Here we are then in January 2026. It has been a time when many celebrations have been held to welcome in the New Year, fire works, parties, musical performances
and some thing almost hallowed about counting down the seconds from 11:59 & 50 seconds on the 31st December 2025 to midnight and the start of 1st January 2026.
It can be hailed as a time of new opportunities and certainly is a time when many will look forward in anticipation to what will happen during the New Year. Sadly, the turning of the year is often a time when great tragedy strikes, and following the massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, there followed this tragic fire in the Swiss resort of Crans -Montana. We mourn this brutal loss of lives yet can’t help but wonder how many of these victims were unsaved and heading prematurely into a lost eternity.
For the Christian believer we are reminded from God’s word in Lamentations 3:22-23 that; the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases: his mercies never come to an end: they are new every morning ; great is your faithfulness (ESV)
Every new day of the year ahead that we are given is a gift from God, and his mercies to us are renewed afresh each day of our lives. We can look forward to each new day knowing that we are fully reliant on Him throughout all our circumstances. So, as we look ahead to this New Year, let’s always be looking to Him to see what He has in store for us. Of course, we make our plans and hope for many things in our lives and for those of our family and friends, we seek the best for them – which
of course is that they may live with that same hope, knowing the Lord Jesus and sharing in His mercies afresh each day.
As a church we trust that in the providence of the Lord, Calix and Bea and the family will be enabled to move to Madeira during 2026 to serve Him there. Significant preparations will be required in advance of that move and this will have an equally significant impact on the life of the church as we consider a plan for succession. This will be a time of change for us all and calls for much prayer from every church member. Perhaps, in the spirit of a New Years resolution I could urge each church member to spend more time in congregational prayer as we look to the Lord for his guidance throughout the coming year. We know he hears our prayers and delights in answering them so let’s ensure we do not be come weary in gathering together as the writer to the Hebrews wrote in 10:25 25 (let us) not giving (give) up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging (encourage) one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Stuart
Elder
January 2026
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