For almost a decade now I've been involved in appraisal and mentoring for NHS doctors. One of the pillars of that process is reflective practice - reviewing our successes, recalling what didn't go so well, and considering how we might do things differently as a consequence. Someone reminded me recently in that context, that if we don't count our blessings, we cannot be thankful; if we don't recognise disappointment, there can be no resolve; and if we don't consider our potential, we cannot grow.
The end of a year is a good time to look back and reflect on where we've come as a church. Richard Rendall retired in January; Oliver Strange succeeded him in August; and in between our parishes were served by numerous volunteers, ordained and lay people, who made sure our worshipping life continued unbroken even through the trials of Covid. We have much to be thankful for, and many who we probably didn't thank enough. But the Christian life isn't about looking backwards for a moment longer than we need to. St Paul writes, 'Forgetting what is behind, and straining towards what is ahead, I press on ... to win the prize of my heavenly calling'. And so with us. We look forward to 2022 with enthusiasm and expectation, because the Christian faith is fundamentally optimistic - that something better lies ahead, despite all the challenges we face here and now. And supremely that means eternal optimism - looking forward to our secure place: in Christ, for all eternity.
Rev Dr Stephen Blake, Associate Minister