A mixed bag for January 2026

City from Esmonde Rd.

In my sermon this week I lament the contents of that box of chocolates known as Favourites. It's fair to say not all of them are my favourite, it's a mixed bag. Turkish Delight is borderline and Cherry Ripe is a crime against humanity in my humble opinion. All the others are fine by me.

As that famous fictional character Forrest Gump's Mamma always said; ‘Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.'”

As congregations in the Presbyterian family I know that our summer has been a bit of a mixed bag so far. Some have had a mercifully uneventful short break. Others have been dealing with the cancellation of hoped for holiday plans due to weather, coping with advancing dementia in family members, personal medical situations, the stress of planning to move cities or even the shock and grief of sudden bereavement.

I'm here to remind you that in all these things God is with us. Jesus is present with us in our joy and deep pain, our failure and our success.

In John 7 Jesus declares, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"

Whatever 2026 is looking like for you, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit will lead you to the deep wells of God's grace and peace found in Jesus Christ. In Him we are sustained. Shalom