Thoughts from the Benefice

 for June 2025

Dear Friends,

“Peace be with you” was Jesus’ greeting to his disciples when he met them after his resurrection. It was also used by Jesus at other times and occurs in the Old Testament. Today, we use the greeting as we ‘Exchange the Peace’ in our main services.

As I write we are celebrating the announcement of ‘Peace in Europe’ 80 years ago. After nearly 6 years of war the fighting stopped; we had retained our Democracy; we could start rebuilding our lives. So today we continue to give thanks to all
those who had sacrificed their lives for our peace.

The death of Pope Francis is still fresh in our minds. A true man of peace, who was respected and admired around the world, not only by Christians but also by those of other faiths and those of none. He advised us “to build bridges, not walls”. A man in an exalted position who lived a very humble life. An example to us all! We can now celebrate the election of Pope Francis’ successor, Pope Leo XIV who, we pray, will continue the work for peace and justice for all.

As this June edition is circulated, Easter may seem some time ago. But we are still in the Easter Season which lasts until Trinity Sunday on June 15th. One great feature of this period is that we hear from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles each Sunday and are reminded of the early growth of our Christian Faith. Such an exciting adventure story!

Going back to Easter Sunday we need to report a great Celebration! We started at 6 a.m. on Cley Beach. (Congratulations to the 50+ people who got up so early and the one swimmer who took the plunge after the service!) The natural elemental power of the place added greatly to our worship, and we were rewarded with hot coffee and bacon rolls afterwards. Later there was a full church at Blakeney, plus those online, and the sun shone on the Easter Drama on The Green at Wiverton. Glandford and Cley also celebrated.

With June comes the arrival of early visitors to this beautiful place where we are privileged to live. May the visitors catch some of the peace we find in our natural surroundings. We continue to pray that peace will come to other, suffering, countries and that current wars will end.

Jesus’ sacrifice bought new life for us all. Those who served or suffered in WW2 also won for us a new terrestrial life. May our gratitude be shown in continuing the search for peace – in our own lives and far beyond.

“Peace be with you.“
Penny Thewlis