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Dear Church Family Member
"And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:8-10
Over this past Christmas we have seen a large increase in the numbers of people attending our Services with around 500 at our Carol and Christmas Day services reflecting a general trend across the country of increased church attendance. One of the main reasons put forward for this is that in the context of economic uncertainty and a pessimistic view of the future there is an increased desire for deeper values and security. To put it bluntly, when bad news beckons the search for Good News begins!
You may be forgiven if you think Luke's words to the shepherds of Bethlehem belong more to December than January; however, as we say goodbye to 2008 and pack away the paraphernalia of Christmas, I believe that at the beginning of 2009 God would say to us afresh do not be afraid for the Good News goes on and on and on. . !
The Good News that is ours, and, as the angels proclaimed, is "for all the people," is that we have a Saviour, one who was born to be with us, one who is God with us, one who brings Good News into the bleakest of situations. The Good News of God's presence with us through his Son is a fact of faith that we are invited to embrace and allow to transform both each moment of every day and our long term view of the future.
Looking back for a moment on last year, we spent a significant time reviewing and renewing our vision to love God, love one another and love all in God's world. Opportunities of prayer and reflection for the Church, PCC, Small Groups and Leadership Team led us into an important time of repentance. Passages from Paul's letter to the Ephesians powerfully spoke to us about the need not only to be rooted and established in the love of Christ but to be empowered through his Spirit (Ephesians 3:14 -21).
Looking forward I believe that this coming year will be hugely significant for us at St Paul's as we give expression to all that God is calling us into. After last year's season of prayer and reflection there is much that has been laid on my heart and over the next few months I will be taking the opportunity to share this with the Leadership and PCC and with the Church Family at our APCM in April.
So as 2009 beckons let us look forward to discovering afresh what it means for us to be people of Good News with our families and friends, in our work places, town and across the world and let us take Paul's prayer to the Ephesians as our own " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, for ever and ever, Amen.
Every Blessing Paul
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