Dear friends,

We have entered into the year of Our Lord 2024. In the ancient world, the passage of time was marked by counting the years since the accession of the king on the throne: “In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius…” (Luke 3:1). Since the 6th century, however, the Christian world has been counting years since the birth of Christ — and now the whole world follows suit.

This simple practice is a powerful reminder that Jesus is Lord. Kings, emperors, rulers and governments come and go, but Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Trusting in His power to save, we enter this new year with full confidence in God’s gracious goodwill towards us. We don’t know what the year ahead brings, but we do know that we need not fear the future, since our lives are in the hands of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

The beginning of the new year is often a time of making resolutions. May I humbly encourage you to resolve this year to continue to draw near to God’s throne of grace, to be strengthened in faith and built up in holiness by the gifts of His Holy Spirit. This is done chiefly in the following ways:

  • Daily study of God’s word: reading (or listening) to the Bible, reading devotions (such as the Portals of Prayer), singing or reading hymns. Do not let a single day go past where you do not hear or read God’s word.
    I would also strongly encourage as many as are able to attend Bible study, either in person or online, as a way of growing in the knowledge and understanding of God’s word.
  • Daily prayer: commending each day to God’s care in the morning, and each night at the end of the day; praying for the church, for your neighbours, for the needs of the world.
  • Weekly church attendance: the Divine Service is the home of each Christian, where we receive the forgiveness of sins and all the gifts of God in His word and the Body and Blood of Christ, together with the encouragement of gathering with our brothers and sisters in God’s family.
    Each Sunday, heavens are opened to us as Jesus comes into our midst. There is nowhere better for us to be! Of course, we are sometimes prevented from attending; but that should be exceptional insofar as it depends on us.
    Services will continue to be streamed for the benefit of those of you who are prevented from attending church on a given Sunday, and sermons are posted on the church website (both Fareham and Oxford), and they can also be listened to as a podcast.
  • Daily repentance and amendment of life: We are called to a life of love towards God and our neighbours. By nature, we are incapable of living as the law of God demands. However, Jesus has removed all our guilt, so that we are now freed to pursue God’s will in our lives (as we learn it in the 10 Commandments), without worrying about how well we are doing. And when we honour God with our lives, we know that he will honour and bless us.

On a practical note, Bible studies will resume in the week beginning 8 January, together with Wednesday Compline. Details will be posted in the Sunday bulletin and sent out each week.

Finally, thank you for your support of the ministry in Fareham, Oxford and Brighton, by your prayers and gifts. Please continue to pray for me so that God would enable to serve you faithfully and wisely.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Tapani Simojoki