January  Letter 

Joy in your every day  
Happy New Year my friends 
Over Advent (Dec 1st to 24th Dec) we did an Advent Study Course called ‘Joy to the World’.  We looked at the many things that bring us JOY during the approach to Christmas.  We also acknowledged that for many, Christmas can be difficult for so many different reasons. 
As Christians, we are called to have faith, hope, love with joy as we move through our time in this world. Faith in the story of Christmas and also, as promised, faith in all the promises that God has made to us through the Bible and through the life and death of Jesus Christ.  We are called to believe that Jesus died for us so that our sins will be forgiven and we will have eternal life, a life after this life that we see, where we will be with God and will be his people. 
We are called to Hope that the promises of Jesus are true and that God’s plan includes us all.  We are to understand that each day can be filled with Hope as each day is a new day and a gift from God. We are called to love each other and all those that Jesus loves, which is everyone we meet, and also all those that we care for. Love does not necessarily mean romantic love, but the love that cares for all, as our hearts grow bigger we find that we have a place for all those we are called to serve and be with and also all those in need across the world, who are our brothers and sisters – even if we have never met them. And JOY – well, I think we have to make a conscious effort to find JOY in our every day. Maybe as we move through this New Year of 2026 that is our question we will need to keep asking ourselves. 
What brings me Joy? 
Is it in the simple things of life, maybe that walk?, a particular person?, eating boiled eggs?  A sunset?  A sunrise? The different seasons we experience? Etc. 
I have made a New Year’s promise to myself that I will search out and see the Joy in every day and I will not let someone else, or a difficult situation steal my Joy. Now I know that I cannot do this on my own.  Life will throw me difficult things as it will you, but I am hoping to hold on to this Year’s promise….. 
To see Joy in my every day 
And the way I can do this? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 With the help of God. 
This is going to be our Benefice Bible verse for this year – you will find it on magnets again at the back of church that you can put onto your fridge and learn it, hold onto it and call God into all those difficult situations you will face and hold on to this simple sentence to give you strength. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 This January we will be running the Alpha Course again, which is an opportunity for people to come together, over an initial period of 6 weeks, to learn more about, ’Who Jesus is’ and to be able to ask all those niggling questions about faith and God they would like to.  It is a chance to make new friends, to journey with people who have similar questions to yourself, and we always try to have fun together along the way. Dates for your diary:- 21st Jan, 28th Jan, 4th Feb, 18th Feb, 25th Feb, 4th March They all take place in our house, The Rectory, 1 Dovedale, High Wych, CM21 0DT. Just drop me an e-mail: revajacksonhwge@outlook.com or ring me on:0783  366 7707 if you would like to come.
    If you do you will bring me great JOY as we explore the Story of God and the story of Us together. As you read this I wish you a Merry Christmas and a JOY filled New Year. May God be with you in that whisper in your ear, may he bless you and protect you and may you always find those moments of JOY in your every day. Your Priest Alison