Candles are alight in our living room this Sunday evening and the first one to have been lit was the Advent Candle. Next to this I've placed a card from the local church that we received today. The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the church year in the Western Christian calendar and the season of Advent is an opportunity to stop and think about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, to receive once again the hope that this brings as we prepare for celebrating his birth. Every year I've appreciated these weeks of quiet reflection before Christmas and will do so even more this year. My recent goal was to get well so that I could travel to Italy and to be able to get out-and-about locally here in the UK once more. It was good to be able to go to a church service today and to feel physically part of the church community. Over the last few months I've also known the prayer support and thoughtfulness of others. Of course, that includes you, my friends. Thank you so much.