Letter from the Rectory - April 2026

Dear Friends,

There is a story about a young boy in a primary school assembly led by the local vicar. The speaker made constant references to Jesus by name, and shared stories about his life and teaching. Once the talk was over, the young boy raised his hand to ask a question, “Why did they give the man you were talking about a swear word for his name?”  The boy had only ever heard of Jesus in the context of his name being used in a disparaging and dismissive manner.

The story illustrates the extent to which society at large, sadly particularly amongst the younger generations, have become largely ignorant of both the stories in the Bible.  It also highlights the need for the Church to offer a simple account of the Easter story.

Easter is not about eggs and entertainment. To say that is not to disregard the symbolism of the egg as a sign of life, or to suggest that we should not enjoy the company of family and friends during this holiday season; and some of us love chocolate. However, the danger remains that in the midst of exchanging gifts and enjoying the early Spring holiday, we overlook what we are meant to be celebrating.

Easter is about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  He died for our sins and he has the potential to transform the lives of all those willing to follow him.  Denying oneself and following Jesus Christ is undoubtedly a difficult message to proclaim in a consumer age.  The significant and rapid developments in technological advancement, the age of austerity and a general sense of hopelessness that pervades the outlook of many individuals, communities and societies, all have the potential of eroding the relevance of Christianity in the 21st century. It is natural for churches and individual Christians to feel depressed, even to despair. 

However, the Easter message remains as relevant today as at any time in human history.  An encounter with Jesus continues to inspire human beings to look inside, to engage with the contradictions and realities of human nature, but not to be bound or defined by them. Jesus offers an alternative life-transforming narrative that can be accessed by anyone. Easter celebrates this fact.  The challenge for those of us who call ourselves Christians is to retain a sense of courage and clarity to make the Easter message relevant to the rapidly changing world in which we live. I wish you all a very Happy Easter.

James Campbell