It would be hard to think of a New Year which has started with quite so many gloomy predictions as 2009. The financial crisis which began in 2008 continues to play havoc, not least with the retail sector; Woolies, which most of us assumed would be there for ever, has now gone, other well-known names are threatened, and there is real concern as to how much worse things will become before improvements dawn. Add to that the crisis in the Middle East over Gaza, the desperate plight of Zimbabwe and the continuing threat of terrorism, and the whole idea of a Happy New Year seems, to say the least, difficult to sustain.
January has two events which, while arising out of past tragedies and divisions, nevertheless give use grounds for hope. Sunday 18th sees the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There will be a special service at Loch Promenade Methodist Church on that day, which we hope will attract widespread support. The effects of disunity among Christians have been well documented, and need no further elaboration. We praise God that, particularly over the last fifty years or so, much has been achieved in bringing Christians of different traditions and denominations together. True, there is more to do, but thankfully in most places attitudes of suspicion, fear and, sadly, sometimes downright hatred which were commonplace in past generations would be unthinkable today.
Then we have Holocaust Sunday on the 23rd. The attempt in World War II to systematically exterminate the Jews in Europe remains an immense stain on the history of the twentieth century; it would be a foolish person indeed who would claim that racism was dead, but the annual recollection of the effects of racial stereotyping and hatred serves both as a reminder of past horrors and a source of hope that future generations particularly will turn away from the way of hatred and mistrust.
As we enter 2009, Jacqy, Becci, Daniel and I would like to thank you for your love, prayers and support, and to wish you a truly blessed New Year.
With warmest greetings in Christ
Philip