- 111, Pickhurst Lane
- Hayes
- Bromley
- KENT
- BR2 7HU
Dear Friends,
February Thoughts
It is one year since I wrote the first ‘Minister’s’ letter for Hayes Free Church - and I wonder where the year has gone! I had a look at my musings from last year and the world’s problems seem to have got worse rather than better, and there is depressing similarity to the issues facing the world this year as to last year, but with more uncertainty and concern than ever. I wrote of hope and light at the end of a tunnel, but it is easy in looking forward to become bogged down in the day to day realities - the horrors of the international scene and continuing concerns about climate change – so that we switch off the news and pretend that things aren’t happening, and conclude that anyway we don’t have any control over situations not of our own making.
But looking back at the past is not the answer – we can reflect on what has happened and what things could have been better, but what drives us is hope for a better future. I and my family had a difficult 2025 but we are now looking forward, knowing that out of our experiences we have learnt to look for new opportunities and develop ourselves in new ways. We can all experience an ‘Annus horribilis’ as our late Queen did, but with faith and hope we move through the dark times and come out refreshed and ready to move forward.
At the beginning of last year our Minister Alison Smith moved to Wolverhampton to take on a new calling. We felt lost for a time and focused on very practical things to keep us going as a Church. In order to maintain our community links, we continued with activities we had already established. We found strength in carrying on with what we were doing but gradually we realised that if we were going to move forward we would need to use our skills as a Church in the Community and so look for opportunities for development and renewal.
As I write this on a dull winter’s day, I’m thinking that in a few weeks we will be welcoming Spring, a season of renewal and new beginnings – it’s nature’s way of starting afresh, inspiring us to embrace new beginnings, set intentions and renew our energy. As we move towards the start of our Church’s 90th year let’s live with the hope and faith that we will feel the direction that God is showing us, with a new vision and a renewed sense of Mission so we can look forward to 2026 as being a year of welcoming new opportunities.
So I see this as a year of renewal and refreshment – we have the opportunity to renew and refresh our faith through God’s vision for us as a Church. We have friendship, love and support to take us forward and face the new year’s challenges. In the Bible the word renewal is described as ‘changing into something new and different’ so with this in mind let us look forward to 2026 with confidence, enthusiasm and even excitement!
Isaiah 46: 18-19
‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
January 2026