Thought For The Day – Thursday 14^th May 2026

All T.B.S.H.S., respecting matters of personal belief and conscience, we support, work together, and learn from respectful people:  of faith and religion;  who are not religious;  who are agnostic.

There should, and must, be no negative prejudice and no negative discrimination.

Compassion, empathy,  kindness, love, respect, and understanding are the way.

Dialogue, harmony, togetherness, and unity.   Not division and no polarisation.

In Christianity, today is Ascension Day.   This is an important day in the life of Jesus.

The Jewish roots of Jesus and Christianity are very important.

In Islam, Jesus is a prophet.

Others, like the theologian and philosopher John Hick,  who, working in Birmingham, sought to learn from all appropriate faiths, philosophies and religions,  seeing Jesus as a wise teacher “only”.

But for Christians, Ascension Day, marks the moment, after Easter Sunday, when Jesus Christ, who had, Christians believe,  risen from the dead at The Resurrection on Easter Sunday, as The Crucifixion on Good Friday, ascended to Heaven.

According to the Christian Bible,  before ascending to Heaven, Jesus encouraged disciples to become apostles: to spread the Gospel;  and to baptise people from all nations.  Previously, Jesus had given the commandment to “Love one another”, communicating the Jewish Law to love God and to love our neighbour. Before his Ascension, Jesus’ final words, according to the Bible were:  “I am with you always to the end of time”.  Christians believe God gives The Holy Spirit to inspire this mission.

Religions are represented in our local community.

For example,  Churches in our local community:  proclaim this good news or Gospel; support Christians;  and inclusively give to the wider community, through charity with projects such as the food bank and night shelter, spreading light.

A church is a people as well as, and more than, a building.

Of course, as we know and see, some churches have their own buildings. But others meet in, and rent,  community buildings, including a church which inspires and guides many in the School Hall of T.B.S.H.S. each Sunday.

We are always very grateful to Reverend Williams, and all at Saint Michael’s Church, for our Christmas and Easter services.

The closest traditional church building to our school is Saint James’ The Great in Thorley,  led by Reverend Tracey. Reverend Tracey has also supported our Christmas and Easter services, and referees rugby matches for T.B.S.H.S..

Some of our current, and former, students were baptised and confirmed at a very moving recent service at Saint James’ Thorley. This service also involved members of Saint Michael’s Church.  For these current, and former,  students, being baptised and confirmed, this was an important and transformative moment on their life’s journey. A step into, or a renewal of, their faith, which, supported by family, friends, and the wider church, and local community, begins a new dawn and sunrise in their lives.

As reported by the “Bishop’s Stortford Independent” yesterday,  members of the youth group, “Rooted”, at Bishop’s Stortford Baptist Church, a church that used to meet at our London Road site many years ago, before creating their own modern building,  created the following piece of art which expresses their Christian beliefs.