After the bitter cold of February I’m sure we’re all looking forward to a milder March and the arrival of spring, and of course the changing of the clocks for summer time at the end of the month. March brings with it a number of extremely important religious and secular festivals and celebrations, including those of Saints David, Patrick and Joseph, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent, the Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of course Mothering Sunday at the end of the month. There is definitely something for everyone, and in a year where there is still such distress and despair in so many parts of the world, including especially The Ukraine, Gaza and Israel, the national Church is asking us all to pray and reflect on “living hope” in its Lent theme for 2025. We will of course be offering our weekly services of Compline during Lent, and possibly The Stations of the Cross, all of which afford very appropriate times and moments to think and pray about hope and discovering anew, in the words of the national Church’s Lent theme “God’s promises for the future and his presence with us now.”

Some of us will also, I hope, be taking part in the ecumenical Lent discussion group run by our Methodist friends in Comberbach, and details of this will be made available nearer the time. Hope is in short supply across parts of our world, and within the Church of England there is also a great need to reconnect with people across the country in the wake of recent events and happenings, and especially of course in relation to safeguarding and the resignation of senior members of the national Church. A number of people have spoken to me about this, and they have all stressed the importance of the local Parish Church and its work within the community – meeting people in their need, being alongside people “through all the changing scenes of life” and offering support, care and, above all else, hope.

I have tried to maintain this positive approach and attitude throughout the last few very difficult months for the Church, and have found myself reflecting on the wise and profound words of the Collect for the 3rd Sunday before Lent, with which I will finish this letter:

“O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.”

And so, in this season of Lent, may God bless, encourage, strengthen and fill us all with hope.

The Revd Alec Brown.

Vicar of Great Budworth and Antrobus.