Being in the midst of Christmas must mean that the new year isn’t far away - just 17 days as I write! These are exciting (and busy!) times to be in All Souls... Here’s a taste of just a few of the things to come in the first part of next year.

A significant recruitment
We are advertising in January for a full-time staff member to head up our children and youth work (see our news item for the advert draft and some Q&A’s about the project). We’re looking for an Associate Vicar to take special responsibility for the half of our church who are under-18, who will resource and develop our current groups and also pioneer new work, especially in the areas of outreach and youth. Please pray that we find the right person for this vital post and that our financial commitments to housing and salary will be met well in 2007.

Visit our news page about the upcoming appointment...

A challenging vision and budget
January sees the launch of our 2007 Vision and Budget agreed in November by the PCC. Regular members of All Souls will receive a booklet outlining our vision and setting out its financial implications. We deliberately don’t “pass the plate” on Sunday mornings, but rely on regulars at All Souls prayerfully considering what they can give on a monthly basis - do ask for details of how you can be part of this. I’m speaking the first three Sundays of the year on our vision to grow a church that is increasingly deeply rooted in Jesus, that grows wider to introduce more people to Jesus and that grows together as the body of Christ. Do be there!

...and lots more besides

• A new homegroup, hosted by El & Paul Tuck in Haliburton Road
• The development of our monthly evenings like space, Soul Review and nooma
• New opportunities for training in parenting, prayer ministry and leadership
• A monthly Communion to replace Heart & Soul - with a continued docus on prayer, but with more opportunity for worship and ministry too.
• New Welcome Pack
• Continued development of All Souls online
• First contacts with architects to generate ideas for our site
• Refurbishment of the kitchens for a few more years’ use
• Upgrading the church p.a.

Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus
In the midst of all our activity and growth, I’m reminded regularly that we must never take our eyes off the One whose church we are - may we reflect Jesus and increasingly draw people to know Him for themselves in 2007.

May you have a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!