Walk Church on Sunday 26th February 2023
A driving easterly wind sucked any warmth from the bursts of sunshine that managed to break through the dull cloud. The view on the hill was magnificent, and fitted in well as we listened to the reading of Jesus tempted by the devil in the desert; but it was perishing cold. We chose a more sheltered spot for our reflection and prayer.
In reflecting on Jesus in the desert, who was sustained with so very little, we were introduced to the thinking of Dutch Jewish writer Etty Hillesum, who died at Auschwitz. Etty, despite the despair of her situation and that faced by fellow Jews, was determined to reveal hope in every situation. Where seemingly there was nothing to celebrate, she encouraged people to remember that we are “living vessels of the divine, of God”, and in situations of absolute bleakness we should see ourselves as representing the beauty and hope of God.
We prayed for and named the places where people are currently in exceptional challenge such as Ukraine, in Syria and Turkey. Click this link to find out more about Etty Hillesum’s remarkable story
Walk Church meets again on the 26th March 2023.