Dear Friends

I don’t know about you, but normally when I’m faced with a road closed sign and a yellow diversion sign directing me down a road I have never driven before the atmosphere in the car can become a little tense. It happened yesterday morning when I was driving home from Shropshire. It was not long after the start of the journey and I was diverted through some of South Shropshire’s loveliest countryside. Radio 3 saved the day and my nerves. Actually it was a recording Elgar’s Violin Concerto, played by a 16 year old Yehudi Menuhin in the 1930’s and conducted by Elgar himself, considering its age the sound quality was astonishing.  Driving along listing to this sublime music I had a little ‘Green and pleasant land’ moment. I love our countryside, it gives me a sense of place and belonging, a sense of security if you will. The Risen Jesus does the same: Who am I? What is my place? To whom do I belong? As Archbishop Justin says; we find our place and purpose in Jesus. The Risen Christ makes our relationship with God real, alive and active. The resurrection is not just an event in time, it is a continual unfolding of the reality of God and his love for this world.

May we all find our security and purpose in Jesus, who unites us to the Father.

Simon