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Farewell

This is the last edition of ‘Bible Lands’ that I will edit. It has been great fun, but I feel after ten years it is time for someone new to take over, and I am delighted that Canon Timothy Biles has come forward. Tim has been travelling in the Middle East for nearly thirty years both as a lone wanderer and as a pilgrimage leader. He currently edits The Sudan Church Review for the Sudan Church Association and The Sudan Extra for Salisbury Diocese. He was parish priest in Beaminster, Dorset, for many years, and is a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral.

When I started editing ‘Bible Lands’ most of the news came by mail and had to be retyped, now it is all e-mail for stories and photographs, and pages of work go to the printer on a small disk.

It has been fascinating to receive news from all over the Province, to get to know so many people, mainly by e-mail but sometimes face to face, and to share in their joys and sorrows. I send grateful thanks to all who have provided the news and answered my queries. I hope to keep in touch and attend meetings of the various Diocesan Associations.

A Christmas story

I close with a story. A man fell into a deep pit while walking in the desert. He shouted for help and eventually someone came, looked down into the pit, tossed him a book and went away. The book ‘How to avoid falling into a deep pit in the desert’ did not, unfortunately help him to get out. He shouted more, and another man came to the edge of the pit. He raised his hand and said, “Don’t be afraid, help is coming.” And he too went away. Was the help coming within minutes, hours, days, next year? In desperation the worn out man shouted once more. Aman appeared at the edge of the pit, with a ladder. He put the ladder down into the pit, and seeing that the man was exhausted, he descended into the pit and carried the man to safety on his back.

In Advent we think of the great patriarchs and lawgivers, and the prophets who proclaimed that a Saviour would come. At Christmas we remember Jesus Christ who came right down to our level and lifted us up.

May you know and proclaim the saving love of Jesus this Christmastide.

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