Dear friends
Happy New Year!
Here at the cathedral there’s a New Years Eve tradition of ringing out the old year and ringing in the new.
Each year some of us are privileged to join the bell-ringers in the ringing chamber. This is something of an adventure, involving climbing a long spiral staircase and walking under the struts of the cathedral roof cavity, (looking down on the top of the vaulted ceiling) to reach the bell-tower. This year, as well as prayers, we heard the poem ‘Christmas Bells’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, in which the poet reflects on how church bells, across the years, echo the unbroken song of the angels, ‘peace on earth, good will to men!’
In the penultimate verse the poet laments,
‘And in despair I bowed my head: ‘there is no peace on earth’ I said;
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”’
At the beginning of 2025 we’re all aware of heightened international tensions and of war and conflict near and far. Surely, it’s more important then ever for us to be people of faith, hope and love.
His Holiness Pope Francis recently gave a beautiful and timely Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 gently urging us to seek the hope and kindness that are at the heart of the gospel.
Francis said, “We choose love and love makes our hearts fervent and hopeful. Those who love, even if they find themselves in uncertain situations, always view the world with a gentle gaze of hope.” I love this thought that in the face of wars and social injustice, we can make a choice not to be drawn towards pessimism and resignation but instead we can deliberately practice love and kindness and retain hope. Pope Francis has announced 2025 as a holy year of Jubilee with the powerful symbol of opening a door, previously sealed up with bricks.
I’m sure that acts of kindness and love can open doors and new possibilities in our lives, in our communities and in our world.
The final verse of Longfellow’s Christmas Bells poem reads:
‘Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep:
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”’
I hope that we can all face the New Year with hope and a renewed commitment to kindness and love, drawing strength from the eternally faithful love of God for the whole world and each one of us.
As the days grow longer, I know that soon, during Morning Prayer in the St Alphege Chapel, I’ll see the light of the sun shining through the window again. The returning of the morning light is a sign for me of the rhythm of God’s faithfulness behind and through all things. May we be people of faith and hope this year, choosing the way of love and practicing kindness .
I do wish you a happy New Year and every blessing of faith, hope and love in 2024.
I’ll close with a prayer for 2025.
Lord of time and eternity
give us grace to step into this new year with courage
and to turn to the light of your future with confidence and hope.
For whatever change the year brings
your promises are faithful
and your love is everlasting.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
With blessings and best wishes,
The Very Revd Catherine Ogle
Dean of Winchester