Dear Friends,

I wonder how often do you read the credits at the end of a film or TV programme? The answer is probably never. Most of us switch off our attention the moment the action has ended. Those credits, however, remind us that more people are involved in a production than simply those who appear on screen. Producer, director, camera-crew, musicians, makeup department, lighting technicians and numerous others - all play a part in perfecting the finished article.

The same is true in the day-to-day life of our church, unglamorous tasks such as cleaning, catering, cooking, washing-up, preparing the minutes, arranging flowers, organising rotas, prayer support and so on. All too often, we take such work for granted and forget to say thank you.

So to all our unsung heroes - big thank you!

Conversely, you may be one of those undertaking such work. If so, never underrate the part that God has caIIed you to play, for it's as important as any other is. We all have different gifts and different roles - so let's remember to encourage each other and value each other for all we contribute.

This year we have an exciting year of Mission ahead of us, with:

1) 'Awakening', our special 3-day youth outreach event is 15th – 17th February

2) 'Across Hemel' 21st – 28th July - the town wide mission initiative which will take place centrally in Gadebridge park and also by us locally, through St. George's Church.

3) Our young people going off on Mission to the Dominican Republic in August.

(As well as all our ongoing programmes of Toddlers, Wednesday Welcome, Pilots, Messy Church, Cafe Church and other special 'outreach' opportunities.)

I hope you have already got the dates in your new diaries, because with each of these exciting events comes exciting opportunities for each and everyone of us to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, whether metaphorically through prayer support, financially through monetary support or physically through volunteering to help out.

Happy New Year! And may God bless you

Jane