| | 🌅 From Silence to Song
🙌 Worship - Living Hope 💦 Maundy Thursday - Love that Serves ✝️ Good Friday - The Ultimate Sacrifice 🕯️ Holy Saturday - The Grace of Waiting 🌄 Easter Sunday - He is Risen! 🌼Spring at the Threshold 📅 April 2026 Events 🔙 March 2026 Recap 🌸 Mother's Day Flowers - Review 📔 Dates for your Diary 🙏 Prayer Diary - April 2026
🎵 Breath Of Life |
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“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
— Matthew 28:6 |
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Dear Friends,
As we step into April and journey through Holy Week, we find ourselves once again at the heart of the Christian story—the great movement from sorrow to joy, from death to life, from silence to song.
Holy Week invites us to walk closely with Jesus: to sit at the table on Maundy Thursday, to stand at the foot of the Cross on Good Friday, and to wait in the stillness of Holy Saturday. It is a sacred rhythm that mirrors so much of our own lives—times of celebration, moments of suffering, and seasons of waiting when God seems hidden from view.
And yet, Easter declares with resounding clarity: the story does not end in the silence.
The empty tomb is not simply an event to remember, but a reality to live from. It speaks into every place of weariness, disappointment, or uncertainty we may carry. It reminds us that God is always at work—often unseen—bringing resurrection life out of what appears finished.
For the disciples, Easter morning came as a surprise. Their hopes had been buried with Christ. But in a moment, everything changed. The stone was rolled away, not just from the tomb, but from their understanding. Death was defeated. Hope was restored. Life had the final word.
This same resurrection life is offered to us today—not merely as a future promise, but as a present reality. In Christ, what feels lost can be restored, what feels broken can be made whole, and what feels lifeless can be renewed.
So wherever this Easter finds you—whether in joy, in sorrow, or somewhere in between—may you hear again the quiet, powerful proclamation of the angel:
“He is not here; He has risen.”
And may that truth awaken fresh hope in your heart.
Blessings,
Joe and Cathy
Wardens, The Wellspring Ledbury
www.thewellspring.uk |
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(Click on the above image to view the video) |
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How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There's salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Oh God, You are my living hope
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💦 Maundy Thursday - Love that Serves |
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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” — John 13:34-35 |
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On Maundy Thursday we remember the command of Jesus: love one another. In the upper room, Love takes a towel. Grace kneels. The King serves. This is not performance spirituality; it is Christ-shaped love flowing from grace. We love because we have been loved first. “The way of Jesus is the way of humble love.” — Francis of Assisi Today, receive His love—then let it move through you in one small act: a kind word, a quiet service, a forgiven offence. Love is the mark of grace. |
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✝️ Good Friday - The Ultimate Sacrifice |
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(Click on the above image to view the video) |
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Once again, we pause at the foot of the Cross.
For many of us, the depiction in this video of Christ's suffering on the cross can be difficult to watch. It confronts us with the reality of suffering, and with the cost of love.
Yet perhaps that is the point.
The Cross was never meant to be comfortable—it was meant to reveal the depth of Christ’s sacrifice for each one of us.
Across the centuries, Christians have expressed this mystery in different ways. Some are drawn to the empty cross, declaring that death has been defeated. Others linger (like the disciples who remained on that first Friday) with the crucified Christ, remembering the price that was paid.
But both lead us to the same truth: “He loved me and gave Himself for me.”
This is not about tradition or denomination—it is about Jesus.
The One who bore our sin.
The One who carried our sorrow.
The One who gave everything, so that we might live.
“...they will look upon Me, the One they have pierced...” — Zechariah 12:10
Today, we simply look. We remember. We receive.
And though it may be hard to behold such suffering, is it not the least we can offer—to pause, to reflect, and to honour the One who gave His all for us?
“At the Cross, God’s justice and God’s mercy meet.” — John Stott
Love must always have the victory. |
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🕯️ Holy Saturday - The Grace of Waiting |
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"Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment." — Luke 23:56 |
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Holy Saturday is not empty.
It is held. The women are waiting.
Not because they understand—
but because they trust enough to rest. Love has not disappeared.
Hope has not failed.
But everything feels paused. This is the grace of Holy Saturday:
you do not have to force what God has not yet revealed. There is a time to act.
And there is a time to be still. If you are in a waiting place, let this speak gently to you—
God is still at work, even when you are resting. Today, honour the pause.
Rest without anxiety.
Wait without striving. “Waiting is the place where faith grows.” — Henri Nouwen Grace is already moving beneath the silence. |
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🌄 Easter Sunday - He is Risen! |
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“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
— 1 Peter 1:3 |
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Easter is grace in full colour.
Praise be to God—He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing. New life is not earned; it is given.
Today, breathe hope. Let joy return. Let light be stronger than fear.
Christ is risen—and grace has the final word.
“Resurrection is not an idea; it is the life of God breaking in.”
— N. T. Wright
He is Risen. He is Risen indeed! |
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🌼 Spring at the Threshold |
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The first signs of spring have arrived at The Wellspring—quietly, faithfully, and right on time.
Golden daffodils lift their heads toward the light, set against the steady presence of home, reminding us that new life often begins in the most familiar places.
After the stillness of winter, there is a gentle invitation here: to notice, to breathe, and to receive again the simple gift of renewal.
What has felt dormant is stirring. What seemed bare is beginning to bloom.
Spring does not rush—it unfolds.
And so, perhaps, can we. |
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Join Val Turner at The Wellspring as we journey together with Jesus, through challenging times.
This ministry day is aimed at those who are disciples of Jesus wanting to answer His call, staying strong in The Lord and giving the Father glory through times of fragility, stress, insecurity and spiritual battle.
The final session will include a time of Worship and Prayer Ministry.
For more information or to book your place, visit our Unforced Rhythms of Grace event page. |
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“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith” — Ephesians 2:8 |
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Join Bible teacher and speaker Darryl Greig at The Wellspring for the third of this new all-day Bible Study series.
This time, we will be spending A Day in Ephesians - each session will include a short intro and background, reading the text together, group discussion, and feedback and summary.
For more information or to book your place, visit our A Day in Ephesians event page. |
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As we look back over the past month, our hearts are full of gratitude for God’s continued provision and faithfulness in every area of life at The Wellspring.
We want to begin by expressing our sincere thanks to all who give financially to support this ministry. Whether through one-off gifts or regular giving, your generosity truly makes a difference.
Alongside the income generated through our events, venue hires, and cottage stays, your support enables us to meet both the larger and the often unseen day-to-day costs of running The Wellspring—and, most importantly, to continue offering a place of discipleship, rest, and hospitality to those who need it most.
At the start of the month, we were particularly blessed to see a swift resolution to our recent Starlink internet issues. Not only was the problem resolved quickly, but we were also provided with brand new equipment and additional hardware entirely free of charge—an unexpected provision for which we are very thankful. We are grateful, too, to all who prayed for us during that time. While we sometimes wish we didn’t have to rely so much on technology, it is very much part of modern life, and we are thankful when it works well!
We also continue to be encouraged by the steady increase in bookings across all areas—events, venue hire, and cottage stays. It was especially exciting to receive our first cottage booking for 2027, a small but significant sign of growing momentum and forward planning.
On the family front, March marked an important milestone as our son Josh moved into his new home in Ledbury. While we will miss having him under the same roof, we are delighted that he is only a few minutes away, making it easy to stay closely connected and continue sharing meals, walks, and family time together.
A particular highlight of the month was a short stay in Aberdovey on the west coast of Wales, where we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We are very grateful to Tom and Sarah for the loan of their Audi TT—a joy to drive, even if our backs gently reminded us that we may be better suited to something a little more forgiving these days!
As we move into April and Holy Week, we do so with thankful hearts, trusting in God’s continued guidance and provision in all that lies ahead. |
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🌸 Mother's Day Flowers - Review |
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On 14th March, Ruth Holt led a Mother’s Day morning at The Wellspring, where guests enjoyed making some lovely bouquets and arrangements.
It was another relaxed and enjoyable time together, with our Chapel full of the scent of fresh flowers—just like a florist’s shop—as we shared conversation and fun.
This was our third floristry session led by Ruth, and each one has been truly memorable.
Looking ahead, Ruth will be leading two further mornings in late November, when guests will have the opportunity to create Christmas wreaths and arrangements.
Do keep an eye on our events page for details of this early Christmas event—which should be live in the 2nd half of April. |
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We are pleased to announce the following events and dates for the 2nd half of 2026. We are still finalising details but hope to publish the events on our website by mid-April, with links added to this section in our May news update. |
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July 2026
Friday 3rd July | Quiet Day | TBA | Cathy Silmon
Friday 24th July | Art Workshop | "Seeking the Face of Jesus" | Val and Mark Turner
August 2026
No public events
September 2026
Friday 25th September | Guided Retreat | "My Weakness. His Strength" | Joe Silmon
October 2026
Friday 9th October | Creative Workshop | "Entering His Rest" | Jane Long
Friday 23rd October | Quiet Day | TBA | Cathy Silmon
November 2026
Friday 6th November | Guided Retreat | "The Throne of Grace" | Joe Silmon
Friday 27th and Saturday 28th November | Craft Workshop | "Christmas Wreath-making" | Ruth Holt
December 2026
Friday 4th December | Teaching and Ministry Day | "Hope and Healing: A Day of Support for the Bereaved" | Lis Whybrow
Friday 18th December | Advent Retreat | "In the Waiting" | Paul Hunt |
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🙏 Prayer Diary - April 2026 |
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“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” — Jeremiah 33:3 |
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We would appreciate your prayers during April in the following areas:
Please 🙏 for The Wellspring, that it would be a safe haven to all who visit, and a place of encounter for those needing to hear from God.
Please 🙏 for The Team (Cathy, Joe, Steph, and Jutta), as they continue to manage the day-to-day running of The Wellspring, and complete essential tasks. Pray especially for their health and energy levels.
Please 🙏 for our Friends and Volunteers, especially those who join with us at our Thursday night prayer meeting, and those who support us during events, venue hires, and cottage stays.
Please 🙏 for the two Events this month, that we would be fully resourced and prepared, that God would call the right people to attend and that they would be blessed and encouraged by their visit.
Please 🙏 for groups Hiring our spaces, that they would be blessed by the venue and its peaceful surroundings, that they would encounter God's presence here, and enjoy times of peace and fellowship as a group.
Please 🙏 for those staying in The Cottage, that they would experience God's peace and rest, and that those who come specifically seeking direction or a word from the Lord, would hear from Him.
Should you feel during your prayers for The Wellspring that the Lord might be saying something through words, pictures, scriptures, etc, please write to: [email protected].
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Click the image above to listen to Cathy's album "Breath of Life" on SoundCloud. |
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