Someone of a more cynical bent has described this as the "Silly Season". Certainly it is the time of year when the normal routines of life are disrupted and the emphasis seems to be on parties, presents and other pleasurable pastimes. As the old carol says: "'Tis the season to be jolly."

This is also the season to renew old friendships and send out cards and letters to scattered friends and family. Our children used to make fun of these letters, in which we shared news of the past year, and our families' coming and and goings. But we have found them a very important way of maintaining links with friends around the world, that we may not have seen for many years.

As I began to write this year's letter, I stopped to reflect on the year that has just slipped past at breakneck speed. What a year it has been! A veritable roller-coaster ride of joy and sadness, triumph and defeat, tragedy of the rapid death from cancer of one of our beloved members. But we have seen also the triumph of another member being brought back from death's door. We have spent many hours in prayer with some who have shown very little progress in overcoming their deep personal problems. But there are others who have been wonderfully changed. Only a week or so ago someone shared with me about what a change there had been in their life since they came to St Mark's, and learned how to invite Jesus into their personal problems.

One of the highlights of this year past was the Conference that we ran at the end of May with two wonderful girls from Toronto. Not only were many of our own folk blessed through their ministry, but we also had the privelege of sharing that blessing with many who came from other churches. Part of the vision that we believe God gave us ten years ago was that we should be a 'Lighthouse', shining a beacon of hope beyond our boundaries. This, in some ways, was what was happening through the Conference which we were priveleged to sponsor.

On the wider sphere we saw a new Archbishop elected for the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. Dr Peter Jensen has come to the job with the consciousness that the Anglican Church is declining significantly in its numbers, and in its influence in society. However, he comes with fresh ideas, and a strong confidence in the power of God to turn the situation around, as the people of God do their part in sptrading the Word of God. Not only do we have a new Archbishop, but we are also about to get a new Bishop for our Northern Region, as Dr Paul Barnett retires and Dr Geln Davies takes his place.

On the national front, we have seen more drastic collapses of large businesses, and the consequent disruption to the lives of many employees and customers. Many thousands of people have lost great amounts of monet, and face a very unhappy Christmas. Sadly, the whole employment scene is much tougher. As some of our own Church family have found, those who are laid off can have great difficulty finding a new job.

Of even greater human tragedy has been the plight of many 'refugees' who have tried to come illegally to our shores. There is no easy solution to this tragic situation, but it has brought home to us the terrible plight of millions of refugees in the world today. We, who have so much to spend of food, clothing and "things" in the Christmas shopping frenzy, are truly the priveleged few in the world today!

A relatively small nation such as Australia, cannot be expected to solve the refugee problems of the world on its own. Nor should we be manipulated by those who have the resources to 'jump the queue' in gaining access to our country. But we do have to give careful thought as to what more we can do in making some greater response to the needy of the world.

Finally, the most significant event of the past year must surely be the tragic terrorist attack of September 11. While, in one sense, its focus was the financial district of New York and the Pentagon in Washington, it was, in reality, an attack on the values and ideals of the civilised Western world. As many have observed, the world changed forever on that day.Especially, the innocence of Generation X, who have never known a major world disaster, was taken from them.

But, as we come again to the season of Christmas, we are reminded once more of the message of hope that came into a world of sin and suffering: "A Saviour has been born to you". This is still "good news of great joy", for it is still the only answer to the problems of the world that would seem to swamp us.

'Tis the season to...rejoice!

Rev. John Davies
9 December 2001