November 2025. On a beautiful autumn morning…

‘To everything, turn, turn, turn

There is a season, turn, turn, turn’

(Peter Seeger/Ecclesiastes 3:1)

I write this on a beautiful autumn morning; the sky is clear and the sun still has some warmth to it. The trees are showing off their autumn colours and the wind of the last couple of days has brought the first significant drop of leaves.

The season is turning and the nights are drawing in. But even as the leaves drop, there is the promise of what is to come; the old leaves leave behind buds that promise that new life will come in the spring.

By the time you read this, I am sure that we will all be heading towards Christmas with some pace even though it doesn’t seem very long since celebrating last year. Our days become shorter and the nights longer, and we try to dispel the gloom with twinkly lights on our houses. Downley always looks so pretty at Christmas. As Christians, we at Sunnybank Methodist believe that into the darkness comes the promise of the birth of Jesus, the light of the world.

And so we invite you to explore this gift of light in our forthcoming Christmas activities.

• Christmas Nativity trail: a free family activity taking place around the village throughout December. Suitable for families. Keep an eye out for more details via posters and social media.

• Wednesday 10th December 2pm: Christmas film afternoon. It has been good to welcome so many of you to our previous showings. This film will be followed by seasonal refreshments and some carol singing.

• Sunday 14th December 3:30pm: Carol service. Join us to hear the Christmas story through carols and readings. There may even be some chocolate!

A warm welcome awaits. Remember that however dark it may feel, Jesus is the ‘light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5).

Please note there is no service on Christmas Day this year.

With every blessing Rev. Rachael Prince (01494 562491)