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Pastoral Letter
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Dear Church Family,
If TV advertisements were anything to go by, Christmas would
be a time full of festivities, family, food and fun. You may
be looking forward to the holiday season with the
anticipation of time with loved ones. Or perhaps you are
hoping for a peaceful break from work while going through
whatever your holiday routines may be, all with the
excitement of the New Year being just around the corner.
Unfortunately, while trying to sell products by associating
them with unbridled Christmas ‘happiness’, companies often
present an unrealistic picture of the Christmas season. This
can have the effect of placing pressure on individuals to
live up to such high expectations or trigger the pain that
often stark and lonely gap between the ideals projected onto
the season and personal actualities.
Studies paint a vital picture we sometimes forget. If you
were to visit some homes, rather than crackling fires and
warmth, you would find people suffering from coldness
because of dreaded central heating bills. Or maybe caused by
relational factors like isolation, bereavement, conflict,
marriage breakdown and estrangement instead of family
togetherness. More marriages break up at this time than at
any other time of the year. In other homes, you would see
pressures of a financial or psychological nature because of
changes in spending habits over the Christmas holidays. Or
the stress some feel about having to produce a meal fitting
for a season many view as the highlight of the year. For
some, mental health struggles come to the fore, compounded
by changes of routine, family complexities, darker days and
other seasonal stressors. In some homes, instead of hearty
meals, individuals with growling stomachs are what you will
find, that is, if you find them in a home at all. You may be
aware that what is “The most wonderful time of the year” for
some can be a very challenging time indeed for others.
How can we respond? One way is with perspective. The holiday
season is undoubtedly a time that illustrates the importance
of “majoring on majors” instead of “majoring on minors,” in
other words, bearing in mind what is important and keeping
it that way in our lives. For example, loved ones, and
sharing the love of God through the everlasting gospel of
Jesus Christ. Rather than getting carried away with the
hype, we as Adventists, who often do not view Christmas as
the world or Christendom at large does, are well-placed to
maintain an objective distance. With our influence, we can
encourage evaluation of the details that are easy to get
caught up in, and when people are experiencing mental,
social, or other suffering, we can point to Christ as our
hope.
We can also minister in so many meaningful ways at this
time. We can invite a guest to a meal who would otherwise be
alone and would appreciate it. We can minister by sending
meals to others where they are, providing warm drinks or
other needed items outside our churches, or by offering a
blanket if someone sleeping on a cold pavement wants one. We
can minister by sending a greeting card to someone unwell or
bereaved, by calling and listening to a friend, or by
visiting someone who is stuck at home. Ministry will arise
naturally if we remember not to be so caught up in our own
experiences, our own plans, and our own families, etc., and
to consider that others around us are having different
experiences carefully. I mention this now so we can put
plans in place where necessary. May prayerful observation
inform thoughtful actions this holiday.
Please make sure you take care of yourself, too. Take the
rest you need. This is an excellent time for recalibration
and reflection. If you need to talk with someone, reach out
to someone you trust, your local Pastor or take the positive
step of contacting the Church’s counselling service,
Cornerstone, via the SEC offices. When is the last time you
went walking and talking, as appropriate, with God? Adding
simple activities like getting out of the house and taking a
trip to the park during the holiday represents a refreshing
change of scene, as do other suitable leisure activities.
These can be ways to enjoy the time we have with God and
bring people together.
In Evangelism news, at our workers meeting this past
Tuesday, it was great to hear reports on evangelistic and
missional activities by our Churches. There will be many
more baptisms as we conclude this very productive and
successful year. Be Inspired for Mission!
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Dr. Kirk Thomas
South England Conference President
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SEC Evangelism Expo 2026
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SEC Communications
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Join us on Sunday, 11 January 2026, at Newbold
College for a day of inspiration, learning, and
fellowship.
Starting at 9:30 AM, you'll experience dynamic
plenary sessions and hands-on departmental workshops
designed to equip and energise you for mission in your local
context.
Whether you're a pastor, member, local coordinator or
passionate about sharing the everlasting gospel, this event
will provide practical tools and a fresh vision for
evangelism in 2026, under the theme, "Inspired for
Mission".
See you there!
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Stay Informed with SEC WhatsApp
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SEC Communications
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Get the latest updates, market insights, and regulatory news
delivered straight to your phone. Follow the SEC WhatsApp
Channel for real-time notifications and never miss important
financial information.
SEC WhatsApp Channel: Your direct line to SEC updates
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60 SEC News
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Don Roberts
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connectED25: RELATE. Faith, AI and Relationships
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SECmedia
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Evangelism Across SEC
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Pastor Kwadwo Kwarteng-Ampofo
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Evangelism 101: Episode 22
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Pastor Kwadwo Kwarteng-Ampofo
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Young Adventurer Raises £1,650 for ADRA and Leads
Community Hamper Drive
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David Da Silva
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A remarkable act of compassion by one of Wycombe Community
Seventh-day Adventist Church’s youngest members has inspired
the community. Adventurer Brooklyn Lawrence, a
dedicated member of the youth programme, has raised £1,650
for the
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA).
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Hackney Children and Baby Bank Christmas Fair hosted at
Clapton SDA Church
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The festive spirit was alive and thriving at the Hackney
Baby Bank Christmas Fair, hosted at Clapton Community
Seventh-day Adventist Church, where joy, generosity, and
community came together in a beautiful way. This year marked
the fifth time this heartwarming event has taken place, and
it has grown tremendously in its mission to serve families
in need.
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Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
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Thembie Mapingire
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Free Christmas Resources for Your Church Ministry
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Pastor Christian Salcianu
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With Christmas fast approaching, we would like to take this
opportunity to remind you that we have new and old resources
available free of charge for churches that desire to reach
people and share the message of hope in December.
While most of you will remember
The Innkeeper’s Story this year, we added a new
booklet, The Wise Man’s Journal. Both are written to
present the Christmas story in a modern, engaging, and
inspiring way.
We wholeheartedly encourage you to take advantage of these
valuable materials.
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Literature Evangelist Training Weekend
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Lois Campbell-Ross
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Messenger Latest Edition
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Sarah Jarvis
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