Minister's letter, 2 November

Dear Friends,

I have one of those alarm clocks that uses light as well as sound to help wake me up in the mornings. About 20 minutes before the alarm is due to sound the bulb begins to slowly grow brighter and brighter. This helps me to start to come around and hopefully avoid the shock of the loud beeping, making my transition from sleeping to consciousness much smoother. I have never been a morning person, especially in the winter when I have to get up before daylight. And there are many people for whom the shorter days and limited sunshine can have quite a negative impact on their well being and mood.

Light and dark. Two words, ideas or concepts that can convey so much meaning.

Jesus described himself as "Light of the world," (John 8:12), and the reassuring words of the opening of John's gospel, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it," (Jn 1:5) and further on John the Baptiser was called to testify, to be a witness to the light, as are we also called to do. But there will be some times when we will need all the help we can get to do that, when we will need a gradual glow that begins to stir us into action or at the very least some sort of being awake. And in our contemporary society we have such a variety and access to light of all forms, it is easy to be dazzled by the brightness and lose our sense of the light that is meaningful. I wonder how we are testifying to the light of Christ in our day to day encounters, and how we are holding onto Christ's light for ourselves too.

Christ's light is life, it is hope. It welcomes people in, encouraging and loving them. It empowers us to shine out into the world too. It reveals injustices. But perhaps we should not be too quick to dismiss the dark. Putting aside its metaphorical meanings, it can be a place of growth and revelation too after all a seed germinates in the ground, a baby is formed in the womb and if we look deep into the ocean beyond where the physical sunlight can reach, there are amazing creatures and natural formations.

God created day and night. So each time I set my alarm...and press snooze...I give thanks for a God who is light and life, and whose presence is everywhere, even in the dark.

We pray for all the nations and people, particularly, Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti, who have been affected by Hurricane Melissa. And we pray for all those who are working alongside refugees and asylum seekers- may our communities pursue the way of kindness to every person. Amen.

Every blessing

Rev Karen