The first snow of the year has arrived, and as usual some things have been cancelled and there is some disruption to the transport system. I guess we are just not as used to it as some countries are, who receive regular amounts of snow. It has been lovely outside with the clear blue skies and bright winter sunshine; I don’t know about you, but I can cope with the cold if it is bright with some sunshine.
The New Year may look daunting to some as there are things that will need dealing with that are not easy to face. For others it will be a year of expectation and excitement with new challenges to encounter and look forward to. Whatever your situation and whatever you are facing in 2026, then I hope you can face them with fortitude, strength and the support of all those around you – in the good times and the bad. I often give thanks for the fact that we don’t know what is waiting for us around the corner in the days that are to come, as perhaps the fear of what is to come would stop us from enjoying what we have and who we are at the moment.
Perhaps more importantly, I hope that you can find a faith that will help you through the difficult times and will enable you to rejoice in the good and celebratory events of the year ahead. May God give you courage, strength and happiness for the coming year as you encounter each and every day with its adversities and its joys.
I wish you God’s peace for the New Year.
Revd Graham
