Dear Saints,

Hearing the news on the radio while travelling back from Arianne and Jonathan's beautiful wedding ceremony on Monday, 31 March 2025, we were confronted with one of the social complexities that play out in our communities. Hot in the news was how political parties use important social moments on the national agenda to their political advantage. On this occasion, it was the turn of the "lintjesregen". The minister responsible for migration refused to sign the document to award volunteers a decoration for their long and dedicated service to society in helping refugees to integrate.

Some years ago, there was another national conversation/disagreement, whatever you want to call it, around the "Zwarte Piet" debate. The emotions in the debate went so far that some previously decorated people returned their "lintje".

On Friday, 4 April, we are having our last Stations of the Cross service of this Lenten period. We are meditating at each of the Stations in a service at the Open Hof Protestantse Kerk in Kampen, which is also the venue "Kerkasiel Kampen". The church is hosting a family whose application for asylum has been declined after more than 10 years of procedures. A family whose children are fully rooted in Dutch society. A family that is not to be deported as long as they stay in a church where a service is being held. In having our Stations of the Cross service in the Open Hof, we are supporting the church in her work of standing with those voices that may not be seen to be important or too problematic to support or whatever other reason we may make not to be engaged in complex and difficult questions.

The text that comes to mind at this time is Matthew 25:31-46, the parable of the judgement of the nations. Where nations and peoples are judged by God in the way they have responded to the "least of these". And the list of the "least of these" consists of: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and those imprisoned.

"34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, 35 for I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'40 And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.' (Matthew 25:34-40)"

I suppose the above underlines that godly politics centralises God's purpose for the human race. So we need to find ourselves on the right side of history, and being on the right side of history has nothing to do with how powerful we are in our abilities to destroy and exploit other nations but how open we are to keep our eyes on the "least of these".

For us to do this, we need to find ourselves engaging and mixing with the "least of these". Scripture clearly defines who these people are and what God delights in. Therefore, our task as people and nations is to ensure that our decisions protect vulnerable people. I actually want to dare to say that we ensure that we do not make people.

Coming back to the beautiful wedding ceremony of Arianne and Johnathan. There was a good representation of St. Mary's at the wedding. The weather also joined the party. The liturgy was a good blend of Anglican and evangelical traditions, the music was fabulous, and the sermon was on point. We trust that God will be their constant companion and that they grow in wisdom and love for each other.

Yours in Christ as always,

Revd Jacque