January Update

Dear wonderful people,

Happy New Year!

I hope this message finds you well and that you've been able to enjoy Christmas. I had a wonderful Christmas with both of my families. I've really enjoyed relaxing with my family at home - I've also loved the time with my bigger family at PMCH. The last month has been wonderful in so many ways and I'm so thankful to so many of you for the ways that together we've been able to celebrate, and also share the hope that a baby born in the small town of Bethlehem gives to us. So many of you have done so much - I won't name individuals for the risk of missing someone out. Our church has looked spectacular and the welcome it has facilitated has been consistently commented on by the hundreds of guests we've hosted at both our events and external bookings.

I'm writing this in the church office in that strange period between Christmas Day and New Year. Actually, it is still Christmas! My family don't allow me to do this, but if I had my way the decorations would go up on Christmas Eve to mark the birth of Jesus and stay until the Orthodox celebration of Christmas on Jan 7th. I heard a news presenter refer to this time between Dec 25 & Jan 1 as 'Twixmas'. I've no idea if that is such a thing, or whether he was just lamenting having only Milky Ways left in his box of Celebrations and was craving a biscuity caramel chocolaty treat.

I hope you're expectant for the New Year? I'd really encourage you to join with us as we reflect on the words of the Methodist Covenant prayer during the week of prayer that begins today (Jan 1).

As we enter the New Year please don't allow the wonderful message of what we've just celebrated to dilute in it's significance. As John records, 'To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.' (John 1:12). That's really good news!!

Jonny