Dear Friends,

New Year, new opportunities - although, as we get older, our attitudes to `new opportunies` can begin to change…  The challenge, though, is relentless, for when St. John heard God say "Behold, I make all things new", we should perhaps understand that to mean that God is constantly making "all things new", for the world and everything in it is constantly being changed (whether we like it or not !).  The good news, for Christians, is that even you and I may be made new, `reborn`, forgiven, given a new start.  So, what about those new year's resolutions, then ?

On a personal note, so many of you have been kind enough to ask after Liz's health recently.  By the time you read this we are hoping to know exactly what operation she will be having on her left hip, and when.  If that goes ahead soon 2006 will indeed see her changed, and definitely for the better !

On the activities front, please note the following (and come to them !):

'Peter Pan' - a parish pantomime by young people, in the St. James' School at Elstead on Sunday 1^st & Monday 2^nd January, 3pm & 7pm.  Tickets from Sarah Goodship (702613), Elizabeth Weston (702571) or me at the Rectory (703251) @ £3 / children £2.

I happened to mention to a few people (some time ago) that I had met an Anglican priest who was a chaplain to Heathrow airport, and they expressed such interest in this that I have arranged for Rev. Phil Hughes, airport chaplain and curate of Harmondsworth, to speak to us at our 10 am service on Sunday 15th January about his work.  I know that about 60,000 people work at Heathrow and millions use it every year, so that sounds like a demanding job !

On a quieter note, we shall be holding a `Taizé` style service for Christian Unity Week, on Sunday 22^nd January, 6.30pm in the United Reformed Church, Milford Road, Elstead.  Our speaker will be Mrs Tieleke Williams and our own Music Group will be providing the Taizé`-style music.

That same week we shall be offering the first (I hope) of a new series of opportunities for Christian Fellowship within our local churches, to be held at Elstead URC on Wednesday 25^nd January.  The evening will be starting at 7.30pm with a supper, followed by a speaker and discussion .  Please let me know numbers for supper.  The second evening will be on Thursday 2^nd March.

William Lang.

P.S.  The sharp eyed among you will hopefully have noticed that the lamp by the gate into the churchyard has recently been re-glazed in a most attractive way.  This is to the design of - and the glazing has been made and given by - Sonia and Alan Collis of Upper Springfield (Sonia is a past editor of the Village News), and we are very grateful to Alan and Sonia for their skill and generosity.  Sadly, they will shortly be leaving us to emigrate to Canada…  We wish them well in their `new life`.