'We can persevere in the face of uncertainty'

The Bishop of Sodor and Man has urged people to "to persevere in the face of uncertainty" in her Easter message

Report by BBC Isle of Man

The Right Reverend Tricia Hillas said recent events both on the island and beyond illustrated humanity's ability to come together during uncertain times.

She pointed to a recent performance of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins, staged by the Isle of Man Choral Society, as a powerful example of local unity.

"In a world wracked and wounded by war and conflict, that moment of shared reflection and longing for peace spoke powerfully of what it means to be united in hope," she added.

The bishop also reflected on the launch of the Artemis II mission, describing it as a reminder of humanity's capacity for "courage, collaboration and vision".

She noted that astronaut Victor Glover had taken a Bible with him into space and wondered what passages he might read "as he looks back upon our fragile world" on Easter Day.

She said both of these events, "one rooted in our local community, the other reaching into the vastness of space, echo the heart of the Easter story".

"For Easter is also about a mission begun in uncertainty, marked by sacrifice, risk, and profound love for this world," she said.

In her message she encouraged people to persevere despite uncertainty and to recognise that communities locally and globally were connected, urging them to "rise above petty conflicts and selfish delusional ambitions".

It was important "to recognise that, both on our island and across the globe, we are bound together in a shared story of redemption and possibility", she said.