Churches Weekly Newsletter, 5 June 2022
If there's a common theme which draws together our current festivals – of Pentecost, Trinity and Jubilee – then it might be in the area of connectedness. Pentecost is a celebration of God connecting with us at the deepest level of our beings through The Holy Spirit. Trinity is about the intimacy between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And in her Jubilee messages Queen Elizabeth reinforces her firm belief that we are a family, the peoples and nations of the Commonwealth.
This message of human connectedness may seem counter to prevailing attitudes of rampant individualism. But many of us sense, with Kae Tempest, that “We are empathic beings who feel for each other. Our very success as a species is rooted in our ability to be aware of each other's needs, to notice each other's pain and to experience deeply felt physiological and emotional empathy.” (Kae Tempest, On Connection).
Empathy can also come at times of celebration, as we share in mutual enjoyment of our place, our culture, our appreciation of each other's stories. So let's enjoy this festival season, as we celebrate what we do share with those we know well, and discover what we can share with those we newly connect with.
