Chaplain's Reflection
Introduction from our Chaplain
My name is Mark Pimlott, and I am Chaplain to the Open Academy.
My heart is to make a difference in this life that we live.
My roles are varied, and fluid, and I am privileged to be involved in every area of school life. Roles include responsibility for upholding the Christian ethos and the Core Values of the Academy, which is something that is at the heart of who we are and of course the Education Brief. As Chaplain, I am responsible for those aspects of school life which address the Christian ethos more obviously than others. There are acts of collective worship, Soul Christian Union, Open house, prayer, and community involvement. These set the tone and enable the Academy to promote our core values which are very much needed in daily life. I run after-school clubs and lunchtime activities for students which promote teamwork and taking responsibility.
A main part of my role is providing additional pastoral support (a listening ear) for staff, students, their families, and the community. Life today is very hectic and brings forth many challenges, so as a school we aim to support our local community in whatever way we can. I look forward to meeting you and providing support and encouragement along life’s journey.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel I can help in any way.
God bless you; you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mark
Friday 25 September
Just a few thoughts to share with you today on what has been our theme for the last few weeks. The storms of life. Going back to the story of when Jesus was out with the disciples on the sea of Galilee. He was asleep in the stern of the boat when a dangerous storm arose. The disciples, terrified and in fear of their lives woke Jesus up in a panic. The Bible then says that Jesus got up, rebuked the storm, and calmed it immediately.
Jesus then turned to the disciples and said, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples had been with Jesus a long time. They had seen him raise the dead, open blinded eyes and deaf ears and witnessed him cause the paralyzed to walk again.
They had seen him do countless miracles, and after all that they had seen they still had fear and doubt. All they had to do was look back and remind themselves of these miracles they had seen, and the fear they just experienced would have been diminished.
There is encouragement here for all of us. When the storms of life appear, we need to look back and remember the storms from the past that we have come through and overcome. Saying to ourselves, I have come through this before, I can do it again. Victory then, victory now.
In closing, looking at past victories can give you the courage and faith to get through your current storms.
Our heavenly father is always in the boat of life with us and is only a prayer away. Take courage, do not fear.
God bless you all.
Reflection Friday 18 September
There are two times in the Bible that Jesus calmed storms. One account was when Jesus was in the boat with his disciples and a storm broke out. Jesus stopped the storm almost immediately.
In the other story, Jesus walks towards the boat his disciples were in as the storm raged. A number of events then pass (He rescues Peter who had climbed out of the boat in faith) up until they get back in the boat together and to when Jesus speaks to the storm to calm it. In this account, the storm went on for quite a while.
We can compare these stories to the storms of life/difficulties that we go through. Sometimes the storm stops quickly; sometimes it seems to last forever, and we have to get through it somehow.
Sometimes our circumstances change, oftentimes they don't—but we find the strength, support, or perspective to get through them. Please notice this, at the end of both stories, storms were calmed and peace was restored.
In closing I would like to encourage you. Whatever storm you are in at this time, hold on, the storm won’t last forever, trust that it calms. Trust in the One who will always be with you and will never forsake you.
God bless you all.
Reflection 11 September 2026
In school, we have been focusing on our Christian vision and values and the story from the Bible about Peter getting out of the boat to walk on the water. This took a lot of faith and courage for Peter to do, yet he broke through fear and did the impossible.
The story goes on to say that when Peter took his eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. Thankfully, this was not the end, Jesus rescued him and walked him back to the boat. As soon as they stepped in, the storm stopped, and peace was restored.
I love how Jesus caught Peter and led him back to a place of safety and peace. Oftentimes, we walk the troubled waters of life. Do we have people around us to walk us to safety and peace? People that we surround ourselves with that can step in and guide us? If not, I would encourage you to ask people to do this for you.
This, of course, works the other way round too. Are we willing to be that person (just like Jesus was to Peter) that will meet people on the stormy waters of life, take their hand, and walk them to safety and peace?
A big challenge for us all to be there for each other.
In closing, I often say this, but Jesus really is the prince of peace, and he is only a prayer away.
Reflection Friday 4 September
Sometimes, starting something new can feel a bit like stepping out of a boat. We know where we are now, but we don’t know exactly what will happen next. When Peter saw Jesus walking on the water, he took a brave step out of the boat. He trusted Jesus, even though he was stepping into something unfamiliar.
We often think about September as the month that the kids go back to school as a new beginning, especially that transition from primary school to high school, but new beginnings can be made at any time by all of us.
New beginnings can be exciting, but they can also be scary and fill us with fear. We might worry about getting things wrong, trying something we have never done before, or not knowing what lies ahead
Peter reminds us that we don’t have to have everything figured out before we take the first step. We can have courage, trust in others, and believe that we are capable of more than what we think.
As we begin this new chapter in our community, let’s be willing to step out of our boats—to try new things, support one another, and have the courage to take that first step.
God bless you, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.
************
Reflection Friday 17 July
As this school year comes to an end, may God bless you and your family with peace, joy, and rest.
May the days of you summer holidays be filled with laughter, precious moments together, and opportunities to pause and appreciate the many blessings that surround you.
May you find refreshment in body, mind, and spirit, knowing that God our Father walks beside you in every season of life. May He strengthen you when you are weary, guide you in the days ahead, and fill your home with His love and hope.
We give thanks for your support, your encouragement, and the many ways you have supported our school community throughout the year. Your care and commitment have helped our students flourish.
As we look toward a new school year, may you go forward with courage in every step and faith in every journey.
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
From my family to yours, may God's richest blessing be upon your lives. Have a wonderful summer and God bless you all.
Reflection Friday 10 July
Just want to start my reflection by saying these few words. We are who we are because of the heat we go through.
An analogy is that of a blacksmith forging steel. Steel is heated until it's pliable, then hammered and cooled repeatedly. Life’s journey can feel a bit like that with all the circumstances that we face. Sometimes it gets so difficult, we feel literally hammered and knocked down.
Maybe you are feeling this hammering at the moment and that life is hard. I just want to encourage you with this. There is something wonderful and amazing that comes out through this process of heating. Going back to the analogy, without the heat and shaping process, structures wouldn’t develop the strength needed to form their purpose.
Similarly, life's trials can strengthen our character, not because hardship automatically improves us, but because of how we respond to it.
Rather than fearing difficulties, we can see them as opportunities for growth, knowing that every challenge has the potential to prepare us for completeness.
Hang in there; you have great purpose.
In closing, James 1 verse 2 says this.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
God bless you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Reflection 3rd July 2026
We can always be reflective in our lives over the different circumstances that we face, or experiences or everyday happenings that we have. At this particular time, we have been dealing with the hot weather. The heat has been uncomfortable and disruptive at points, messing with plans and sleep patterns.
Sometimes we can feel the heat of life through negative situations that come along. The kind of heat that makes us uncomfortable, messes with our plans and sleep patterns due to worry. We can almost feel burnt or burnt out because of these times.
It may not seem like it, but heat can be a positive thing. In the natural world crops need heat to bear fruit. Heat causes us to slow down, look after ourselves and look after on another. Though we may not enjoy times of heat, it often reveals our true strength and what matters most.
Our heavenly Father in the verse below encourages us that when we go through these times of heat, He will be with us.
Isaiah 43:2
2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up — the flames will not consume you.
In closing today, remember you don’t walk through the heat of life alone. You are loved and you will always have a companion with you, all the way.
God bless you all.
Reflection 26 June 2026
Just to encourage you this week. You make a difference in this world, you are loved and you are valued. I read this story and it encouraged me.
The Starfish on the Shore
One morning, after a storm, thousands of starfish were stranded on a beach. As the sun rose higher, they began to dry out.
A young girl walked along the shore, picking up starfish one by one and gently throwing them back into the sea.
An older man watched her for a while and then said, "There are thousands of starfish here. You can't possibly save them all. What difference does it make?"
The girl picked up another starfish, tossed it into the water, and watched it swim away.
Then she turned to the man and said, "It made a difference to that one."
Never ever underestimate who you are. You may not change the whole world, but you make a difference.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
— Galatians 6:9
Reflection 19 June 2026
I just want to encourage you with the below story.
The Broken Bell
In a small school, there was an old bell that had stopped ringing properly. It made a dull, uneven sound that many people ignored. Some even suggested replacing it.
But the caretaker refused. “It still works,” he said, and each morning he rang it anyway.
Over time, something unexpected happened. Students began to recognize that familiar, imperfect sound. It became part of their routine, the signal that a new day of learning was beginning.
One day, a new bell was finally installed, bright and clear. But on its first morning, a few students paused and said quietly, “It doesn’t feel like school yet.”
They had grown used to the old bell, not because it was perfect, but because it had always been there.
Being around today matters more than perfection. Even when you feel ordinary, dull down or hurting, you are the difference to some one’s life. You are part of the fabric of this world, you make all things brighter; you belong, you are priceless and you are loved.
In closing, God says these words to us
“You are precious and honoured in my sight, and I love you.”
— Isaiah 43:4
God bless you all.
Reflection 11 June 2026
The below poem is such an encouragement for this journey of life.
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?”
The Lord replied,
“The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you.”
Mary Stevenson
Maybe things are difficult at the moment, but be encouraged that through everything, you are supported, carried, and loved.
Hebrews 13:5
For God has said,
“I will never fail you; I will never abandon you.”
Reflection 4 June 2026
We alI have periods of worry and fear in our lives but sometimes it gets a bit intense and robs us of our peace and joy. The poem below encouraged me, and I hope it does the same for you.
Fear came softly in the night,
A shadow dancing in the light.
It spoke of storms not yet begun,
Of battles lost and races run.
It painted mountains in my way,
And stole the peace of present day.
Its voice grew loud, its warnings clear,
Until my heart gave room to fear.
But morning broke with gentle grace,
And sunlight touched each darkened place.
The giants fear had made so tall.
Were not so great, or there at all.
Then came a whisper, calm and true:
“You need not know what lies in view.
Walk faithfully the path you see.
The rest belongs to God, not thee.
Fear often borrows trouble from tomorrow and brings it into today. Wisdom is not found in fearing the future, but in trusting God and each other and taking the next step with courage. We are not alone; all will be well.
John 14:27, the words of Jesus. “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”.
Reflection 21 May 2026
I read this the other day and it really encouraged me.
Jesus spoke of birds once, how they wake without certainty and still sing.
How flowers bloom without striving and still become beautiful.
Not because life is easy, but because creation knows what we forget.
There is something wonderful in the way birds sing before they know how the day will unfold, and in the way flowers open without forcing themselves to grow.
Creation or nature seems to live with a quiet trust that it will be sustained and all will be well.
Perhaps worry comes when we forget that same truth, that we, too, are held by God who cares for every sparrow and every field in bloom. We are also held by those around us and those who love us too.
In closing, whatever you are concerned or worried about today, you are held and you are loved.
Philippians 4:6–7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Reflection 30 April 2026
For this week’s reflection I would like to start off with a story about a little life altering experience I had at McDonalds. My family and I had just pulled up to the drive thru and into the left-hand side ordering lane. We were expecting a “welcome to McDonalds” to resound through the speaker. Nothing, silence.
I noticed in the right-hand lane, cars were arriving, placing their orders, and moving through whilst we just sat there. I began to get frustrated and impatient. I had to have words with myself to get a grip and put things into perspective. This changed me.
Often, we don’t have the patience to wait in this fast-paced world, and we miss the beauty of the present.
The poem below is both challenging and encouraging.
Contentment
It was spring but it was summer I wanted, the warm days and the great outdoors.
It was summer but it was autumn I wanted, the colourful leaves and the cool dry air.
It was autumn but it was winter I wanted, the beautiful snow and the joy of the Christmas season.
It was winter but it was spring I wanted, the warmth and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted, the freedom and the respect.
I was twenty but it was thirty I wanted; to be mature and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged but it was twenty I wanted, the youth and the free spirit.
I was retired but it was middle age that I wanted, the presence of mind without limitations.
My life was over, but I never got what I wanted.
Source: "Calm My Anxious Heart" by Linda Dillow
Sometimes we are looking to move fast onto the next thing and miss out on what is around us.
Philippians chapter 4 verses 11–12 in the Bible say this:
Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
I want to encourage us to slow down, be in the moment and take in all what is around us. After all, life can be so short.
God bless you all.
23 April 2026
I want to begin this week’s reflection with a story. A man was walking through a circus and noticed something that puzzled him. He saw a fully grown elephant tied to a small rope that was barely able to restrain a puppy. The elephant did not even try to break free.
Out of curiosity, the man asked the trainer why the elephant did not escape. The trainer replied,” when they are young, we use the same size rope to hold them. As they grow, they are conditioned to believe that they cannot break free. They think that the rope can still hold them, so they never try.”
Often in our lives we can be conditioned or held back by past failures and hurts. This causes us to be tied up so to speak and we are afraid to break free or move on because of them.
I want to encourage you with this quote. “Strength doesn’t come from what you can do, it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t”.
Please know that whatever the rope may represent, it cannot hold you back any longer, you are stronger, you are amazing and you can break free.
In closing the Bible says these encouraging words in Psalm 118 verse 5. "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free."
He is only a prayer away.
God bless you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
16 April 2026
Just to encourage you with a few thoughts this week from a powerful Bible story. The disciples of Jesus were out in a boat and were caught up in a storm. They naturally became fearful for their lives.
The Bible says that Jesus came out to them walking on the water and as he got near, the disciples saw him. Peter, one of the disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” Jesus told him to go for it. Peter climbed over the side of the boat onto the water and walked towards Jesus.
The Bible says that Peter took his eye off Jesus and began to sink when seeing the storm around him. Jesus then took hold of his hand and rescued him.
When Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water, it wasn’t certainty that held him up, it was courage rooted in faith. For a short while, he did the impossible. Not because he was exempt from fear, but because he trusted enough to take the first step.
We all face moments like that, where comfort ends and stepping out into the unknown begins.
The following words are here to encourage and remind us that:
• Courage doesn’t mean you won’t doubt or be afraid.
• Faith doesn’t mean you won’t struggle.
• Every step taken in faith and trust moves you forward.
• You are loved, cared for, and supported through life’s journey.
In every storm that we face, Jesus says these words to us. "Take courage. Do not be afraid — I am here."
God bless you all.
Easter Reflection
On the Sunday, 2 days after Jesus died, some of His followers went to his tomb to anoint his body which was custom in those days, but when they turned up, the stone had been rolled away.
An angel was there saying, He is not here, He is risen. The tomb was empty.
As with the followers of Jesus, we often stand before our own “tombs,” so to speak, places in life that feel sealed, heavy, and final. Like the stone rolled across the entrance, our problems can seem immovable.
This can be fear that will not lift, pain that won’t ease, or situations that don’t seem to change.
The resurrection tells a different story. The stone was not just moved; it was already gone before anyone arrived. What seemed like the end with no hope had already been transformed into new beginnings.
In the same way, the obstacles we face are not always as permanent as they appear.
I want to encourage you; change can be unfolding even when we cannot yet see it and “He is not here” is a reminder that the situations that we face, no longer have the final word.
“He is risen” is the promise that life, hope, and a fresh start are still possible. Sometimes, the stone moves when we least expect it, and everything changes.
My prayer for you this Easter is that when you expect to come across problems, that they are not there.
Have a wonderful Easter break and may this be a time of rest hope and peace for you.
God bless you all.
23 March 2026
In the Easter Story, Good Friday reminds us that there are moments in life when things feel dark, confusing, uncertain, and painful. For the disciples of Jesus and all that followed Him, Friday looked like the end. Their friend was gone, their dreams seemed crushed, the future felt empty and all hope was gone.
But the Easter story tells us that Friday is never the final word.
Between Friday and Sunday there is waiting, confusion, and grief. Yet God was still at work. What looked like defeat became the pathway to resurrection.
“Friday is bad, but Sunday is coming” reminds us that even when we face disappointment, loss, or uncertainty, hope is not lost. God can bring new life out of what seems broken.
The cross was not the end of the story; resurrection was and that promise of new life is at the heart of Easter.
So, when life feels like Friday, I want to encourage us to hold on to faith, courage and remember that Sunday is coming.
God bless you all, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
16 March 2026
There’s a short story in the Gospel of Mark about a man who could not walk. His friends carried him on a mat to see Jesus. When they arrived, the place was packed and they couldn’t get through the door.
It would have been easy to give up and go home, but they didn’t. Instead, they climbed onto the roof, opened it up, and carefully lowered their friend down into the room. The Bible says that the man was healed.
Schools can feel like crowded places too—busy, pressured, and full of challenges. But every day in schools, something similar happens. Staff notice the students who are struggling. You carry some of their worries, encourage them when they feel stuck, and keep trying when learning doesn’t come easily.
Many young people move forward not because everything was easy, but because someone in school believed they were worth the effort.
So, as we go through this week, remember this: for some students, you may be one of the people carrying the mat. And that quiet, determined support can make a bigger difference than you may ever see.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
God bless you all
9 March 2026
In the Bible, a guy called Moses in Exodus 17 had some enemies to defeat. God told Moses if he held up his staff in the battle, his army would prevail. During the battle his arms grew tired and started to drop down, the victory began to slip away from them.
Aaron who was the brother of Moses and Hur a member of his leadership team noticed — and instead of standing by, they stood with him. They held up his arms until the sun went down and a great victory over their enemy was achieved.
Moses had the calling, but he still needed support. The victory came not from one leader’s strength, but from shared strength. The strength of a community
As a community, we all have moments when our arms feel heavy with burdens that we carry, difficult situations, unexpected challenges, and general stuff. This story reminds us that we are not meant to carry the weight alone. Sometimes we lead. Sometimes we hold up someone else’s arms. Both roles matter significantly.
When we support one another, encourage one another, and step in when someone is weary, we create victories that none of us could achieve alone.
May we continue to lift each other up and in doing so, strengthen our entire community.
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
2 March 2026
I just want to encourage you this week, starting with a story from the Bible. Everywhere Jesus went, large crowds followed him. On this particular occasion, 5000 were there. After listening to what Jesus had to say, the crowd were hungry.
Faced with a huge crowd and extremely limited resources, Jesus’s disciples saw only what they lacked. But Jesus focused on what was already in their hands. Five loaves and two fish, A packed lunch brought to the gathering by a child and through that small offering, something incredible happened. Everyone was fed with baskets of food left over.
As we are out in the big wide world, it can be easy to notice what feels insufficient: not enough time, energy, capacity, or even patience.
Yet this story gently reminds us that what we bring to our community. Our personalities, compassion, experience, humour, and care which are more than enough to begin with.
When we offer what we have, however small it may seem, it can be multiplied in ways we may never fully see.
In our community, small acts matter enormously: a word of encouragement to a neighbour, a moment of extra patience with people we find difficult, a smile at adversity, or a quiet check-in with someone who seems unsettled or discouraged.
These are our “loaves and fish.” They may not feel dramatic, but collectively they create an environment where our community can flourish.
As we step into this next week, may we remember that we are not alone. We are part of a community body, all needed to share the load and the joy.
May we trust and be encouraged that the small, faithful things we do each day have lasting impact — often far beyond what we can measure.
God bless you all and all that you do.
6 February 2026
Just a little encouragement for you for this week. I really hope you realise how wonderful you are.
Sometimes we can lose track of our place and value in life due to the circumstances that we may face.
The Bible talks about in the book of 1 Corinthians, that everyone belongs and all are needed.
“Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
Every one of you are an amazing part of our community body. All needed, all valued and in it for a purpose. We cannot do without you.
My prayer for you all this week is that you realise how loved and priceless you are.
30th January 2026
Forgiveness is one of the quiet strengths of our community. It often begins in difficult moments when things do not go as planned, when words or actions hurt, or trust is broken, or when expectations are not met. These moments are part of being human, but how we respond to them really matters.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring harm or pretending that pain does not exist. It asks us first to acknowledge what has happened and how it has affected us. From there, forgiveness becomes a choice: to release resentment, to seek understanding, and to allow space for healing and growth.
Forgiveness can be offered to others, but it is also something we must give to ourselves too. We all make mistakes. We all have moments we wish we could manage differently. When we practice self-forgiveness, we give ourselves permission to learn, to grow, and to begin again.
In our communities, forgiveness strengthens relationships, it encourages honest conversations, restores trust, and reminds us that no one is defined or remembered by a single moment or mistake.
It teaches patience, empathy, and resilience which are values that reach far beyond any one situation.
Forgiveness is not always easy, and it does not always happen quickly. Sometimes it requires time, reflection, support, and lots of conversations. But when forgiveness is practiced with patience, sincerity, and care, it opens the door to understanding release and renewal.
In closing, Jesus is a perfect example of forgiveness. When on the cross during that terrible time of crucifixion, Jesus spoke powerful words, not of anger or revenge but of love and compassion in saying “forgive them Father for they know not what they do.”
God’s words in the book of Colossians say this too. “Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
May we continue to choose forgiveness, not because it is simple, but because it allows us to move forward with compassion, hope and a free life.
19th January 2026
Just a bit of encouragement to help you through the blue days of January. I can remember when I was very young and at every Christmas time, we used to have the whole family came to stay with us. Every room in the house was needed so I was always relegated from my room to sleeping on a mattress in my mum and dad’s room.
I can remember one particular night that we watched one of the early versions of the movie The Wizard of Oz, and I can remember feeling really scared of some of the characters in the film, especially the wicked witch of the west and her green face. Anyway, my mum put me to bed, and I fell asleep only to wake up in the middle of the night to see what looked like the wicked witch standing in front of me. I was frozen in terror and never slept the rest of the night because of what I could see.
However as soon as dawn approached, the light came through the curtains, and I could see things for what they really were. The wicked witch turned out to be my mums dressing gown that she had hung on the hoover before she had got into bed.
All of that fear because of a dressing gown. The light shone in and my fears subsided.
I want to encourage you with this. When the light shines in on a situation, we see it differently to what it looks like in the dark. We can hide our problems and anxieties, keeping them in the dark so to speak and they can grow bigger, increasing our fears and worries.
The light can be shone on our situations just by speaking to others about them. The saying goes, “a problem shared is a problem halved.”
Please be encouraged to find someone in your world to talk to, don’t hold onto those fears a moment longer. Get those worries and anxieties out in the open and in the light. It’s a life changer.
In closing, Jesus Christ is described as the light of the world. He brings light and is only a prayer away.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation—who shall I fear?”
5th January 2026
New Year Reflection
A new year is a chance to pause and look at how far we’ve come. It’s not about being perfect, but about learning from our mistakes and growing from our experiences. This year, think about one habit you want to improve, one challenge you’re ready to face, and one way you can be kinder—to yourself and to others. Small, consistent efforts can lead to meaningful change. The new year isn’t a fresh start because the past disappears; it’s a fresh start because we’re wiser than before.
Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
19 December 2025
“Do not be afraid.”
These are the first words spoken in nearly every part of the Christmas story.
It was said to the shepherds under a cold sky. “Do not be afraid.”
It was spoken to Mary in a moment that changed history. “Do not be afraid.”
Spoken to Joseph as he wrestled with uncertainty. “Do not be afraid.”
At this moment we may be living with fear in our lives over certain things. Fear about the present, the future and even our loved ones.
Maybe we have shared these fears with others, or they may even be unspoken and still remain in our hearts.
Just as in the Christmas story, before good news arrives, reassurance was given first. I want to encourage/reassure you today, don’t be afraid.
When Jesus was born, one of his names was the prince of peace and I pray that all of our fears would be driven out by peace. The prince of peace is only a prayer away.
This season invites us to pause, breathe, and trust that even in our fearful nights and days, hope, light, and peace is still being born. Do not be afraid, be reassured, the light is on its way.
On behalf of my family and I, we pray you and yours, a merry big Christmas, full of joy, rest, light, and peace.
God bless you all for a wonderful and prosperous New Year ahead.