THE Tour de Yorkshire and Ilkley Carnival have given our community an exciting start to the month. But there’s more to come to excite us and to give us something to shout about!

Last Sunday the world-wide Church celebrated Christ’s Ascension as King of kings, whilst this coming Sunday we shall be rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit as we celebrate Whitsuntide. It is a time when we recall the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit at that first festival of Pentecost in Jerusalem some two thousand years ago, and of the many Great Awakenings down the centuries, ever since. But lest we think that the power of the Holy Spirit belongs to former years, we ourselves can still witness today to the transformation of lives in the here and now, through our individual and collective commitment and self-sacrifice to serve others less fortunate than ourselves, in a power greater than our own strength.

During May we are privileged to support the work of Christian Aid through the house-to-house collections in Ilkley, as we are invited to play our part in some measurable way, to help transform the lives of the needy, the displaced, the homeless and refugees across the globe in countries ravaged by war, oppression, or injustice.

Towards the end of the month, on Spring Bank Holiday Monday, there is the opportunity for people of all ages and degrees of fitness to join in the Ilkley Trail Race. By participating in this event, runners will be looking beyond themselves in supporting the Mattuga project in Uganda, where children are educated and cared for in an outgoing Christian environment. Led by Bishop Ivan, the Mattuga centre is a place that achieves the transformation of lives in all those young people who are able to attend. Many Ilkley people have been to Mattuga to see the transforming work that is undertaken there, in partnership with the Holy Spirit and human dedication.

In former years, May was a month characterised by Maypole dancing, the wearing of may-blossom, Whitsuntide processions, and walking the parish boundaries at Rogationtide, as blessings were sought on the springtime sowing of the crops. Times may have changed, but the power and inspiration of the Holy Spirit continues to work through all who open their hearts and minds to that same refreshing and strengthening influence that changed thousands of lives on that first Whit-Sunday. (see Acts chapter 2 verses1-41)

Maybe you could be inspired to run for Mattuga, or simply welcome your Christian Aid collector when he or she rings your doorbell during the next few days of Christian Aid week?