Bishop speaks of best and worst of times
"The best of times and the worst of times" are the key themes of the Easter message from the Bishop of Lichfield.
Bishop Dr Michael Ipgrave has taken the opening line of Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickins to form part of his annual Easter message.
In his address, he speaks about the effects of the coronavirus outbreaks on everyone, talking about death, isolation, anxiety and heartbreak as the worst of times.
He also addresses the best of times, praising the "extraordinary commitment and courage" of people who work for the NHS, as well as shop workers, delivery operatives and the emergency services.
Bishop Michael reflected on the reinvention of churches and communities during the outbreak, commenting on the "compassion, kindness and common sense" being created online.
He finishes by talking about the significance of Easter, about the worst time of Jesus on the cross and the best time of Jesus raising to life, and prayed that all keep well and stay safe over Easter.
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Bishop Michael said he had always loved the works of Charles Dickens and felt the words of the author came to fit the current situation.
He also spoke about how the message of the Easter season related to the coronovirus outbreak.
He said: "The message of Easter is about hope, and we all need hope to find a way through our current situation.
"We can be inspired by knowing that out of the worst of situations great good can come and that the darkest of times call forth the best of responses.
"We are never forgotten by God, even if we are physically separated from others.
"Please remember that you are not forgotten, and there are lots of people wanting to support and encourage you."
Other Bishops in the region have been putting together their own Easter messages for their communities, which centre on the story of Jesus against the current global situation.
Bishop Martin Gorick, the Bishop of Dudley, has been posting his messages on the Diocese of Worcester website, reflecting on bereavement and the last days of Jesus among other themes.
His message talks about the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus alongside the global pandemic and the strength of his love against hatred and fear.
He said the central message was that Jesus is with us in the pain of the world and that the church can be an important part of the community during Easter and beyond.
He said: "It's extraordinary now because the churches are closed, but the church is almost more active than ever.
"I think local churches have always been, in a way, part of the local scene in a group that can bring people together.
"When all this is over, I think there will be a real need for us as a community to come together and celebrate and also to lament and remember those who have died."
Bishop Martin spoke about how he would like his message to inspire people.
He said: "I would like people to feel that God was real and that God loved them and that even in the midst of the hardest times, God is beside them.
"What comes from suffering doesn't have the final word about God's love which, in the end, wins through."
