I am sitting writing this letter in mid-December with all the Christmas services and Celebrations still to come. But by the time you read this, it will be time to wish you all a Happy New Year.
At this time of resolutions and reflection we stand once more at the threshold of a New Year, and many of you will be wondering, like me, where the time has gone. The start of a new year is always a great time to look back on what has been achieved; to reflect on what has gone well, but also on those things that may not have taken the direction we had expected; to learn from the things that have happened over the course of the previous year, and to begin to plan for the year ahead. A New Year is like the blank pages of a book, waiting to be written on – there are endless possibilities and endless potential; Questions about what lies ahead may stir excitement, but they can also spark uncertainty and fear. Yet, Jeremiah 29:11 assures us of a truth: God knows the plans He has for us, and those plans are good. Instead of striving to control every detail of our future, we can trust the One who sees the big picture.
January brings us into the season of Epiphany, a time when we reflect on the journey of the Wise men and the light that guided them. Though the Wise Men no doubt made careful plans for their journey, they travelled with hope instead of certainty. They followed a sign they only partially understood, yet they trusted that the star—the light leading them—would guide them to someone or something worth seeking. Their story speaks to us as we begin a new year reminding us that hope and trust are essential companions on our own journeys.
The Wise Men’s patient and determined journey offers encouragement for our own lives. The start of each year is often marked by anticipation and uncertainty, and few of us feel fully prepared for what lies ahead. As the wise men followed the light, so we look for God’s guiding light trusting that God journeys ahead of us and is already at work.
Epiphany also reminds us that the light of Christ is not for us alone. Like the star that guided the Wise men, we are called to shine with hope for those around us. In a season when many feel weary or isolated after the intensity of Christmas, even small acts of kindness, hospitality, and prayer can brighten someone’s path and offer comfort.
May your new year be filled with Peace and Joy.
Happy New year!
Blessings
Revd Nicola
