed the opportunity and so I am planning for us to repeat it this year. This means there will be no service at St Michael’s that morning and only one service at Holy Trinity beginning at 10.30am. We will have cake and refreshment afterwards and a chat to chat with each other. Archdeacon Pete has agreed to come and preach so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say about The Trinity. Please make come along and make this a day of celebration and fellowship.Thank you for continued support, Julie.
