Dear Friends,

We are already on the edge of being one quarter of the year into the year 2022. Remarkable circumstances have arisen, as it were standing upon the shoulders of the hardly less extraordinary events of the years before which we don’t need to recount now. In 2022 we see the “mad” war mounted by the Russian leader against its neighbouring state Ukraine as well as its worldwide consequences. We see the “mad” media, “social” and otherwise, going the extra mile of losing the trust of the vast crowds that they aim to make their consumers and customers because of what is evidently a fatal desire to abandon truth for the sake of the lining of their capacious pockets. We see a sort of Orwellian “1984” developing in which “ministries of truth” spread stories that give them power, while genuine analysis is binned.

Yet in the middle of all this God and His truth prevails - a reality that we discern mostly by faith, but which from time to time breaks through visibly. I believe this happened with the recent Privy Council judgment, which recognised the clear meaning and intent of our Cayman constitution, based on the traditional Christian values of the core population.  Such breakthroughs may be rare and cannot often be expected, yet, to be a new and welcome judicial norm. And indeed we can see how far we are from reasonable legislative norms from the scandalously barbarous recent decision at Westminster to make permanent the disgraceful do-it-yourself abortion scheme  that was (sadly) legitimised on a temporary basis because of the pandemic. Ahh - the influence of that Lady Sugg again! Nevertheless we should still see the PC judgment as a highly significant beginning to a better future. 

The Fifth Sunday in Lent (traditionally called “Passion Sunday”) begins the two-week period at the end of Lent called Passiontide. Our thoughts are being drawn ever more closely to the Passion and dying of the Lord Jesus. The Collect for this Sunday is

We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This is a prayer concerning how we may be “governed and preserved”. In truth, we can no longer rely on human authority for good governance; those who have taken the most ridiculous and even barbarous decisions about governing their peoples consider themselves to be good governors and want their peoples to think of them in the same way, as Good Governors. Oh my! So the prayer reminds us that it is Almighty God Himself who alone can be relied upon for good governance. And so by His “great goodness” - and not separated from that - may indeed we may be “governed and preserved evermore”, and not think to be so governed in a state of tragic separation from His mind and heart about what is good! 

This Sunday is the first Sunday of April and Mr. Peter will again be addressing us; and we shall use the 1662 Order of Service.

For directions about the services this Sunday the 3rd April 2022, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, please see the website www.TruthWithLanguage.com . 

In faith in the holy Name of our Lord Jesus, who will continue to provide guidance by the Holy Spirit to all His people.

+ Nicholas