Dear All, I feel as if I have danced into 2023 with the sound of carols, the smell of mince pies and mulled wine surrounding me. Thank you so much for supporting our services this year. Despite there being a small outbreak of COVID, most people have felt quite able to join together once again. It has been heartening to see everyone and the churches have looked stunning in their Advent decoration and their Christmas ‘dress’.

I know that the ten yearly census gave out some figures about religion in our country but I believe that it depends on the question asked and how people feel about answering that. I see around me a great sense of generosity and for me the driver of that is not ‘just being kind’ it has to come from somewhere and our society is driven through with values that go back beyond anything we know. I am not in denial about changes in our society but I see the hands and feet of Christ being shown in so many aspects of our lives even if others do not see the same as I.

I wish we could know how this year is going to go but if the gifts for our local food larders is anything to go by, then the generosity shown across our area is second to none. Thinking about others is a Christian imperative and Jesus preached about this at the sermon on the mount and at every opportunity he could. He often reminded his disciples, and others around him that, we don’t build up credit for our deeds on this earth in the hope it will give us a better after-life. He reminded them and us through the bible words that we should help people who are less fortunate than we are simply because it is a good and kind thing to do. So my sincere thanks for everything that has been done and been given.

I spoke about the book of John last year because it is easy, when January arrives, to have forgotten about Christmas and to let our thoughts stop with the baby born in Bethlehem. John doesn’t tell this story like the other Gospels. He focusses on the rest of the year. He helps us to focus on a life ahead, filled with hope and joy for the whole year. John is more interested in us and our future. He wants us to know ourselves to be God’s own beloved children. Free to make decisions, to be in charge of our destinies, not controlled by others.

A New Year usually means we think about what we might do differently this year. How we might be different. We challenge ourselves with resolutions which we know quite often we won’t stick with through the whole year. It will be a struggle to change ourselves, let alone the world but one thing will hold us up if we choose. To recognise that God loves us, that we deserve that love and respect and that God will use us to change the world.

So I hope we can all support each other through 2023 and that at sometimes we will recognise the love that God gives us not because of what we do but because of who we are.

Every blessing and a very happy New Year to you all.

Revd Cilla.