New Year is traditionally a time for resolutions, though research shows that by the end of the first week as many as forty percent are already broken. It's also the time when political leaders try to find visionary language to inspire their party members to another year of effort. It's certainly good to consider strategic, planned and purposeful activity, rather than to drift aimlessly. But the bible provides a corrective to the notion that we must set our own agendas and then see them through with gritty, heads-down determination. The invitation of scripture is to look up and look around, to capture God's vision (or perhaps, to be captivated by it). We do not best serve our Saviour by dreaming up schemes of our own and asking his Spirit to bless them while we slog away. The true dynamic of biblical mission is to seek after God and to fall into step with his activity and purpose. I get excited when I catch up with God and notice him at work in people's lives, transforming possibilities and bringing hope. He is already out there, wanting us to find him and partner him among our neighbours and in our neighbourhood, as well as in our gatherings.
2006 was a good year for St Paul's by most earthly measures. We have continued to grow and welcomed new believers and enquirers to join us in a journey of service, worship and discovery. Christmas felt like a time of real abundance and a celebration of God's generosity, with many new people appearing at St Paul's. Our building has been transformed by the refurbishment, without becoming an object of adoration in itself.
2007 will bring fresh challenges as well as familiar ones. We will certainly need to be daring, committed, active and purposeful. But let's also be keen discerners of the Spirit, alive to the fact that God is 'already working his purpose out, as year succeeds to year'. Advent is over and we celebrate the Creator's love in sending a Saviour, but we must remain expectant - watching, listening and joining in where we see God at work.
May God who loves us and his world with such extravagance, fill us to overflowing with compassion and grace in his service this year.
