To the clergy, members, families and friends of the Bermuda Conference, we continue to thank you for your love and support. This is our last Advent celebration as leaders of the Conference. As we meet to herald in the Advent season it is our prayer that you will have a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Although it is the end of our pastoral ministry, it is the beginning of a new season. God has already given us a new perspective on this journey of superannuation.

We may be stepping down, according to the doctrinal edicts, but excitement is in the air as revelations of the new things God is and will do through those who are faithful and obedient to His word. As with past progenitors of the faith, we stand on the promises of God that He will never leave us, nor forsake us.

Just like Mary and Joseph were faithful and obedient more than 2,000 years ago, so must we. The birthing of new things, gifts, ministries and organisations is exciting and God is faithful in his promises.

He will perfect that which concerns us and will withhold no good thing from those who walk upright. My friends, during this Advent season, walk upright and let us take a glimpse of the new things God has in store for us, individually, as a church and as a country.

• Take the time to write them down

• Meditate on them

• Act on them according to the will of God

You can take God at his word because “He is trustworthy”.

My friends, approach this Advent season, go with the gifts of hope, joy and peace that can come only from our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

Share these life-giving gifts along the way so that others may be recipients of the new kind of love that only Christ the newborn saviour can bring.