Why not celebrate the beginning of 2008 in prayer following the example of the Wesley Brothers in Fetter Lane in 1738. There is a Prayer Declaration which could be included as part of your local reflections.
Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) and Martyn Atkins (Methodist President) have made their own joint contribution (video and script). The Tiny Lights website is also worth a look.

As people enter the New Year they are often full of hope about what the coming twelve months will hold. New Year’s resolutions are part and parcel of the season with people hoping to give something up or to develop new and better habits.

This hunger for change and a new start provides an excellent opportunity for the Church to serve. We could have a huge impact if in villages, towns and cities across the UK, churches worked together to provide a range of New Year resolution lifestyle courses.

There is a suggested range of themes and some resources to help, however they are not intended to be exhaustive:

• Health and Fitness
• Work and Vocations
• Family and Relationships
• Financial Freedom
• Kicking It

Courses should be practical and concentrate on the topic advertised, this is a great chance to serve people with no strings attached and if they show interest in the church and its activities then there is a whole year’s worth of things going on that you will be able to invite them to!

Poverty and Homelessness Action Week: In 2008 Homelessness Sunday (27 January) and Poverty Action Sunday (last Sunday before Lent) fall one week apart from each other. The organisations which coordinate these Sundays have decided to work together to encourage local churches and groups of churches to hold 'Poverty Hearings' in at least 100 locations across the UK.

See the Hope 08 website for ideas linked to:

• The Big Hope - Lent + Easter
• Hope where you live - Pentecost
• Summer Activities
• Hope Explored - Harvest
• The Gift of Hope - Christmas
• 2009 - And beyond