Fellow Sojourners,
05 April 2021
Before we go…
The Lord is Risen! He is risen! Alleluia!
The Lord is risen indeed, and, by His death and resurrection, we have moved from darkness into the light, and from sin and shame into a new freedom with life in Him. As a resurrection people we journey on to take the story of Christ, alive in our hearts, to others.
With the writing for Easter Sunday, we have come to the end of ‘Our Lenten Journey’ for this year, 2021, Despite the fact that our Lenten journey is an annual pilgrimage, we find that each new journey reveals new truths, awakens new realities and brings fresh inspiration, insight and new growth for each of us.
This Lenten journey was no different, especially as we faced another Lenten season in the pandemic. We pray that we were able to calm fears and bring hope to our ‘returning pilgrims’ as well as those who were embarking on this Lenten journey with us for the first time, and to inspire a strengthening of the very faith we needed to keep us going. Yes, the strength of one is the strength of many, so, by our words and thoughts, we lifted each other up.
As with all things, we are grateful to God who kept us alive, gave us strength and provided the inspiration for us to write. But, more than anything, for His continued blessings, mercy and grace, for, as our former Rector, now Suffragan Bishop of Montego Bay, the Rt. Rev. Leon Golding, is wont to remind us, “We are, because of God’s grace”.
This year, our reflections included writings for our children, to help them better understand and appreciate the penitential season of Lent and the discipline of Lenten introspection. These ‘Children’s Sermons’ were as well-received by the ‘grown-ups’ as they were by the children for whom they were written and we are truly grateful to the team which prepared the messages, unearthing new skills and talents in the process. The team was ably led by our own ‘techie’ Rector, Rev. Fr. Khan Honeyghan, supported by Athenia Campbell and Jacqueline Mighty of the Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands and by Rev. Wispé De Coteau of the Diocese of Trinidad and Tobago.
We give God thanks for those who willingly gave of their time and talent to write. Our fervent prayer is that at each step of the way on this Lenten journey, their words resonated with you, drew you closer to God and encouraged you to become a “ripple of hope” and reach out to those in the world around us, with His message of fellowship and peace through Jesus Christ.
We thank you for journeying with us and look forward to our next journey. We also appreciate and thank those who took the time to share their feedback and comments on the reflections and invite others who feel so moved, to do so at stjudeswriters@gmail.com
And, in the words of St. Jude, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling…to the only God our Saviour…be glory, majesty, power and authority, before all time and now and for ever.” Amen.
With every blessing!
Peta-Anne Baker Lisa Belnavis-Edwards Nicole Clarke Eleanor Henry Kareem Ismail Jacqueline Morgan
Lesa Robinson Rohan Robinson Pamela Williams
The St. Jude’s Writers
St. Jude’s Church
Stony Hill
Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and The Cayman Islands
05 April 2021
