Welcome to St. Nick’s on Sunday 10th and 17th May 2026
Dear Friends
“What are you hoping for?” is a question people often ask at the start of a new year, a new stage of life, or a new experience. We look ahead and think about what we want to happen. Usually, these hopes are about things around us, like hoping our team wins, hoping a job helps our career, or hoping for good weather on holiday.
In our second reading on Sunday 10th May, Peter talks to the early Church about a different kind of hope. He means an inner hope — something already placed inside them that gives them strength to keep going. He does not promise that their situation will quickly improve. Instead, he reminds them that God’s lasting hope, given through Jesus, is already with them and can support them during hard times.
In the Channel 4 programme Alone, people are left on their own in the Canadian wilderness to see who can survive the longest. Some leave because they are hurt or sick, but most give up because the mental challenge is too much. After weeks of living on little food, sleeping in rough shelters, and hearing wild animals nearby, many reach a breaking point. They feel lonely and miss their loved ones, and they don’t know how to carry on alone. Those who succeed often keep going by thinking about their family and friends at home. They want to make them proud and come back stronger. The difficult environment does not change, but their mindset does.
This is the message Peter shares with the Church. Even when life is very hard, focusing on Christ gives them hope and helps them treat others with respect, even those who harm them. Remembering who God is and what God has placed inside them changes how they face the world.
So when we look at our own lives and ask, “What are we hoping for?”, we can ask God to help us see the hope we already have through Jesus. We can ask God to change how we see things so we can keep going. Knowing this hope also helps us share it with others.
Alison Miills
ALM and Churchwarden
Sunday 10th May
We look forward to welcoming back Rev Peter Matthews, our Area Dean to preside and preach Elizabeth our Assistant MD will accompany the hymns and chants. Members of St.Nick’s team will deliver readings and prayers.
Sunday 17th May
We look forward to welcoming back Mandy Mullins to preach on Sunday 17th May. The presider for the service is to be confirmed. Christian Fields our MD will lead the music for our service with prayers and readings from St.Nick’s team.. 
