General News
21 January, 2026
Framing the year ahead
With 2025 behind us and a fresh new year ahead, we often take a break and spend time with family and friends.
In this between’ season, after harvest and before cropping, it is a good time to stop, reflect, look back, review the year that has gone, and look into the year ahead.
As we do, we might ask ourselves, “What did I learn from last year? What do I want to take into 2026? What frame do I want to look through, in this new year?”
While these questions are relevant for every year, they are especially pertinent as we go into 2026 where challenges abound in our country through natural disasters as well as those created by people are already happening.
With such circumstances, we can feel vulnerable and uncertain; our natural inclination might be to draw our circles closer, to go within, and seek to protect and help our own families and communities in our own strength.
But what if we chose to look out? To make our framework bigger rather than smaller? To look beyond ourselves, to something or Someone other than ourselves? To look for strength, help and grace that enables us to love and care freely and generously for all? That helps us in the trials of life, big and small.
The life and mission of Jesus Christ was to live out God’s way of love, to show how we can live in faith and trust.
Your local church communities invite all to go on a journey of discovery this year - to explore faith beyond ourselves, what that means and how it can impact on how we view life and the unknown.
To be able live in faith, hope and love and see where such a framework takes you.
Wishing all every blessing in the New Year and the strength, grace and courage that relationship with God can give.
– COMBINED CHURCHES OF HOPETOUN