As 2024 draws to a close, we wish you a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, during a season marked by troubling headlines. Our world continues to grapple with turbulence and uncertainty: violence persists in the Middle East and Ukraine, western nations often prioritise self-interest over shared goals, and within the Church of England, we have faced divisions caused by abuse, leadership failures, and disagreements that have fractured our unity.
It is against this somber backdrop that we at St. Johns, celebrate the joyous news of God entering our world through the birth of Jesus Christ, bringing peace and goodwill to all.
The world into which Jesus was born was no less broken—Bethlehem, a humble village under Roman occupation, welcomed him as the child of an unwed, displaced couple seeking refuge without shelter. Jesus challenged the religious authorities of his time, disrupted the oppressive powers of occupation, and offered hope and healing to those in need.
As we look to the future, the need for our Saviour’s guidance has never felt more pressing. In 2025, may we strive to see him more clearly, love him more deeply, and follow him more faithfully.
Wishing you abundant blessings in the days ahead.