June Blog 2025

Not Alone

Dear St Mark’s and Friends,
As you may know I have been unwell this year. This is something, like many other people, I find hard. I found it hard to not do anything and I found it hard to ‘put down work’. I had unfounded and ridiculous fears like: ‘Everything would fall apart and stop”, and “The youth would no longer be around when I returned’ if, I took time to look after me.
What I had forgotten, was that actually, it’s God’s work, not mine. What I found in letting go and looking after me, was the gentle reminder that I am important and we have a fantastic youth team, who stepped up and carried on with our youth work. Because, they are capable and care. Because, the youth work that we do here at St Mark’s isn’t actually all about me. It’s about drawing alongside some wonderful young people. It’s about exploring and sharing life and faith with them. It’s about supporting them and praying for and with them. It’s about team. It’s about supporting each other in times of pain and rejoicing. It’s about providing a safe space for the youth and team to meet with God.
So, what did I do whilst I was re-learning this? I spent some time watching some of the TV series’ that I hadn’t got round to watching. One of them was The Chosen. I loved this show. I loved the questions and the thoughts that popped into my head because of it. I loved how it tried to explore how the different stories from the Gospels might have fitted together, what might have happened in between, and how the relationships between different people may have developed, both good and bad. What or who I also loved, unsurprisingly, was Jesus.
Having heard some good reviews, I was fairly confident that I would know where we were in the narrative, no matter where the TV series started. Why? because I had been led to believe that it didn’t stray too far from the Bible. Excitedly, I turned it on hoping to spend some time with my friend Jesus. However, what I was met with was sadness, loneliness, emptiness, frustration, pain and hopelessness. This wasn’t what I had signed up for! I was confused. Instead of being met with the nativity or adult Jesus in the middle of doing something amazing, we met some of Jesus’ closest friends in the ‘reality’ of their lives before they met him. “Why had we met humanity in such a state when this show was supposed to be all about Jesus?”
I sat and watched, in my own confused, sad, frustrated and pain-filled state. I decided that although this wasn’t what I was expecting, it was worth watching a bit more, as surely at some point we would meet Jesus.
And we did.
And things started to change.
Jesus, although at this point, not known by anyone, started to have an impact on people’s lives. He spoke with people, he met them in their reality, and he offered to help. Some of those people became his friends and followers. He took time to listen and be and challenge and teach and love. He never appeared rushed and was always ready and delighted to offer a bit more to those who wanted to find out more. Some found it easier than others to say yes. Some found it easier than others to really accept that Jesus loved them for who they are – not who they thought they need to be. Some found it easier than others to accept that maybe God wasn’t at work in the way they were expecting. But all who encountered Jesus where in some way changed and challenged.
I haven’t finished The Chosen yet. I’m excited to find the time to sit down and watch a bit more and when I do, to have my faith challenged and stretched and grown. But, for now, let me take you back to the question I asked earlier – “Why had we met humanity in such a state when this show was supposed to be all about Jesus?” For me, an answer is that we should be reminded of what life is like when we don’t live in the promises of God and relationship with God. And a reminder, that when Jesus walks in, everything changes. I knew that he would offer hope to the dire situations that Mary, Peter and Mark found themselves in, but why should we be reminded of this? Because there are many people both those we know and those we don’t, who don’t know this life and hope that Jesus offers, and we are called to do something about it: Matthew 20:18-20 says:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So, who could you share God’s hope with this week? Is God calling you to support a ministry in or outside St Mark’s? Remember, like me, you are not called to do this alone. God puts people around us who share the same passions and vision and through the Holy Spirit, God is with us and he changes everything.

Cat