“Hope has two beautiful daughters.

Their names are, Anger and Courage.

Anger that things are as they are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

THIS quotation from Saint Augustine of Hippo, who lived 1600 years ago, was the starting point of a talk at the Vine Methodist Church to mark National One World Week with its theme of “Hope in Action”.

During the week Churches Together in Hale held a delicious supper for 60 people at the Vine after which the speaker, the Very Rev John Chalmers, former Moderator of the National Assembly of the Church of Scotland, spoke about three shapes of hope.

First, he spoke of the dove in the Bible which returned to Noah after the flood waters around the ark receded. The dove carried an olive branch in its bill and Noah and his family prepared to leave the ark. God promised not to destroy living things in the future.

Dr Chalmers showed us a dove made from pieces of glass from destroyed houses on the West Bank in Israel. This dove also carried an olive branch, symbol of peace. He had been able to give copies of this dove as gifts during his year in office. One dove was presented to Pope Francis at the Vatican and together they had pledged to work for peace in the world.

The second shape of hope he chose was women, saying that the issue of gender equality would be raised world-wide more and more in the coming years. From his own experience in South Sudan he had seen how women were using age-old methods of peace building and reconciliation, defying the aggression and destruction by men in that youngest of countries.

The third shape of hope was the cross. Dr Chalmers spoke of Jesus’ unconditional love as he was dying on the cross, especially shown to his mother Mary who was there with him, showing her own love for him. This unconditional love is available for us all.

Those at the Vine in Hale felt invigorated and encouraged by the evening. Saint Augustine would have approved.

Ruth and Keith Neal, Churches Together in Hale