Dear Friends and Neighbours …

I can’t believe I’m already writing a magazine letter for December … where has the year gone? I remember people telling me when I was young that time went faster the older you get, so perhaps that’s true.

As we head towards the end of the year, I find myself reflecting on Endings and Beginnings.

As a child we moved house regularly which meant I also moved school regularly too… so endings and beginnings were something I got used to. So, I was interested during my training to become a priest when we spent time discussing the importance of ending well and how ending well helps us to begin new things well; and I think it’s really true.

As we come to the end of the year… it’s good to take time to reflect what this year has meant to us. The year has of course been influenced greatly by Covid, but for each of us there will have been a mix of joys and sadness’s. We will have each experienced something new …and learnt something more about ourselves. And I’m sure that for each of us… we will be able to find things that we’re really grateful for, however large or small. Taking time to remember and to be thankful is a really helpful way to metaphorically put the year to bed… before we begin the think forward to beginning the new year.

With Christmas fast approaching my mind is already well into the Christmas Story. Mary and Joseph had travelled together through an unexpected pregnancy and journeyed the long distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem… and in many ways the birth of Jesus in the stable feels like the end of the story. But it was very much the beginning. The beginning of a new chapter, a wonderful chapter of God in Jesus, walking with His people. So often what appears to be an ending is actually the beginning of something new.

Perhaps you might like to join us at one of the Carol Services across the Benefice to give yourself time to reflect and look forward in Hope ?

Whatever this year has been like for you… my hope and prayer is that you are able to look back and remember times, and people and things to be thankful and grateful for… and so begin to look forward to beginning a new year with hope and expectation.

Have a wonderful Christmas and I pray that the New Year 2022 will be a good year for you.

God Bless

Cathy

Rector