Easter is a time of rest, re-connection with family, and preparation for a change in season. As Christians, it is also an important time for reflection.
With the celebrations behind us, let us consider the messages shared this Easter and what they mean for our lives today.
During a service at St David’s Anglican Church in Red Hill, Anglicare staff, volunteers and retirement village residents heard an address from Bishop Mark Short. He spoke of his recent visit to England to meet the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally.
Formerly a cancer nurse and England’s Chief Nursing Officer, Archbishop Mullally—the first woman to hold the role—brings a deep and tangible understanding of what it means to be an agent of love. Bishop Mark connected her leadership with the work of Anglicare, reminding us that it is through consistent acts of kindness that we become the hands of the Lord.
Looking ahead, he expressed confidence that the Archbishop’s experience ministering to those who suffer will help chart the Church on a safe course through challenge and change, while encouraging a culture of service.
In a recent Easter message in the Anglican News, Bishop Mark also reflected on how the Church has changed over time. He described visiting the suburban church of his youth and discovering that, despite considerable shifts in demographics and culture, it continues to enjoy a rich local life.
In fact, it is in times of uncertainty, he observed, that the Church remains a place of consolation:
“At a time when change can feel rapid and unsettling and social cohesion is under pressure, there is no word more worthy of our attention and trust than the message of the cross.”
Read Bishop Mark Short’s full Easter Message on change and hope in the Church in the recent Anglican News.
As we move beyond Easter, may the enduring message of the cross continue to shape our service, steady us through change, and remind us where true hope is found.
