This letter sits between Christmas, New Year and Lent, as we prepare for Easter. Like many of you, I found Christmas to be a busy time and yet a time to celebrate and rejoice with family and friends the coming of our Lord. Our first Christmas in the new church building worked well and the use of the fenced lawn for Carols on the Lawn proved most successful. Christmas lunch, for us, was hosting some of our wider family, something many of you were also involved in. Our New Year’s party at the church was a good fun night with good fellowship; lots of fun and games, giving thanks for the past year and moving into the new with God.

On Saturday January 20, members of the congregation took part in the “Ideas Day” to begin thinking and planning for the coming year. We identified and celebrated the good things already happening in the church, we then listened and considered our dreams and hopes for the future. During the lunch break each person was given five votes (stickers) to place on this list, and then in groups these were discussed with the intention of voting for three ideas so that these three had highest priority after our time together. These are “Connecting with the community”, “Bible Study and Prayer life” and “Nurturing people”. Small working groups were formed for each and these groups will welcome other people. These three may guide our thinking and planning into the future. I don’t believe these should be restrictive or a burden, rather something to encourage us and these will be informed by our current activities and the other ideas that were offered.

The process and lists can be found on the foyer notice board.

I will be on leave from February 11 and return for the 4th March to enjoy Lent and Easter with you.

I pray this will be a good (God’s) year for you.

Your friend,