Jenny’s letter 1st June
Dear Friends,
Last Thursday was Ascension Day—a quiet but powerful moment in the Christian calendar. It marks the risen Jesus ascending into heaven, entrusting His mission to His followers, and promising, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20).
Sadly, the church was quiet too. Only a very few of us gathered to mark the day. Yet even in our almost empty building, the message of Ascension still echoes: God is not gone—He is with us, and we are sent to bring His peace and hope into a world that so often feels broken. That message couldn’t feel more relevant this week in Merseyside.
On Monday 27 May, the streets of Liverpool came alive in a sea of red celebrations. Liverpool FC had won the Premier League, and thousands came out to see the open-top bus parade roll proudly through the city. It was joy on a grand scale—flags waving, voices singing, children on shoulders watching their heroes with awe. It was a moment many had waited years for because the last win could not be celebrated because of Covid.
Unfortuantely, the joy was suddenly and violently interrupted by a terrifying incident on Water Street. A car, having reportedly followed an ambulance, entered an area closed to traffic. People shouted in confusion, concern rising. Then, in a shocking turn, the driver appeared to weaponise the vehicle—accelerating at speed into a large crowd. In total, 79 people were injured. Many more were left shaken, traumatised, and deeply distressed. I thank God, as I am sure you do, that no one was killed.
Speculation is easy—but the truth is, right now, we don’t know what caused this man to beheve in this way. What we do know is this: people were hurt. Ordinary people who had come out to celebrate, found themselves in scenes of chaos and fear.
We have prayed, and will pray for, all those directly or indirectly caught up in the awful events that evening. Personally, I also cannot help but think and pray for the man’s wife, children, wider family and friends—caught in the incomprehensible grief of a tragedy they, like the other victims, neither chose nor could stop. There are no easy answers. But there is a powerful response.
Here in Merseyside, we are not strangers to sorrow. But neither are we strangers to unity. Whether you’re Red or Blue, from Liverpool or Wirral, Knowsley or Southport, we know how to come together. We’ve done it before. We’ll do it again. Like bees in a hive, each of us buzzing with our own energy, stories, and colours—yet always moving to protect, support, and build something larger than ourselves.
It is an amazing to be part of such a place when trouble strikes. Earlier in the day we all celebrated together – after all, if it couldn’t be Everton at least it wasn’t United! And then, in a moment we saw the other side. When one of ours is hurt, we all hurt. In the minutes and hours after the horror strangers stayed with the injured. A restaurant became a place of safety and refuge. Bystanders helped emergency crews. Neighbours checked in. Volunteers cleared up. Across social media and in the streets, a shared voice said clearly: “This is not who we are.” They were right.
Who we are, is a people who rise. And Ascension reminds us that we do not rise alone. Christ ascended, yes—but He did not abandon us. His promise still holds: “I am with you always.”
So now we rise up, just like lyric in the Musical Hamilton which is currently at the Empire theatre. We rise up with compassion for those injured in body and in mind. We rise up with prayers for the family at the centre of this storm. We rise up with a fierce, quiet strength that says violence does not get the final word. And in the shadow of tragedy, we remember the light still shines. The light of community. The light of faith. The light of a city that celebrates hard, grieves deeply, and rebuilds stronger.
Let us not forget the joy of Monday’s parade. Let us not forget the horror on Water Street either. But let both move us—to deeper kindness, louder unity, and bolder hope. Because this is Merseyside. This is who we are and by the grace of God, we rise together. Have a good week.
