At the start of the year I like to look back on what's happened, to be thankful. Then looking forward at what is coming this year...

Looking Back
Come January and it is the time I often look back and reflect on the year that has gone. I do this with much gratitude and thankfulness. It has been so encouraging to see how God is answering our prayers, and how we are growing as a church; not just numerically but also in the depth of our relationship with God.

Our plan for growth for the last few years has focussed on three distinct areas and we seek to discern how God is calling us to live out our calling. I thought it would be useful to think how we have been working in these areas.

• To reach out to families and children.
We have continued to develop our relationships with our local schools. We deliver assemblies and this year have helped with lessons across all year groups, exploring themes such as baptism and why does the incarnation matter?. It was also wonderful to welcome the children and their families into the church for the school carol services.
Over the last year we held some family fun days – offering a wonderful range of activities for children and families for free. It builds on our connections we make and offers a blessing to our community.

Singing, signing and stories continues to thrive and on a Tuesday morning in term time there is a wonderful sound of children playing, singing and listening to stories. It is a space where relationships and friendships are built and people know they matter.

Our monthly all age services see children, their families and folk of all ages worship and learn together – it is always a joy. Our monthly explorers’ class for children of primary school age has seen increased attendance and is a great place for our children to learn.

• To support those going through challenging times
  Our pop-up shop continues to meet the needs of our community, providing provisions and a place to belong for many people.
  In the last year the Parish Nursing service has gone from strength to strength and is now an established ministry of the church, supporting people with healing, wholeness and hope. It was great to be able to appoint Dana as a paid lead Parish Nurse who will be working for a day a week to further expand the support we can offer.
  The ministry team, elders and parish nursing team have continued to provide monthly home communions to those who can no longer get to the building. Along with the streaming of services and DVDs delivered we see all as part of our church.
  There has developed a great team of folk who maintain the churchyard and ensure it is a place to remember and for wildlife.

• To welcome those new to our community and the church.
  Through the year we have continued to seek to create places where we can welcome people who are perhaps not too familiar with church, groups such as Ladybirds, men’s breakfast and pub theology have seen new people come and find a space where they can belong and get to know others.
  This year we ran the Start course and Moving on Course for those who wanted to explore their faith further, which were successful and well attended.
  Our welcome teams across all congregations do a fantastic job of spotting people who are new and making them feel comfortable and that they matter.

Above is just a glimpse of what happened in the last year. As I look back I am so thankful for all the folk who enable what we do to happen – there are so many people involved and above is just a taste of the amazing way God’s love is shown though the ministry of the church.

Looking Forward
I am excited as I look forward to see what God will be doing in our midst in this new year.

A passage that has been in my mind a lot as I am praying for the church is Colossians 3:12-17. It speaks of clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love – this is significant for us this year as we seek to continue to serve our community.

It is wonderful that we have started some new small groups in church and we continue to pray that these will be spaces where people can grow in their relationship with God and with each other. It has been great to see such interest on the Bible course as we learn more about God’s outrageous love for each of us.

We have plans in place, but we always seek to be open to the prompting and direction of the Holy Spirit.

Following on from our away day there are plans and opportunities about what we could do next. I would ask you to prayerfully discern whether you could play a part. Please look out over the first few months of 2026 for details.

Please do pray how God maybe calling you to be involved as we seek to:
Live, Show and Tell of God’s love, becoming like Christ and drawing others to Him

Chris