I have two American grandchildren living in Wellington. Yes they were born in the USA so have American passports. At their current ages they probably do not appreciate the full significance of such status, both in advantages and drawbacks. But they do like the partying of Thanksgiving which they celebrated on Thursday last week along with another family.

 This festival in the USA is of greater significance than Christmas but without the commercialisation. It is truly a family time when they get together and remember the stories of their nation’s history including God’s provision and protection as their forbears ventured into and across the American continent. It is a spur to continue looking forward with hope and expectation, even in times of economic difficulty or personally tragedy.

 Church and denominational annual meetings can be great opportunities for the telling of such stories – no need to be tedious and boring, but dynamic, full of thanksgiving, and encouraging one another to look for what God is doing with us. That is what The Gathering was partly about this year and the future for both The Baptist Union and The NZ Baptist Missionary Society is exciting if we will all allow ourselves to “keep in step with the Spirit”, and “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead we press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenwards in Christ Jesus”.

I pray you are meeting the challenges and hopes of Advent with vigour, and that you will enjoy the blessings of Christmas as you share with your people the Living “Word who became flesh and moved into the neighbourhood”. Then enter 2011 anticipating a great year no matter what your current circumstances because “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing…. absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us”.