I share with all of you a deep sadness at the violence and unrest which has taken place in East Belfast over the past days. In the course of the week I had the opportunity to visit people on either side of the divide, and to listen to their perceptions and fears, and was very troubled by what I saw first-hand. It is tragic that, at the very time when we need peace to take root in our community, it seems to be in the interest of cynical paramilitary groups to keep the conflict going. In the course of the week, people have been injured, children traumatized and families driven from their homes - to say nothing of the fear experienced by elderly people. We have also seen Church grounds used to fire shots, people hindered from going to worship, and Church buildings stoned and daubed with paint. There truly is no sense of the sacredness of God in the minds and hearts of those who do such things.

On this Sunday, I am thinking especially about you who worship in churches near and on the Newtownards Road. I ask that we pray fervently today for peace, that we do not allow any root of bitterness come into our hearts, and that we seek the grace of God to love even our enemies with the love of Jesus Christ, which is stronger than any other power in the universe.

Your father-in-God.