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Viewpoint from Revd Albert Cadmore 13/01/2023
 Revd Albert Cadmore
formerly Parish Priest at West Somerton and Horsey
The early days and weeks of the New Year are, as always, a time for looking back remembering and reflecting, but also a time for looking forward with hope and, with that in mind, over the Christmas period I found myself reflecting once more on the Christmas story, and how, at that first Christmas, Mary and Joseph were, to all intents and purposes, homeless refugees seeking shelter. The Roman Emperor Augustus had ordered a census throughout the Roman World. They were turbulent times, and to us it seems a strange way for a census to be taken, but Joseph had to travel more than eighty miles, with Mary, to his home town of Bethlehem. It would have been at least a four day journey, on foot, and certainly a difficult journey, with little shelter or comforts. In effect they were homeless refugees of their time
 Later, they went on to flee to Egypt because of the danger of persecution from Herod and there are clear echoes in their story in the plight of so many, across the world today, not least in Ukraine and for those trying to reach our shores across the Channel as they so often flee from dangerous situations in their home countries
John’s Gospel speaks of Jesus when it states, “He was in the world; but the world, though it owed it’s being to him, did not recognise him”. It can be said that the same situation applies so often in our world today, and yet through faith, then as now, he brings peace and hope to our hearts and lives, and symbolically, then as now, as John’s Gospel proclaims, he can be the light that shines in the darkness of our lives at difficult times, and the darkness cannot put it out
An abiding memory for me from 2022 will always be seeing the queen on TV during her audience with the then new Prime Minister Liz Truss. It was just a matter of days before her death and whilst she looked very frail she was dutiful and seemingly calm and at peace even though she must have been aware of her prognosis. Her faith carried her through dark times in her life and what an example she was as she faced her mortality with such dignity, fortitude, and exemplary faith
We cannot know what awaits us in 2023, but with faith and with hope for the future, we can learn from the wonderful example of Queen Elizabeth and by faith we can find peace in our hearts and a light to lighten whatever darkness may be in store for us
Happy New Year!
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