Message of peace and hope

It is lovely to look out at but not so nice to go out in, and I know that Christmas can be a very difficult time for travel and all that that entails, and I wish that people everywhere have a trouble-free Christmas.

Christmas is an opportunity for people to reflect on the fact that it is a spiritual time of year, and despite the inclement weather we have been so encouraged by people trying to make their way to church. We had a very indepth advertising campaign about the special services available over Advent and Christmas, and certainly they were knocked by the bad weather, but we have been very encouraged about what coming to church means to many people. Some people really made the effort to get there, which was most encouraging.

Above all, this is a very important spiritual time for people.

Looking to the New Year, I hoipe that we will be able to get the Cathedral finished, and that our restoration team and all those working on the Cathedral will really be able to enjoy the building having been finished.

I think too, that people will have hope in 2011, we have had all kinds of disasters in 2010, with the economy and job losses and whatever else, so I hope that there will be a bit more hope. We have now got the budget passed and as long as we hear about new jobs and things like that.

The church has a part to play in the economic success of the city and is at its very heart.