As we step into the new year, January feels like the right place to pause, reflect and give thanks. December was a full month. Not just busy, but meaningful. A reminder that growth often comes quietly through showing up, sharing honestly and staying rooted.

One of the highlights of Advent was the launch of the Advent Podcast for Solomon’s House. What began as a simple idea became a space for thoughtful conversation, reflection and practical habits that many of us have already started carrying into daily life. Advent invited us to slow down and listen, not just to God, but to one another. The feedback has been encouraging, but the real fruit is in the small changes people are making off the back of those conversations. If you haven’t had a chance to listen, please do go back and listen through.

December also marked an important milestone for Sam, whose licensing was officially changed to Associate Priest at Christ Church Thames View (CCTV). Below is the recording of the announcement Sam made at CCTV, explaining what the licence really means; he will be supporting CCTV as well as continuing on at Baking Riverside.

Christmas, as always, brought us together again for our joint celebration with Salem Church and House of Bread. These shared services have become a meaningful tradition. Familiar faces, different communities and languages, one body. If you weren’t able to make it, below is the recording of the talk Sam did during the service; sharing Christmas hope amidst the chaos of the world around us.

Alongside this, Sam had the opportunity to lead services at St Cedd’s Church, sharing a powerful words like the above on Christmas morning, but also on God our Sustainer at the Midnight Communion. If you missed it and In a season where so many feel stretched, tired, or uncertain, this reminder felt timely and grounding. If you missed it, the recording is available below to catch up and reflect in your own time.

As we look ahead, we are stepping into a year of transformation. The launch of Solomon’s House is exciting, but it also calls us to be honest about what the transformation looks like in practice. It is not just vision and momentum. It is commitment, learning and sometimes adjustment and laying things down. Bedding into this new season will require intention, patience and grace with one another.

We are expectant, but we are also grounded. If December taught us anything, it is that God is already at work in the ordinary moments, the conversations and the shared gatherings. We step into this year not chasing something new for its own sake, but building faithfully on what has already been planted.

Here’s to a year of becoming, together.

Father, I pray that You might give us a heart of wisdom. I pray that we will always make wise choices; and when two paths seem to be equal, I pray You will help us to trust You even as we make our decisions. Give us a heart that is willing to obey You, to respond in faith to the wisdom You give us.

Amen