Leonard M. Santucci, president of the Bermuda Ministerial Association, and is reprinted here.

On behalf of the Bermuda Christian Ministerial Association I am delighted to extend greetings to you as we commence this New Year. Surely, at this time of year, many of us are engaged in the traditional practice of determining our resolutions.

Do we reflect on our past as a basis of preparing for our future? It is my hope that many of us will have learned meaningful lessons from our experiences of last year. 1994 will be remembered by some for many different things. In my book of life experiences I have highlighted the following chapters; Moral decay, Christian confrontation, instability in political leadership, the withdrawal of Bases, economic insecurity, increase in violence and a defaulting education system.

In light of these chapters which I have highlighted in my book of life, I am more interested in knowing the experiences of others and how their experiences improve or detract from our natural quality of life. It is my hope that as we face situations realistically we can improve life for the majority, not just the minority.

1994 was a year that the gap between the haves and have nots widened in our community. 1995 can either see increased disparity or a greater sense of unification.

It is my hope that throughout our community our New Year's resolution will be to ourselves, aimed at building a community which serves the greater good. As I look across the landscape of Bermuda, I see evidence that our community requires a commitment amongst its Church leaders, political leaders, unions, schools and parents.

My prayer for each of us is that we will allow God to lift us to higher heights individually and collectively.

"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.'' Jude 24:25 The Rev. Leonard Santucci