From the Pastor's Desk

As you read this message, we are only hours away from stepping into November, the final stretch of another year. Hard to believe, isn’t it? In less than 24 hours, we’ll turn the calendar page and feel that familiar rush begin, schools winding down for the summer, awards nights and graduations filling the calendar, Christmas parties popping up left and right, and families planning their long-awaited holidays.

It’s that time of year when life seems to shift gears and accelerate. It’s as if the world is running downhill fast and everyone is trying to keep their footing. But in the middle of that rush, there’s a quiet invitation from God: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

You see, while the world speeds up, the Kingdom often calls us to slow down, not to fall behind, but to stay centred. Just like a spinning wheel needs a still hub, the life of the believer needs a steady centre and that centre is Christ. As everything around us gets louder, busier, and more demanding, our spiritual life requires the opposite: time to rest, to breathe, to reconnect with God and His people.

So, as we gather momentum toward the year’s end, I want to encourage you to stay spiritually engaged. Not just in your personal walk with God, but in community and mission. The coming weeks are a wonderful opportunity to show the love of Christ in practical ways, to serve, and to be present in the lives of others.

One simple, joyful way to do that is through our Christmas Market on Sunday, November 23. This is more than just an event, it’s a chance to open our doors and hearts to the community around us. It’s an opportunity for people to see that the church is not just a building but a family, a living, breathing community of faith that welcomes everyone.

I’d love to invite you to be part of it, whether that’s volunteering on the day, helping set up, chatting with visitors, or simply coming along to make connections. When people from our community walk through those market stalls, we want them to experience warmth, kindness, and a glimpse of the God who came as a baby over two thousand years ago to give us the gift of eternal life.

So as the year speeds up, let’s be intentional about slowing down to pray, to serve, to connect, and to reflect the presence of Jesus in every space we enter. Let’s finish the year not just busy, but purposeful, not just active, but attentive to what God is doing among us.

With grace and gratitude, David Peñate