A Letter from Rev Scott

Time seems to be moving quickly, and already the Easter season is upon us. We have travelled through days marked by both joy and sorrow, beginning with the triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We watched Jesus share a final meal with His friends on Maundy Thursday, reminding us that true greatness is found in humble service and in the unity we build together. On Good Friday we stood at the foot of the cross, holding the weight of that moment as we journeyed with Jesus into suffering and sacrifice. And then, on Easter Sunday, we rejoiced in the astonishing news that our Lord and Saviour is risen.

This is the season that carries us all the way to Pentecost, a season of new life, new beginnings, and renewed hope. In many ways, Holy Week invites us into a kind of spiritual pilgrimage. We walk step by step with Jesus, not simply remembering events long past, but allowing them to shape our hearts today. Each moment, Palm Sunday’s excitement, Maundy Thursday’s intimacy, Good Friday’s sorrow, Easter Sunday’s joy becomes a place where God meets us again.
Easter will mean many things to different people. Some will celebrate with family meals, some will enjoy a well‑earned rest after their Lenten journey, and some, like me, will savour a bit of chocolate. And when you crack open that Easter egg and find it empty, just pause for a moment. In your mind’s eye, imagine stepping into the empty tomb. Imagine the stillness, the shock, the dawning realisation that something world‑changing has happened. What might you feel? What might you want to say? That moment of emptiness is not a loss, it is the doorway to hope.

My hope is that the way we celebrated across the benefice brought joy, encouragement, and a sense of shared pilgrimage as we walked these holy days together. It has been a blessing to see our churches filled with prayer, music, laughter, and quiet reflection. These moments remind us that faith is not something we carry alone; it is something we live together, supporting one another as we grow in love and service.

At the heart of it all stands the cross. A brutal instrument of death, yes, but also the clearest sign of God’s love and peace. On the cross Jesus dealt with the power of sin and broke the grip of death. He stepped into our suffering and showed us what self‑giving love truly looks like. As Peter writes, “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). Through His death the barrier between us and God was torn down, opening the way for us to draw near with confidence and hope.

John Stott once wrote that the essence of sin is humanity putting itself where only God deserves to be, while the essence of salvation is God putting Himself where only humanity deserves to be. That is the depth of love we meet at the cross and the depth of joy we discover at the empty tomb.
But Easter is not only something we look back on. It is something we live. Resurrection is not simply a moment in history; it is a truth that continues to shape us. It tells us that despair is never the final word, that God is always at work bringing life out of places that feel empty, and that joy can rise even from the darkest of days. The empty tomb is God’s declaration that hope is stronger than fear, forgiveness stronger than failure, and love stronger than death itself.

As we move through this Easter season, we are invited to become Easter people, people who carry light into dark places, who choose compassion over indifference, who speak peace into conflict, and who dare to believe that God is still transforming lives, communities, and even the quiet corners of our own hearts. The resurrection calls us to lift our eyes, to look for signs of new life, and to trust that God is already ahead of us, preparing the way.
And so, as spring unfolds around us, the lambs in the fields, the blossoms on the trees, the longer days and brighter mornings, we are reminded that creation itself echoes the message of Easter. New life is breaking through. God is renewing all things. Even in seasons when we feel weary or uncertain, the risen Christ walks beside us, whispering, “Do not be afraid.”

May this season fill you with renewed courage, deep peace, and the quiet confidence that Christ walks with us into every new beginning. May we continue our pilgrimage together with hearts full of hope and eyes open to the signs of resurrection all around us, in the beauty of spring, in the kindness of neighbours, in the laughter of children, and in the gentle ways God restores and renews us day by day.

Every blessing,

Rev Scott