Dear Church Family
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and a happy Christmas to you all!
At the heart of Christmas is the astounding and life-giving truth expressed so simply and beautifully in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The birth of Jesus is not merely a beautiful story or a cherished tradition; it is God’s gracious and decisive act of love for the world, and the source of our hope, joy, peace, and life.
As we come to the end of this year, and as my family and I prepare to conclude our time with you at St Christopher’s, I write with a heart full of gratitude. For more than four years, it has been our great privilege to serve among you. These years have been a truly wonderful season of Christ-centred ministry – marked by worship, fellowship, service, faith, mission, and a deepening sense of unity in Christ. We thank God for you, and for the many ways we have seen His grace at work in this church.
This Christmas is a bittersweet one for our family. There is sadness in saying goodbye to a church family we love dearly, and deep thankfulness for the relationships, memories, and shared journey we have been given here. Thank you for your love, prayers, encouragement, generosity, and partnership in the gospel – not only throughout this past year, but throughout the whole time we have been part of this church.
As we prepare to celebrate once again the birth of our Saviour, and as we look ahead to the coming New Year, I want to encourage you with this assurance: with God and in God, the best is yet to come. That is true for St Christopher’s Church, and it is true for my family as well. The God who has been faithful in the past will continue to lead, provide, and bless in the days ahead.
Together with my family, I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a joyful and hope-filled New Year. May you know afresh the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, this Christmas and always.
With love and gratitude in Christ
Deo
