​

January 2022

​

A new journey for Mary, Jesus and Joseph, after the birth of their son Jesus.

The Magi were warned in a dream not to return to Herod.  They went home by another, new route.  Then Joseph had a new experience.

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2 v 13-17

​

Later another new beginning;

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 2 v 19-23

​

A small family, inexperienced parents with a new baby, with so many new experiences in their lives.  Travelling back to a birthplace for a census, new visitors, angels, shepherds and the magi, and messages from God.  So many new things.

God was with them, so they were able to cope.

 

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF US.  BUT …..What does NEW mean?

As an adjective the meaning is manifold: Not existing before, bought into existence, invented, introduced, discovered.  Renewed, fresh, different, advanced in method or doctrine,

What does this mean to us at TRINITY?

​

​

 

January 1-2

Every ending is a new beginning.  Through the Grace of God, we can always start again.

 

The Eastern orthodox are still celebrating Christmas, with Christmas Day being January 6 2022.   Here we celebrate New Year and remember the joys of a Christmas just past. Pray that God will give us His grace to enter 2022 with a new heart and spirit, to face all the challenges that face us, giving thanks for Vaccines, and NHS staff who care for patients and set us on a path to recovery of health.  Give thanks in our prayers for all who serve and help, especially those who have been and do volunteer to help those less fortunate than ourselves, such as Street Pastors.

 

January 3-9

When God gives you a new beginning, it starts with an ending. It is more like finishing off a chapter before you start a new one. Do not lose your hope when the doors get closed, rather know that they have closed only because new doors are waiting ahead to be opened.

​

God gave us something that had not existed before, to human knowledge.  Jesus was born to us, a tiny baby, whose parents very soon became refugees, as many are today.  A door in the life of the Israelites had ended, a new one was beginning to open.     How do you respond to a New Year?  Resolutions to change your life, to change the lives of others, to try harder each day to try to understand God’s will?  Pray that God will give us the willpower to cope, make changes and keep our mental abilities calm and loving.

​

January 10-17

Each story has an ending…but sometimes endings are just a new beginning.

​

We are entering a New Year, with familiar dangers from COVID 19, and possible new variants.  Maybe new homes, altered relationships, new children, great grandchildren, and possibly changes to our congregation. Pray that we will all be able to talk to God about our hopes and fears, joys and sadness’, so that God can give us strength and courage for each new challenge.

 

January 17-23

God gives you a new beginning, it starts with an ending. Be thankful for closed doors. They often guide us to the right one.

​

Can you find any new doorways to enable your spiritual life to open even more widely?  We are learning more about God, Jesus and His promises as we explore the Lord’s Prayer. Pray that, as our Pastors continue to lead us to God, that we explore the Bible and the Message. And learn how to either make changes to lead us in a new way of life, or be strengthened anew to continue our journey to the promise of eternal life.   Give thanks for those who help us learn and pray that we may be able to freely discuss our Christianity with others during our life away from our Church buildings.

 

January 24-31

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

As we near the end of the month of January, we can look back to Christmas, and the New Year as a period of time in our lives when it is possible that changes have been made, and maybe we have become NEW.  Pray that God will guide us all in His way, and that we will continue to increase our belief, knowledge and love of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. 

​

​