When Charles Dickens wrote his novel, 'A Tale of Two Cities', he began with the words: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times'. If he had written his book in 2002, he may have left out any reference to the 'best of times'. Last year (2002) was a difficult year. It seemed as though everything went wrong for so may people. I for one am glad that the past is gone. Next year I am not sure that I should be welcoming another year that could, for all I know, be as bad (or worse) than 2002.
Don't get me wrong; I am not against having a new year party or social. It's just that so many people say that they are worried about the future and I am not sure how to welcome the unknown. In the hands of another my friend Eric Williams told me years ago about his being in the army on guard duty on the south-coast before the Normandy landings during the war. The future then was bleak, there were rumours about crossing the Channel, but no one knew when. Eric did not know where he or his mates would be in the days that followed.
What he did was this: he had a quiet word with God and simply committed himself into God's hands. He asked God to look after him in the future whatever might happen and whoever he was. Trust We may not be at war like in the 1940s, but we still have worries and uncertainties. We can also trust God and commit ourselves into his hands for the future. Place yourself in God's hands at the end of one year and at the beginning of another. Trust him for the future: to keep you safe, to keep you secure.
Rev. Roger RyanA United Carol Service with Living Waters Church Sunday 22nd December, 10.30am
Midnight Holy Communion Christmas Eve 11.30pm
Christmas Day Morning Service 10.30am
Holy Communion Sunday 29th December 10.30am
Jean Shults