Faith Matters November 2025
Finding Hope Together Colin Johnson, our Community Chaplain, recently wrote about individuals finding hope in personal distressing circumstances. The question today is ‘How do we find hope together for our community, nation and world?’
A clue might be found in Zohran Mamdani’s election as Mayor of New York. It appears that he created hope for a better future for many of the minority groups in New York. He spoke with the late night shift workers and taxi drivers. He used the many languages of the city, Urdu, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic. He addressed the challenges facing the poor white families struggling with childcare. The message was that together we can be strong and make change happen.
Here in Leighton Buzzard, Citizen’s Advice has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in the town. Perhaps they know best the needs of our community through their many clients. They give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem.
Faith groups too are called to be on the side of the poor. At least one in our town is assisting the refugee families who are seeking safety here. Another will be offering Christmas gifts to families in need.
But simply responding to emergencies does not tackle the underlying systems that make people poor and homeless. Listening attentively to the needs of others; engaging with those we do not normally meet; watching the news we find hard to bear – all of these will prepare us to tackle real world issues. Then we will have a basis on which to act together to build community and turn hope into reality.
Finding hope can seem impossible at times. But as Advent approaches, a season of hope and goodwill, we can try to connect with each other. We can take time to reach out for each other. And we can take one small action that will help make the world a more loving place.