Dear Friends,

Last week a small group of us went to a hill outside our villages ready to look out over our parishes and pray for our little part of God's creation. We ascended through the heavy sea mist, hoping that at the top it would clear, but no, we had to hold in our minds' eyes all for which we prayed. We prayed for all we know because we live here.

This Sunday we are celebrating the feast of the Ascension, that mystery which carries us from Easter day to Pentecost as Jesus is received into God's heavenly presence: carrying the fullness of his human life in the eternity of God's being. Much of later reflection on this mystery talks of Jesus interceding for us at God's right hand and perhaps that is something about bringing what he knows as a human because he has lived here to the eternal knowing of God? God's compassion has a human face.

And we are called to be that human face of compassion now in our prayers, in our actions, in all that we are.

That compassion can be shown this weekend by giving to Christian Aid as the annual week comes to an end.

There is also an invitation on the evening of 25th May to join a small ecumenical group to watch a live-stream of a Christian Leadership conference organised by Alpha International to which sr Mary Magdalen was contributed. If you are interested let me know and I can pass on contact details.

We are also now in the midst of the "Thy Kingdom Come" days of prayer. For a national perspective on this there is a link at the bottom.

God bless

Samantha

https://www.thykingdomcome.global/stories/thy-kingdom-come-2023