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April 2025
Dear Friends,
As I have walked around the village in the last few weeks I have been encouraged by the changes in the world around us—spring is here! The mornings are lighter, the birds are singing their hearts out, and there’s a sense that the world is waking up. After months of grey skies and bare trees, suddenly there’s colour again. Daffodils stand bright and cheerful along the verges, springing up all of a sudden announcing the arrival of spring. Our beloved sheep at St Giles are enjoying the warmer weather and perhaps before too long, might be joined by some lambs!
Spring has always been one of God’s greatest reminders that no winter lasts forever. However cold, however long, however dark—it always gives way to light. And isn’t that what hope is? The seasons show us this simple truth every year, but we it’s easy to forget when life feels heavy.
If you’ve ever seen a crocus pushing through the frost, you’ll know what resilience looks like. That little flower doesn’t wait for perfect conditions—it grows anyway. This is another picture of hope. It’s not about waiting until life is easy or everything is sorted; it’s about choosing to trust that something better is ahead. And while we wait, God is with us.
Maybe this past season has been a difficult one for you. Maybe you’ve felt stuck, or lost, or simply exhausted. If so, take heart. Spring reminds us that renewal is always possible. Change is slow, often unseen at first, but it is happening. The same God who calls the trees to blossom and the birds to sing is at work in our lives too, even in the moments when we can’t quite feel it yet.
So, as we step into this season, let’s notice the signs of new life around us—not just in nature, but in each other. In the kindness of a neighbour, in the laughter of children playing outside, in the small moments of joy that break through when we least expect them. These are all reminders that hope is real, that God is faithful, and that life will always find a way forward.
With my prayers and best wishes,
Rev’d Christie