Notes from Yukiko’s Desk

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As I was contemplating what to write in notes for this newsletter and thought about this being Ascension Day (14th May), my mind kept drifting back to Maya Angelou, one of my favourite writers. In Wouldn’t Take for My Journey Now, she recalls her memories of her grandmother (Mamma), who raised her and her siblings in the little town in Arkansas. Angelou witnessed Mamma’s difficult life caused her to rely utterly on the power of God. Angelou writes; “Mamma would clasp her hands behind her back, look up into a distant sky and declare, ‘I will step out on the word of God’.” She continues; “I could see her flung into space, moons at her feet and stars at her head, comets swirling around her. Naturally it wasn’t difficult for me to have faith. I grew up knowing that the word of God has power.”

I can clearly visualize the scene; the little girl deepening her faith by observing how Mamma looks up into a distant sky! It may be coincidence, but I found it quite fascinating to know that Angelou left this planet just one day before the Ascension Day in 2014.

The photo on the cover of this newsletter was taken by Trish Gosper this week. It was sent when I was looking for an appropriate image for Ascension Day (without being fully aware of what I was doing)! The photo captures the image of Ascension so beautifully!

Have a blessed Ascension Day!

Yukiko

 
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