| Throughout Holy Week, Jesus shows us the importance of being present with the brokenness around us. It’s easy to become apathetic in our conflicted and complicated world – to be numbed by the stream of bad news on our feeds, and to stop noticing the seeds of division in our communities. But Easter 2025 is a special time to celebrate our unity – with the Eastern and Western calendars even aligning this year to celebrate Easter on the same day! In a time where the world is so full of intolerance and polarisation, this season reminds us that Christ died for all of us, once for all; that as we put our trust in Him, we are united as one people. Following the Churches Together in England (CTE) Forum last month, General Secretary, Bishop Mike Royal, reflects on the gathering’s theme of being one in Christ, but not the same. Every three years, Churches Together in England brings together its 54 member churches, nearly 100 charities and networks in association, and Churches Together ecumenical bodies from across the country for CTE Forum. With 300 leaders from across the church spectrum it is always an enriching time – and this year was no exception. The theme of the CTE Forum this year spoke to the challenge of our time: we are one in Christ, but not the same. St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its parts form one body so it is with Christ”. He goes on to say, “But in fact God has placed the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is there are many parts but one body”. Finally, he exclaims, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you are a part of it”. As we journey through Holy Week, we remember that Christ gave himself for the world. Despite telling his disciples otherwise, they found it really difficult to think of Christ’s sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection as anything other than a parochial concern. Before he ascended to heaven, they couldn’t resist satisfying their curiosity by asking, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus responded, “It is not for you to know the times of the dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirt comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. Jesus’ death and resurrection was always a global affair for every tribe, tongue, and nation. And just like the diversity of opinions within his own disciples, his death and resurrection is for different kinds of people too. Read the full blog As we step into Holy Week, our prayer is that our unity will be more than a mountain top experience, but an everyday disposition as we journey together as Christ’s church. That we can all truly say, “now you are the body of Christ and each one of you are a part of it”!  What’s next? In a divided and fractured world, it can be hard to know where to begin to engage with the issues that surround us. Difference is a free course that equips you to see transformation through everyday encounters.You’ll explore themes of crossing divides, navigating disagreement, practising forgiveness, and pursuing a just a flourishing would as we seek to follow Jesus. If you’ve been thinking about running Difference in your church or small group, you can complete the short training via our training and resources hub at any time. If you want to run Difference with young people or would prefer to join a Zoom training session instead (including taking part in a sample session of the course!), we have some upcoming dates to share with you – click the button below to find out more. Register for training  Recommended reading In Fight Like Jesus, Jason Porterfield explores the radical vision of peacemaking that Jesus embodied throughout Holy Week, inviting us to journey through Jesus’ final week and discover anew why he is called the Prince of Peace. |
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