Dear Friends and Neighbours,

As I write this letter the New Year is only a few weeks old, it’s traditionally the time of new beginnings, or at least for making resolutions, even if we don’t keep them. We resolve to do things differently or in a new way; to become healthier, to eat better, drink less, exercise more, to give up smoking, to see more of our friends, to find work or a new job, to make time for the things that are important and the list goes on. It’s about making changes, or at least resolving to make changes, that will make for a better state of health and quality of life. I think it’s interesting that right at the beginning of the year, we in church celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. Baptism for Jesus was the beginning of something new. It was from that point on that Jesus’ work and ministry on earth really began. But it was more than just a resolution to be different… along with it came confirmation of who he really was. You might remember that as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ God confirmed who Jesus was… he confirmed his identity, there’s something important about that.

I think each one of us has a deep need to know who we are. That’s probably why so many people take a great interest in looking into their genealogies and ancestries. Who we are… our identity is really important. Out of knowing his identity, out of knowing who he really was Jesus too could live as the person God had made him to be. And that’s the same for each one of us. The way we live comes out of knowing who we are. The Bible has a lot to say about who we are and our identity. As we get to know God so our identity becomes clearer. Did you know he calls us; beloved, greatly loved, his children, sons and daughters of the most high, his friends, joint heirs of his kingdom.

Our new years resolutions may be long forgotten but it’s never too late to discover who we really are and how much God loves us… and to discover a new way of life. Jesus said he came to bring us abundant and over flowing lives, I love the Message translation of the Bible which says, “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.”

God Bless,

Cathy

P.S If you would be interested in being baptised or confirmed please do contact me and we can arrange to have a chat about it.