Saturday 23 April 2011

Silence...

Holy Saturday demands total involvement from every disciple of our Lord, who has walked the Lenten journey. And I do not mean by that the Easter Vigil. Holy Saturday is essential for anyone to know the joy of Easter and again I do not mean the Easter Vigil. I mean the hours from the end of our contemplating together the Passion and Death of Our Lord yesterday afternoon at the ninth hour when the sky turned into darkness, until the hour when we come to receive as a revealing of our risen Lord a candle’s gentle ray.

It is a great pity that Holy Saturday, first of all, is wrongly called Easter Saturday, and secondly that we then let it just be a day of practical preparation for the Vigil. Instead it is the day of “he descended into hell.” There is no public worship this day, because it is the day when the Word of God was silenced. The day is meant to be silent. It is the day of this final proclamation that the Word really has become flesh and dwelt among us sinners; the day of "he descended into hell." 

Receive these words spoken by Pope Benedict standing before the Shrine revered in Turin:

“The unthinkable has happened: Love has penetrated into hell: so that now in the extreme darkness of that human isolation we can hear a voice that calls us and find a hand that takes hold of us and leads us out. Even in the hour of extreme solitude we are never alone.” 

We cannot understand the resurrection unless we ponder from where he rises: because he is selfless, he alone can enter into our personal hells, join us in the farthest countries we have chosen, where we have found ourselves feeding swine and eating the pig swill. 

This day needs silence in abundance; the day when we do not begin by trying to rise up, but first allow the Lord to descend into our hell; join us there; make all its darkness, fears, shame, guilt his very own, and then raise us up, not with blazing storm lanterns, but as a candle’s gentle ray. 

I dream of daring to do no preparations for the Vigil, but leaving the day to silence and then encouraging people to come at a given hour and then begin preparations all together: readers, musicians, flowers, draperies, paintings of creation, especially by the younger members of families, of springs of living waters, and cake making for when the vigil is over. And then beginning the vigil when all is ready; and the cakes are in the oven. I wonder, would  these not lead to what participation in the Liturgy in spirit, mind, hand and body really means. What better night to do so, than that night which promises our bodies shall be raised to the life of the world to come.  


Archbishop Patrick Kelly,
Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Friday 22 April 2011

The greatest story ever told

We are a society in need of a good story. Now more than ever if there is no story there is no interest. A good friend of mine works in TV and once worked on a programme that required young hopefuls to audition in front of 3 judges who would ultimately decide their rise, or fall, to celebrity stardom. He was deliberately told to find people with a "sob story" that would make good viewing. He was told that no one really cares about a contestant unless they have a story.

I decided to apply for the X factor one year. I'm not sure why but I just felt like it was what I wanted to do and I was all excited when my letter came in from Simon Cowell inviting me to audition. I was less excited however about the audition date. Easter Sunday. I rang the production team and asked if I could have my audition date changed as I was fairly busy that day and they said quite simply - no. I then thought that my blatant religious persecution would make a good "sob story" in its self for next year but then I thought actually maybe this is a better out come. I didn't really have a story of terrible personal hardship, I didn’t have a dog that passed away tragically in the last year who’s favourite song I could sing over a dramatic video montage. "The world needs a story" and I didn't know if mine would be good enough to invoke sympathy with even the best editing and emotive music.
I then realised that I had another story belonged to me. The story that belongs to us all and is the greatest story ever told. The story which I wanted to live and tell rather than queue up at a football ground with 10,000 people for a singing audition. The story which we hear in part today - Good Friday - where we reflect upon the greatest act of love there ever was.

It has all the hallmarks that we look for in the stories we see on TV - betrayal, love, suffering, life and death. Except this is not on TV for the world to watch; its alive and living in the church of today in all those who call themselves a Christian. If our world is a world that needs stories then let us today tell our story - Jesus' story and let us be proud of it. Let it be our motivation, our reason for doing what we do and let’s tell that story not just in words but in actions. According to scripture; Jesus spoke very few times on his walk to Calvary but his actions speak of an indescribable love. Let us comfort those in pain as Mary comforted her son, let us support those who fall as Simon carried Jesus, and let us give ourselves so that others may live.

Let us remember that for some people our lives will be the only Bible they will ever read and that His story is one that only we can tell.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12 NIV

Tom Baptist (27)
Nottingham
Programme Leader with responsibility for Outreach Ministry
Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service


Thursday 21 April 2011

A true act of love...

I sometimes think that the TV channel ‘Dave’ was invented just for me. I can happily watch anything and everything that they have to offer. Top Gear? – Yes please. Mock The Week? - Even when its two years out of date. What about Trawlermen? – This for me is the pinnacle of Dave’s programming!

I would like to play a game with you all. Taken from another of Dave’s hit shows ‘QI’. The format is to try not to say anything too obvious (although where I will deviate from this concept is that on QI the obvious answer is false and for this reflection I shall just attempt to avoid the obvious because it gives you nothing new.)


Today is Maunday Thursday. The feast of the Lords Supper and what is interesting is that the Gospel for today is not about the breaking of bread at all [warning lights flash] the Gospel is instead about the prequel to Johns supper – this Gospel is the washing of the Disciples feet [warning lights flash again]. This for me is a wonderful element of Jesus’ ministry.  This wonderful man who the disciples had been amazed by for almost three years still managed to shock.

As a youth worker I often use this Gospel with young people and struggle to share the immensity of this event. I will use cliché’s like comparing this to “having your headmaster carry your bag” [warning lights flash], “having the Simon Cowell give you a lift into town” [and again with the lights] or even “having President Obama cook you beans on toast” [warning lights flash once and then there is a power cut, plunging the studio into darkness]. These are all good comparisons, but they are all flawed. Comparing Jesus washing the disciples feet to any of these is like comparing an oak tree to some brambles, like comparing the King of Kings to a King.

This was and is a true act of love. This is not a human understanding of love, where you are so bowled over by someone beautiful skipping in slow motion through a cornfield under a blue sky with rainbows and bluebirds and a puppy is for some reason licking your face, but Gods love when the greatest person in the whole history of humanity washed the filth encrusted feet of his betrayer.

How then can I possibly reflect upon this rich text without stating the obvious and setting off those lights. Perhaps I can give you my perspective. For the past six months my perspective upon scriptures has changed drastically. This advent just gone, I held back tears of joy at the birth of Christ, I understood the genuine panic of Mary and Joseph when they lost Jesus in Jerusalem and I sobbed when Jesus spoke to Mary and John from the cross and said “this is your son… this is your mother”. Six months ago I found out that I was going to be a father.

As a man who is months away from being knee deep in nappies, I think that I finally understand this Gospel. Jesus washed his disciples feet, not just to shock them, or to prove a point, he degraded himself because he loved them. There are a million things in the world that I would rather do than change a nappy. When the time comes I will switch off ‘Trawlermen’ and do my fatherly duty. Jesus tells his disciples, “do as I have done to you” (Jn 13:15).

Parents do not change nappies because they expect any thanks, I have never thanked my own parents for their service. (Infact I should………………………………….
I have just phoned my parents to thank them - they think I am mad.) 

Parents change nappies because it is the right thing to do, it is an act of love and those two things are the same.  They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. To truly thank my parents I should endeavour to be a good parent, to be a good Christian I must endeavour to imitate Christ who in turn shows His Fathers love.

“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9)

To draw this reflection to a close I would like to offer this prayer -

May we be willing to serve with no hope of thanks. May we follow Jesus’ example to love always, even when it is shocking to others. Also may we be willing to be served, to allow people around us to help us, to be vulnerable and to rely totally on God in others.

Finally on a personal note I ask you to pray for my wife and I and “the nameless wonder”, that we can be a loving family and that when it comes to the hundredth nappy that I can still feel so spiritual.

Have a blessed end of lent and a significant Easter.  


Jon Cornwall, 
Aged 26,
Retreats Manager of Walsingham House and expectant father.


Wednesday 20 April 2011

Spy Wednesday

Hello Everybody!

May seem silly, but first of all I want you to ask yourself -
Where is Jesus sitting in your car this week?

Is he in the boot, completely out of the way, hidden, locked up?
Is he in the back seat, seen through the mirror, now and again giving direction, but constantly ignored?
 Is he in the passenger seat, guiding you on your journey, being listened to and respected?
Or is he driving your car, completely in control, allowing you to enjoy the journey?

We are in the last stages of our Lenten Journey now and for this week at least, we should really think about letting Jesus take over! Let us be led through Holy Week and fully emerge ourselves in all that is to come.

Today's Gospel marks the point in Holy Week, where Judas plots to betray Jesus... Hence the title "Spy Wednesday". When we think of Judas we automatically think "How could he do such a thing?" But maybe it is about time to recognise that we all have a bit of Judas in us!

How many times do we betray God daily?

We could say, it wasn't us who handed Jesus over to die, but actually it was because of us that this had to happen! Today is a day to think about the sins which we are all burdened with. To say, how do we betray God, and what can we do to be reconciled with him?

Maybe it's a case of putting God before the material things in our world - Money, clothes, appearance.
Maybe we should be a closer follower of God, acknowledging to other people that we are happy to be Christian.
Maybe we should spend more time with God in prayer - God who is constantly trying to get our attention and whom we still ignore.

The passion which we heard on Sunday, is full of many characters. The homily I heard by Fr Andrew Cole at my University, expressed these diverse characters beautifully. Each one has a different role and each one can be related to ourselves in some way.
Who do you chose to be most like this Holy Week though? What role will you play?

Will you be Judas - 
Putting money and greed before loyalty to Jesus?

Will you be Peter -
Not even knowing that you betray Jesus daily, but then feeling guilty when you realise you have?

Will you be the prisoner on Jesus' Left -
Mocking Jesus but still asking to be saved?

Or the prisoner on his right -
Standing up for Jesus, believing in him, accepting your wrongs and acknowledging Jesus' innocence?

Will you be Simon of Cyrene -
Carrying the cross of others to release their load?

Will you be one of the women -
Standing back, at a distance, grieving silently?

Will you be Veronica -
Taking pity on Jesus?

Will you be Pilate -
And wash your hands of Jesus when it all gets too tough?

Will you be one of the High priests - 
Afraid that Jesus may compromise your place within society and make you a nobody, a laughing stock?

Will you be one of the crowd -
Who welcome Jesus as royalty, only to shout for his crucifixion days later?

Or   Will you be Jesus Christ -
Putting others before yourself, loving your enemies, forgiving anyone who does bad against you, being prepared to give up everything for others?

I truly hope that each person's Holy Week is blessed, and pray that each of us can step out of our ordinary, scheduled lives for this short time, and reflect on the incredible act of love that Jesus showed to us by dying on the cross. Let us use Jesus as an example, and follow him always.

Keep praying, Jesus loves ya!

Kirsty Lacey, 21,
Studying theology at Nottingham University,
From Corpus Christi Parish, Nottingham Diocese.

Tuesday 19 April 2011

40 Days!

As a new midwife something different struck me about lent this year and it was the title of this blog that started me thinking. We know our 40 days of lent before the joy of Easter mimic Jesus' 40 days in the wilderness before he commenced his active ministry, which echoed the Israelites 40 years in the desert before they reached the promised land. It seems 40 is a good preparation number. And where else do we see it?

I guess that most people count pregnancy in the traditional 9 months, but for anyone that's had a baby, and those of us in healthcare, a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. 40 weeks of silent, unseen growth before the miracle of birth. 40 weeks of preparation before the joy of new life.

A whole lot of the meaning of Easter for me is that it is the ultimate display of Jesus' humanity that he died on the cross for us. Not just that God came to save us, but that He became man to save me. That he lived. That he died.

"Living he loved me
Dying he saved me
Buried he carried my sins far away"

And that life didn't just spring forth in time for his ministry, it began in the same way that all of ours did. In the silence of his mothers womb.

The women I am privileged to care for every day are desperate to get to their due date, they are longing to meet their babies. They prepare meticulously for this new life. And when the time comes, even in the midst of the most difficult labours, even though the parents are painfully aware of the implications of this little person, of the sacrifices they will have to make, they rejoice at the blessing they have received. Birth is the fulfilment of 40 weeks waiting and preparation, just as Easter should be after our 40 days preparation during lent. But when new life arrives we must not expect to settle back into the routine we were comfortable with before lent began. The arrival of a baby means life will never be the same for her parents, and yet are we ready to be changed by the even greater gift of new life in Christ.

As our preparation time draws to a close and we enter the triduum, perhaps we can challenge ourselves to think about how we can allow ourselves and our lives to be truly changed by what we are to receive this Easter. We are given new life in Christ by his resurrection, may our Lenten preparations not just be for the celebration of Easter, but may they help us to be made new. May our 40 days of sacrifice and spiritual preparation make us ready to live the promise of Easter in the rest of our lives. As our 'due date' approaches may the meaning of what we are to go through, the passion and death of our Lord, lead us to be really changed by His resurrection, and may we be transformed by His gift of new life.


Rosey Kennedy
24
Preston
Midwife

Monday 18 April 2011

We believe...

I ask myself, how on earth one writes a message for the start of Holy Week, especially after so many great reflections. As I struggle like others with studies, essays and work, I was remembering the enjoyment of the sunny Friday, just after the end of the university term walking bare foot along the grass with the glorious smell of Spring, experiencing the weather of the changing seasons.
Having entered Holy Week we begin the transformation from lent into Easter where we will once again be called upon to commit ourselves to our faith. For some of us it will be full of religious ceremonies, which we have become so familiar with, but Easter for most is a time of contemplation, where a man called Jesus suffered, died and rose again.

But as we participate in Holy Week, we learn about Jesus, both God and man. A man who was starved and flogged within an inch of his life, his body soaked in blood. The large heavy cross that he had to carry, the crown of thorns dug into his head, a spear through his side. He bore this suffering for each one of us, for the whole world.  That is why we say, he understands our sufferings and knows how we feel at the lowest points in our lives. How can he not, having gone through the most horrific agony that he did?
The thief on the cross shows how far Jesus Christ was willing to go, – ‘this man who was not even guilty’ but bore his suffering as a loving sacrifice for us.

Through lent and now Holy Week, we have fasted to experience a small part of what Jesus Christ went through and without. This Holy Week let us take the time to think about ourselves, our lives, our families and our faith. To learn from our experiences, to be more loving, compassionate and understanding in the way we express ourselves. Let us do this however all the while reflecting on the love God demonstrated on the cross. The one who made it possible for us to love also.
To treat people in the same loving and open way that Jesus Christ did, when he explained peoples wrongs and how if they really wanted to change their ways, to live out their lives in a different/better way, to follow him. He knows that it can be hard, that we do struggle, but he shows his love, compassion and understanding as he continues to speak to us today.
 As blessed John Henry Newman said:
God created us for some definite service or work that He has not committed to another.
 ‘You may be the person, that one person that they turn to in their darkest hour’ for help.  
Jesus Christ said love one another as I have loved you.
Are we ready?
I was recently told that when you come to mass, that among the other great things, you have accepted the open invitation to recommit yourself. So may we use Holy Week as a time to consider the everyday things we should be doing all the time. How we can appreciate what we have been given, and consider how we can use our lives, our gifts to help others and to give back to others in our communities.
John Paul II challenged the youth and young adults of the world to step out into the dark. Pope Benedict XVI challenged us to be a light to each other, just like others who have gone out into the world to try to do Jesus Christ's work.

God asks us to trust him and to have faith in him, in his great love. We are not worthy by anything we have done, as we are all a work in progress, each on the path at different stages in our lives. We are not alone but a part of something that is worldwide, diverse and full of people who have chosen to try and follow Jesus Christ's path by living our lives the way he asked us to.
When we participate at mass and say amen, we are saying that we agree and believe in the glory open to us in the love of Jesus Christ.
So in this holy week, take time to explore, encounter and engage in conversation.
To deepen your personal knowledge and love of Jesus Christ.
 To look at his words in the gospels and take time to think, pray and put aside time to contemplate.
To relax and appreciate life.
He is waiting for us to reach out and to be reconciled with him.
Is it enough to simply participate in the services during Holy Week? Or should we fully engage, suffer with Jesus Christ, die to our own agenda and rise with Him? Holy week calls us to first of all acknowledge exactly what we believe in, and then use that amazing gift of faith to go and do amazing things. I ask you therefore to watch this video, see if you do in fact agree and ask yourself... What am I going to do about it?
Alastair Anderson, 31,
Studying history at Nottingham University.

Saturday 16 April 2011

“Scripture Says...”

“All this I will give you,” he said,
“if you will bow down and worship me.”
(Matt 4:9)
Last month, I was studying the Gospel of the day in the youth group I help to run for the young people of my parish. It was the first Sunday of Lent, and the Gospel that day was Matthew 4:1-11. You know the one. It’s the first one I think of when I think of Lent; Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days and being tempted by the devil. So, we spoke for quite some time about what temptation means to us, particularly during this season of Lent.
We talked about how difficult or easy it was to keep our Lenten promises, and I asked them to suggest ways in which we can beat temptation. We had a few helpful suggestions, but I ultimately wanted to point them back to the gospel where Jesus quotes scripture at Satan to beat the temptation. Whilst I was talking about this I suddenly felt very challenged by it.

The tempter came to Him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matt 4)
 
The importance of Jesus quoting scripture here is that it tells us that we too need to know our scriptures well enough to really beat any temptation we face, to be able to say in a situation, “I know what that the right thing to do here is, because ‘scripture says...’.
As Catholics, we sometimes get accused of being a bit rubbish with our scripture knowledge. I know that this is certainly a fair comment in my life! Sure, I know some scripture, but I know I should know more! This is about being able to speak God’s word into any situation you’re faced with and beat any temptation or confusion.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that The Church "...forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful...to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures." Then it quotes Saint Jerome who says something which challenges me even more... “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” Wow. that’s a really strong way of putting it isn’t it? 
My mum recently told me that when she was pregnant with my younger brother, she gave herself the project of sitting and reading the Bible from cover to cover.  This is something I keep telling myself I should do. Like her, I wouldn’t just be reading, but asking God to send his Holy Spirit to open the scriptures up to me. Ultimately, the bottom line is that I know God has spoken to me through the Bible, and yet there are parts of that book beside my bed that I have never read. Why am I letting them pass me by? What could God have to say to me through passages I am yet to read? And how can I afford not to find out!?
So, here is my Easter challenge, as much to myself as anyone else:  To read more of that book we say is so important to us.  To come to God in prayer and ask him to open up the scriptures to us, so that we too can say, “Get away Satan! For scripture says...”
Oh, and one final thought. I remember a priest once saying to me that even when we take the big steps in our faith lives, they’ll still be difficult and we have to keep taking them every day. Just as he one day decided to study for the priesthood, every morning he has to wake up and say “Today I will be a priest, and all that comes with it”, and the fact is we can only do that by the grace of God. 


Thinking about my new challenges this Lent, and in particular my decision to start reading more scripture,  I set the morning alarm on my phone to play the chorus from Ronan Johnson and Emmaus’ version of “Patrick’s Shield”. It’s an incredible prayer. Each morning I awake to those incredibly powerful words:
“I arise today with a mighty strength; in the power of the trinity, three in one guiding me. With the speed of light and the depth of the sea, God’s strength this day come and rescue me.”

Rick Brewin
Studying Popular Music and Recording at Salford University

Friday 15 April 2011

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.’ Jn 14:27

Firstly, Happy Friday Everyone!!!   

Today may be an opportunity to stop at some point and take a quick look back over Lent so far, as we embark upon Holy Week very soon. 

Before giving us the ultimate gift of himself, one of the last gifts The Lord gives to us, is his peace…
                        
But what is this peace? 
‘Peace’ for me can often come across as a bit ‘airy fairy,’ and sometimes, when thinking about ‘peace for the world’ for example, it can seem a little unobtainable, a bit of a pipe-dream.  Peace was obviously important to Jesus though.

What is peace for me?
Do I try to create peace in the place I live or work?
Am I at peace with myself?   

Think again about the third question. 

For me, to bring peace to others, first and foremost, we need to be at peace with ourselves. Maybe we could use this run-up to Easter, challenging ourselves to create peace with-in.  Maybe this may mean reconciling with God and others, tying up loose-ends, or spending some time in prayer.

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’

This ends Jesus’ above quote when he’s giving us the gift of peace.  Throughout the whole of the New Testament Jesus only says ‘Do not’ about two things, and both of those are above.  These ‘do nots’ certainly help me in my attempts to create peace within.



Peace-out!


Stuart Holland, 26
Assistant Director – Savio House
Archdiocese of Liverpool







Thursday 14 April 2011

"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."

As we come to the end of our 40 days of Lent, I’m sure the majority of us are feeling a sigh of relief…..
Yet despite giving something up that we enjoy, we should not see Lent as a time of deprivation, but instead a joyous occasion - a time when we prepare for Easter and “await His coming in Glory!”
For me, Lent is normally a time when I give something up or do something extra for others…..but this year Lent has been about so much more. I’ve tried to use the Lenten period as a time to think and reflect.
Why do I choose to do this, to fast?
Is it for MYSELF or for GOD?!


Lent is a time to grow closer to God, a time to develop our relationship with Him: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). It is an opportunity for us to share God’s love, his EVERLASTING love.

It is this eternal love which proves that God loves for who we are and not what we do, or what fail to do. He is with us always. It is God who guides us, He who protects us and it is He who gives us strength and courage.


What I have realised this year is that Lent is not a period of DENIAL, but instead a reminder of the things I have been blessed with: my family, my friends and of course God. By not having the things I like (with the odd slip up here and there) I’ve learnt to VALUE them more. 


As we move towards Holy Week, let us try and set aside more time with God. Use the remainder of Lent as a time to reflect upon the sacrifices which God made, the sacrifice of giving up His only Son- his flesh and blood- so that each and everyone of us could be saved.
But why did he God do this, make such a huge sacrifice? Because He loves us!!!!
 

On earth today, each one of us is part of Christ's body - how amazing is that?!?

In the beautiful words of St Teresa of Avila:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which He looks compassion on this world. 
Yours are the feet with which He walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which He blesses all the world.  
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”


Rebecca Wall, 21
Studying History at Manchester Metropolitan University
From the Archdiocese of Liverpool



Wednesday 13 April 2011

‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13

We are now 28 days into lent, and if you’re anything like me, the strain of your lenten sacrifice will be beginning to show. Lent is not supposed to be an easy journey, it is a challenge to each of us, to act upon our commitment to God. Ask yourself how you are feeling about your Lenten journey right now? Maybe it’s going well, and you’re sticking strongly to your Lentern promise? Possibly you’re feeling like you should have done more?
Is God still at the core of your Lenten experience?
We all struggle along our paths of faith, just as Jesus did in the wilderness.
Here is a video explaining something called ‘Laminin’. I don’t want to give it away, so here take a look for youself...

The first time I watched this video, (after getting over the intense nature of the speaker; Louie Giglio) I was amazed! You may just think it is a coincidence that the molecule that holds ‘ the skin to our bones’ is in the shape of a cross, but it represents so much more. God is there! He is within each of us, He is in you and He is in me. Who is at the centre of our church? Is it not God? He breathes life into our bodies, Genesis 2:7, He gives us light and life, John 8:12 and he is the purpose of our whole lives.
‘He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’
Colossians 1:17
Sometimes we lose sight of God’s presence in the world and we all need revival in our faith. We need to be reminded that WE are the wonderful creatures of God’s creation and that he lives in us, ‘that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you’ 1 Corinthians 6:19. As Christians we’re taught to live with God at the centre of our lives, and during Lent this message is emphasised.
TRUST!
That is the word that should linger in our hearts. By recognising that God is a part of us, we are able to trust that he will make all things well. Lent is a long journey, which often comes with struggle, but we continue in the knowledge that our salvation comes through God and his resurrection. So therefore, no matter where you are on your Lentern journey be strengthened in the Lord. I set you this challenge:
At the end of each day, leading up to Easter Sunday; look back over your day and thank God for all the moments where you have felt him working. Some days you will recognize his presence more than others, maybe you could keep a ‘God diary’ to express your experiences.  But most of all, I challenge you to TRUST in God and his Spirit working within YOU!
                                                               
                                            

Lizzie Brookes, 20
From Dudley,
Studying Theology at the University of Nottingham.