Dear Elstead residents,

I'd better begin my introducing myself and explaining why I'm writing this letter.  I am NOT the new Minister of the United Reformed Church - the Chapel - in Elstead, but am simply "holding the fort" to cover some important parts of the Minister's job until a permanent replacement for the Revd. Tom Bayliss is found.  The quaint title the United Reformed Church has for this "holding the fort" role is Interim Moderator.  If you want to know where the title comes from, then please ask me and I'll gladly explain the origins of the term to anyone interested.  This is only a small part of my time - my main job is Minister of the United Reformed Church in Farnham.  If you ever come into Farnham we're the church opposite Sainsburys and the bus stop, with the coffee shop.

I know how much Tom's ministry has been appreciated, and I'm sure that we all wish him and his family well in their new home and new life in north Devon.  I can reassure you that the United Reformed Church values Elstead very much, and we are working to make arrangements for a permanent replacement for Tom as soon as we can.

Now that we've celebrated Harvest and Remembrance, the days get shorter, and we look forward to Advent and Christmas - a time of celebration near the longest night.  I hope that everyone, of whatever faith and none, is able to appreciate joy, happiness, and light, in the midst of dark of winter.  But more than that, may we all have the opportunity, also, to discover once more the amazing news of God coming among us in a tiny baby.  As Charles Wesley put it in one of his hymns, "our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man".

May we all find light, laughter, and the loving God among us this Christmas.