I was woken up at 6 a.m. by the radio telling me good news that Alan Johnstone had been released.  This release was, it seems, secured without violence, and is undoubtedly immensely positive.  I am grateful for those in my congregation who have steadfastly written his name in our prayer book over the last couple of months, continuing to pray for him when his name vanished from the news.

At the same time, we continue to pray for the family of Madeleine McCann, and all the other unnamed, unknown men, women and children who are kidnapped, abducted or trafficked every single day.  Somehow we need to 'be' as well as 'hear' good news.