TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE GOD KNOWN
Living Hope - a journey through Lent
Week 2 - Thursday
Reading
John 11.17-27
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.’
Reflection
I sense so much emotion in Martha’s words to Jesus.
Her brother has just died, and Jesus didn’t arrive in time to stop that happening – her words feel soaked in all of the regret, disappointment and anguish usually encapsulated in any ‘if only…’ statement.
And then, seemingly out of nowhere, comes a huge dollop of hope. She has faith that ‘even now’, even though her brother has been dead for at least four days, Jesus can turn things around. Here’s what that teaches me – hope can sit alongside feelings of despair, confusion and desperation. And, what’s more, you can take all of those feelings to God at the very same time. Hope doesn’t require you to pretend you’re not hurting. Brutal honesty with God is the sign of a fighting hope, not a fading one.
Challenge
Today, why don’t we give radical honesty with God a try – what emotions are sitting alongside your hope, emotions you feel shouldn’t be there? Tell him.
Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2025.
Prayer for the Week
Lord, we thank you that you are worthy of our hope-filled trust.
As we walk through this second week of Lent together,
may your word remind us of your character and fuel our hope once more.
Amen.
Weekly service from the Church of England
The Church of England’s Lent theme for 2025 is Living Hope.
The reflections have been writt en by Cathrine Fungai Ngangira and Belle Tindall – both contributors to Wild Bright Hope: The Big Church Read Lent Book 2025 (SPCK) – together with Victoria Mason, Everyday Faith Editor for the Church of England.
Our vicar is Rev Elaine Atack
Contact: revelaine@nym.hush.com
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Who are we?
Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
We are a warm, welcoming and inclusive Church of England congregation in the small market town of Frodsham. We belong to Inclusive Church and welcome all people to our services.
Normally, our church is open during the day on most weekdays - please see the notice above for this week's times.
You are most welcome to visit.
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Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
Sunday Services
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Sunday Services
We have 3 communion services each week - please check our timetable above
Sunday 8am - said
Sunday 10am - with music
Tuesday 7pm - said
Messy Church is at 3pm on the first Sunday of the month in term time.
Still Point (a reflective service) is at 4pm on the third Sunday of each month.
Evensong is sung on various Sundays through the year and will be shown on our timetable which you can see above.
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