A message from HANNAH JEFFERY, RECTOR OF THE BENEFICE
God’s promise modelled in creation
I was born and grew up in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa. Whilst I still miss it deeply, including the endless blue skies, the warm sunshine, the thundering rain storms and the expanse of the bush, there is one thing that was missing….and that is the starkness of the seasons.
I’ve come to really appreciate the four seasons in this part of the world. In Africa they were much less defined, and really it felt more like there were two – Summer (when it was hot) and Winter, when it was cold! And we didn’t have central heating so it really did feel quite cold at times!
But I do love the turning of the seasons in this country and often I ponder which season is my favourite. But you know I don’t think I have a favourite, I love them all for different reasons. But I also love the transition between them.
As I write I am starting to notice in our garden the transition from Winter to Spring. Dotted all over the place, are green shoots….which as Spring really arrives will turn into daffodils, tulips, and crocuses. But for now they are just green shoots! And they’re often appearing whilst surrounded still by the signs of Winter, dead leaves and plants that have died back.
This year I’ve been really struck by this. I know, as I look at the green shoots pushing their way through the soil, that Spring is coming! But it’s not here yet and that’s reminded me of the hope we have as Christians. Every year we journey through Lent and Easter, recalling afresh the story of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection and we’re reminded that in Christ we have a living hope – death has been defeated and new life will come – now in part, but one day in all its fullness. Isn’t it wonderful that this truth is also lived out for us in God’s astounding creation.
We are reminded every year, as we transition from Winter to Spring, that new life will come and sometimes when Winter is set in and the dark nights come too early, we may feel consumed by the darkness; yet every year, without fail, the new life slowly begins to creep back in and we are reminded that Spring is coming.
I encourage you to look around you at the astounding beauty of God’s creation and to allow it to speak to you of the eternal message that Christ brought – a message of hope. Hope in the promise that new life will always come from the darkness, that’s the promise that Christ modelled for us, and is modelled in all of creation. And whilst we may not know quite what that new life may look like, we can trust that through Christ’s promise, it will come. Today, only in part maybe, but when Christ comes again, in all its fulness. Hallelujah!
I was born and grew up in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa. Whilst I still miss it deeply, including the endless blue skies, the warm sunshine, the thundering rain storms and the expanse of the bush, there is one thing that was missing….and that is the starkness of the seasons.
I’ve come to really appreciate the four seasons in this part of the world. In Africa they were much less defined, and really it felt more like there were two – Summer (when it was hot) and Winter, when it was cold! And we didn’t have central heating so it really did feel quite cold at times!
But I do love the turning of the seasons in this country and often I ponder which season is my favourite. But you know I don’t think I have a favourite, I love them all for different reasons. But I also love the transition between them.
As I write I am starting to notice in our garden the transition from Winter to Spring. Dotted all over the place, are green shoots….which as Spring really arrives will turn into daffodils, tulips, and crocuses. But for now they are just green shoots! And they’re often appearing whilst surrounded still by the signs of Winter, dead leaves and plants that have died back.
This year I’ve been really struck by this. I know, as I look at the green shoots pushing their way through the soil, that Spring is coming! But it’s not here yet and that’s reminded me of the hope we have as Christians. Every year we journey through Lent and Easter, recalling afresh the story of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection and we’re reminded that in Christ we have a living hope – death has been defeated and new life will come – now in part, but one day in all its fullness. Isn’t it wonderful that this truth is also lived out for us in God’s astounding creation.
We are reminded every year, as we transition from Winter to Spring, that new life will come and sometimes when Winter is set in and the dark nights come too early, we may feel consumed by the darkness; yet every year, without fail, the new life slowly begins to creep back in and we are reminded that Spring is coming.
I encourage you to look around you at the astounding beauty of God’s creation and to allow it to speak to you of the eternal message that Christ brought – a message of hope. Hope in the promise that new life will always come from the darkness, that’s the promise that Christ modelled for us, and is modelled in all of creation. And whilst we may not know quite what that new life may look like, we can trust that through Christ’s promise, it will come. Today, only in part maybe, but when Christ comes again, in all its fulness. Hallelujah!