“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9

November is a special month for many reasons. A time when we remember GuyFawkes and the failed gunpowder plot which is marked with bonfires and fireworks.

The clocks have changed and there is a change in the weather as we transition from autumn to winter and as a gardener my Brown bin is crammed full of leaves that con-tinue to cover the garden.

On the 11th we honour the sacrifices of those who served in the armed forces. As the month winds down there is an anticipation of the Festive Season as we mark the start of Advent on the 30th.

Advent invites us to spiritually prepare for the celebration of Jesus’ birth – to prepare for the celebration of Christmas and reinforcing feelings of hope.

So, in this special month take time to reflect, a moment to pause and look back.

A time to consider our relationship with God and to consider our place in his world.

As the days get shorter, we are reminded of the importance of being the light in the darkness.

Shine brightly for others, offer hope and love in a world that can feel gloomy.

Reflect God’s light and love, providing comfort and support to those in need.Commit to being a beacon of hope, sharing kindness and uplifting one another in our community.

We are God’s special possession so let us praise our God who led us out of darknessto shed light into the darkest parts of our lives and the world.

Anne Scarff(Stowmarket Elder)