Hoping you enjoyed a blessed and peaceful Christmas. There has been so much to be thankful for in the life of our parish church, some of which you may well have been involved with or been a part of. This includes the plethora of children’s/family events, All Age Christingles, along with vibrant and exciting school services in church, the uplifting combined choirs at Advent and seeing the community flock to join in Candlelight Carols. They have all been filled with the message of hope as we rejoice in the coming of our precious Saviour that first Christmas.
In case you sense a lull this January, we can think again as Epiphany is upon us, reminding us all of the Wise Men visiting Jesus guided by the Christmas star. Then, as now, Jesus is being made known to the world, and that continues to be our job today: to always make Him known in all we say and do.
As the Carol says:
‘Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere…that Jesus Christ is born.’
Trad. African-American Carol, first published by John Wesley Work, Jr.
Something else new and exciting to share with you over the coming months will be the eventual licensing (blessing by our Bishop!) of a handful of new Focal Ministers in our two churches. They have been prayerfully nominated by our church council and are simply being authorised to become a public face of our church locally alongside the existing team. This will be a chance to encourage and honour them and also all of us in what we already do together in serving and living out our Christian witness today. Watch this space!
If anyone would like a visit, a chance to chat, ask questions or find out ways to connect with church and faith locally in this New Year, do feel free to get in touch with me; my phone is always on!
Happy New Year to you all.
Rev Charles Burton
07803219746
Published in the parish magazines Jan 2025
Image courtesy of Unsplash