St. Martin’s Vicarage

Upper Wellington Road

Brighton

BN2 3AN

January 2024

My dear friends,

The first edition of the 2024 series is being published slightly later than usual in that, as has been said before, the season of Advent being so short , the fourth week of December was in fact the Christmass Octave. Reflecting on that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who rose to the challenge of decorating the Church in effect—twice!

We were blessed with many visitors over the festival which is always a joy: though I did find myself wondering if this might have been a result of the unhelpful and untrue social media statement that appeared in November. While the redevelopment plan will occupy much of our attention and time this coming year, we must ensure at all times that this does not impinge on our mission. This will be guaranteed if we constantly remind ourselves that ‘The Church’ is not a building but the People of God called to witness and share their faith, church buildings being a gift of God to strengthen this calling.

New Year is always a time for resolutions! Having written about church buildings as God’s gift to strengthen mission, that mission is not timed to one and a half hours on one day a week. As we launch into the new civic year there is a change to the normal time of Mass on a Wednesday to 12noon: this will facilitate School

Worship on Wednesdays to be at the same time as on other days at 1.30pm. The sad thing is that on several occasions no one turns up for Mass on a Wednesday and while on this theme the Church is only regularly opened for visitors outside of worship on a Friday: I hope we might have volunteers to change both of these

situations.

On behalf of Fr. Andrew, Fr Nick and Fr. Robert I take this opportunity to wish you all health and happiness throughout the year!

With my love and prayers,

Fr. Trevor