Over the course of this last week our District synod has gathered, principally in Westville, but also via Zoom in locations around the province. As always, synod has had wonderful moments of celebration and re-connecting with Methodists from across KZN. We have however also had to grapple with significant challenges that our church is facing in the fallout from the pandemic and other crises we have experienced recently in KZN.

As we wrestled with these challenges I felt a real kinship with the disciples of Jesus at the time when Jesus was about to leave them - "how are we going to manage without you with us?" In our gospel reading this Sunday and in our Ascension Day service this coming Thursday (10am) Jesus reassures us that we are not left alone and that we need not be afraid, for we are given the gift of the Helper - the Holy Spirit.

I hope that you will be reassured by this gospel truth as you join us in worship in person and online on Sunday and Thursday.