At the most recent meeting of the Chester Diocesan Synod, of which I am one of the four elected clerical representatives from Great Budworth Deanery, the short act of worship prior to the meeting took the question of sacrifice as its theme. This was looked at from three faith perspectives – Judaism, Islam and Christianity. It was very interesting and moving and of course very appropriate time wise given the Jewish and Muslim religious calendars and with the festivals and seasons of Passover and Ramadan. Sacrifice features in all three faiths of course, though from different perspectives, and as I write this letter in the approach to Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter it is the supreme sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross that is uppermost in my heart and mind and soul. Over the weeks of Lent this has been teased out in the readings, prayers and hymns, including the incredibly moving Stations of the Cross Service held on the afternoon of Passion Sunday, but Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter confront us with the overwhelming enormity and significance of that sacrifice – for Jesus and those around him, and for all those who over the succeeding centuries would come to know, believe in and follow him, including of course us. Easter is such a significant event – so full of pain and sorrow and seemingly dashed hopes and expectations, and yet at the same time so full also of joy and hope and triumph and new life.

A few weeks ago we reflected on the encounter between Jesus and his friend Lazarus, with Jesus’ humanity so wonderfully captured in the shortest sentence in the Bible – “Jesus wept”. And at Easter we reflect not only on that true humanity and identity with all humankind but also on Jesus’ divinity, so wonderfully and joyfully captured as well in a few words – “He is risen”.

In the face of all the pain and suffering in our troubled world, from which as Christians we are not immune even if we are not present in the midst of it all, those three words and everything behind and in front of them mean so very, very much to so many, many people throughout our world, including ourselves.

“Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed – Alleluia!”

With best wishes for a very happy, peaceful and blessed Easter.

The Revd Alec Brown.