Hazelwell Church

Hazelwell Weekly Contact 12th April 2026

7 Apr 2026 • Weekly Notices

Second Sunday of Easter

Hazelwell Morning Prayer

Led by Val Harris, Preacher Rev. Andy Harris

Please remember in your prayers

  • Residents of Linley Grove and Frome Way.
  • Please pray for Val and Andy as they prepare for the service this week.
  • Give thanks for those who lead groups associated with our church and all who attend them, remembering especially the Alpha course, teens group, Dads & toddlers and Discipleship groups.
  • Pray also for a renewal of efforts to bring to an end hostilities in the middle East.

Reflection on John 20 vs19-end

The disciples are gathered behind locked doors, afraid and uncertain. Into this anxious space, the risen Jesus comes and stands among them, saying, “Peace be with you.” This greeting is more than reassurance—it is a gift. It speaks to their fear, their failure, and their confusion. These are the same disciples who fled, denied, and hid. Yet Jesus does not rebuke them; instead, he offers peace and sends them out: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The resurrection is not only comfort—it is a commissioning.

Jesus then breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This moment echoes the creation story, where God breathes life into humanity. Here, the risen Christ breathes new life into his followers, preparing them for the work ahead. They are not sent alone; they are equipped and empowered.

Then we meet Thomas, often remembered for his doubt. He was not present when Jesus first appeared, and he struggles to believe the others’ testimony. His honesty is striking—he voices what many feel but do not say. When Jesus later appears again, he does not reject Thomas but invites him: “Put your finger here… Stop doubting and believe.” This is not a harsh command but a compassionate invitation.

Thomas responds with one of the most profound declarations in the Gospel: “My Lord and my God!” His doubt becomes a doorway to deeper faith. Jesus then speaks to all future believers: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That includes us. We are invited into faith not through physical sight, but through trust, witness, and encounter in other ways.

The text closes by reminding us that these signs are written “that you may believe… and that by believing you may have life in his name.” Faith is not simply intellectual agreement—it is a living relationship that brings life, hope, and purpose.


This passage gently meets us wherever we are—whether behind locked doors of fear, or wrestling with doubt like Thomas. Jesus comes to us still, offering peace rather than condemnation. He invites honest faith, not perfect faith, and calls us into a life transformed. The question is not whether we have doubts, but whether we are willing, like Thomas, to move through them toward a deeperrecognition:

“My Lord and my God.”