Letter from Jon, November 2017
Dear Friends
“You are the light of the world…..let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”
Matt 5:14,16
November marks the start of a season of light, beginning with fireworks night and moving towards Christmas. The darker nights give the opportunity for the light displays to shine brightly. It is a season I love and a reminder of the contrast between darkness and light. It seems that the darker the night the brighter the light shines.
As I write this letter we have just had a focus on Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in our Sunday morning, with a powerful video of one person’s journey from the darkness of debt, and all its effects, to the wonderful hope and light of the Gospel.
As we look at our world, and even as we consider our own personal situations, we can often see a lot of darkness. There is so much that can bring fear, anxiety, hopelessness and isolation, but in the midst of this darkness there is a brilliant light that shines. It is a light of hope, of peace, of joy, of love, of salvation. It is a light that comes from the goodness of our God to us. It is a light which became ‘Immanuel’, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It is a light that changes everything, for you, for me and for this world. It is a light that shines brightly in the deepest darkness, and it is a light that will never be overwhelmed by the darkness.
Jesus is the light of the world, and yet he also calls us, his disciples, the ‘light of the world’. We are his people, his ambassadors, with the God-given mandate to shine brightly that many would come to ‘praise our Father in heaven’. As we move towards the Christmas season, and all that it brings, I am so grateful to be a part of this Church Family, already bringing hope to so many and I look forward to a new season of life, faith and salvation.
Love and Blessings
Jon
Jon Farrimond, 07/11/2017