Last weekend was certainly an inspirational weekend, firstly with the Grand Slam Ladies Final in which Emma Raducunu and Leylah Fernandes went head-to-head in a stunning and exhilarating match. Both girls serving as wonderful ambassadors for their respective countries. What talent……yet it was more than talent it was an innate gift possessed by both girls who did not leave it at that but were prepared to put in hours of practise to reach their goal.

I am writing this letter to you following our Circuit Staff Meeting this morning when Matt Barrick our Circuit Youth Worker led the devotions taking the theme of ‘New Beginnings’. He told us about his daughter who had just started her first day of school. A new beginning for her and the family….

We all need hope. We all need to know that it will be ok in the end. Hope isn’t though about wishful thinking. The hope God gives us is a confidence in the future based upon our present experience of his love. We need to pay attention to the present and to know God at work in our lives. We do this individually but also as community.