Dear Friends,

It is often said that February is the worst month of the year because the weather is unpleasant and the mornings and evenings are dark. In addition, the festivities of Christmas and New Year are behind us and we are in for a long wait before the Spring makes things look brighter. It is, in a way, a time of the year when there does not seem to be much to look forward to. In the Christian calendar the penitential season of Lent begins as we move into March but we must wait until early April for the great feast of Easter.

The “February syndrome”, if I may so call it, also arises in our daily lives. We all face times when there is not much in prospect apart from the routine of daily life. Holidays are too far away to be a current source of stimulation. This means that we are forced to rely upon our own resources – always risky. For many people it is a time of solitude and sometimes of depression. The Christian church tries in its way to offer a meaningful understanding of life even when it is not very exciting. The God whose Incarnation we celebrated at Christmas is still with us and, in spite of our doubts, remains with us.

Last month I referred to a new appointment for our neighbouring parishes of Lilley, Offley and Kings Walden. It is now announced that the new parish priest will be the Revd Terrance Bell who is coming from a post at Hampstead Parish Church in the Diocese of London. He will be licensed and installed on Monday 3 April, probably at St Mary Magdalene’s, Offley as that is where the new vicarage is. I am sure that we wish him every success for his new task and, together with his parishioners, breathe a sigh of relief that the diocese has at last got things organised.

May I draw your attention to our Lent Course for 2006. On the five Sundays of Lent we shall have a service of said Evensong at 6pm with a visiting speaker each week. The theme of the course will be “The Power of Evil”. Full details