Grace and Peace!

Grace and peace!

Happy New Year.

Since Christmas we have had a mixture of sunshine and rain.My friends and family inland, and our colleagues down the South Coast have had the, what is now the usual, storms wreaking havoc with floods, high winds, rain and hail.A reminder of the diversity of experience that this season brings upon the world.

As we look to the year ahead, I find myself facing the annual task of balancing the long term planning, with just dealing with what befalls us on a daily basis. A balance between dealing with our own personal and local issues and the plight of the greater population of the community and the world at large. We face the dilemma of either being too concerned about global issues, that we become fatigued and lack the energy to deal with our own issues, or we are so engrossed in our own issues that we fail to see the bigger picture.But these few weeks at the beginning of the year are given to planning our way through that.

This is a time to reflect on 2025, and plan for Vestry of 2026 and our ministry plan for the year ahead. As we look at what we set out to do last year and what it will equate to this year. I am amazed at some of the things that have been done, showing God's grace and favor. I am excited about some of the opportunities that have arisen that will take us where God is leading us.I am grateful for God's faithfulness.

This Sunday we celebrate the Epiphany -the presentation of Jesus to the Gentiles.It is what the whole incarnation is truly about - God in human form in the world for the world,to save it; all of it.

All Loved. All Welcome. All Souls.

All praise be to God!

Therefore, may the God of grace, lead you into 2026, and may you, with courage and in obedience, follow the path of Jesus, to Jesus and in His Name - love the world back to God.

As the world asks - "Where is this Jesus?"May we show them, that He is in our hearts.

Happy New year.

All Souls, Rector

Epiphany 2026