Dear friends,
Well Christmas is almost here - I hope you're not too stressed and that you get the cards written and presents wrapped in time for the big day.
Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you all to give thanks for all what God has done for us here at Aldridge Parish this year. He has done tremendous things for us. The best thing is the staff team is now together. I cannot tell you how much different this Christmas feels to last Christmas. Having Richard and Polly Taylor, Mike and Ruth Jones and Matt Wallace join the team over the 12 months is the most encouraging thing. Our Monday morning staff meetings are now packed what with Richard, Mike, Matt, Jean Elliott, Maxine Roberts, Jenny Hopley, Pete Ford, Jean Kinnear, Rob Cook and me all in my little office.

It is so stimulating, challenging, exciting and also more often than not funny having these people to share with, pray with and develop the vision with. It feels like God has got exciting things in store for us here in Aldridge. Please pray for this team. These words spring to mind as you pray for us energy, vision, determination, unity, love, wisdom, commitment.
 
The other thing I need to say is I can't wait for 2005. I love being here in Aldridge at this exciting time. I believe 2004 was a year of consolidation. A year to build the team, a year to get used to each other, a year to organise. But 2005 is the year when we as a Church start to 'move on.' We have the 24/7 prayer initiative to look forward to as well as the development of Alpha and Beta and the other groups in the Church. We also have a year when we start to develop our worship as a Church. Now is the time we look forward and start to pray and ask God for guidance and wisdom for the Church we are to become. So look forward to 2005 at Aldridge Parish Church with excitement, expectation and anticipation. Let's pray that we do move on with God and that we do grow both spiritually and in number and that his love can unite us all and inspire us all.