There’s nothing quite like the Olympics. The excitement and drama commands the attention of the whole world.  Heroic endeavours will fill our TV screens throughout a major part of this month – and not only from the winners.

“A wedding is one of life’s great moments, a time of solemn commitment as well as good wishes, feasting and joy. St John tells us how Jesus shared in such an occasion at Cana, and gave there a sign of new beginnings as he turned water into wine.

Marriage is intended by God to be a creative relationship, as his blessing enables husband and wife to love and support each other in good times and in bad, and to share in the care and upbringing of children. For Christians, marriage is also an invitation to share life together in the spirit of Jesus Christ. It is based upon a solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, declared and celebrated in the presence of God and before witnesses.” (introduction to The Church of England Marriage Service)

Every now and then you come across a larger-than-life character. His record tells us that the Rev. Noel Mellish was such a character. I’m conscious that there are some people in town who remember him, and so can give a first-hand appreciation of him. I am a mere reader of history books. However, his story is most remarkable.

Noel Mellish became Vicar of Great Dunmow in 1928, and stayed here for 20 years. He arrived here having already served as a priest in Deptford, London, and having received from King George V the Victoria Cross for his services as a Chaplain in World War I. On three consecutive days Noel Mellish, who was completely unarmed, scrambled into No-man’s Land on seventeen occasions, under constant and ferocious machine gun fire, to rescue wounded soldiers. An amazing feat, and one for which he rightly received the highest military award possible.

An army of people full of goodwill is preparing for action. Some are church people – some are not – but together they put themselves out so that millions of others can be helped. This latter day group of Good Samaritans is preparing to work on behalf of some of the poorest people in the world – people that they are unlikely ever to meet.

Please welcome them very warmly when they call on you, and be at least as generous as you have been in recent years. Last year the people of Barnston and Dunmow gave over £5,000 – it will be great to do even better this year.

To all the members of the Christian Aid Week army, a huge thank you. Your time and energy is much appreciated. The people who will benefit most are not able to thank you – so, on their behalf, a huge heartfelt thank you for all that you’re preparing to do.

“We shall not all sleep, be we shall all be changed”. This is not the slogan of children at a nursery, but the celebratory words of St Paul in the New Testament. He’s talking about the positive Christian benefit of Easter.

The new life enjoyed by Jesus – called resurrection – is the pattern of God’s intention for all who follow his Son. It is a uniquely Christian picture.

The Nation struggles to forgive. As children we were taught to “Say sorry”, and to move on knowing that “everything had been put right”. If only life was really that simple.

Breaches of the law demand punishment. Once the price has been paid, the past has been satisfied. Or has it?

“IF ONLY the good Lord had put 14 days into a week, we might have time to do all the things we have to do!”

Have you ever been tempted to shout that? There’s just not enough hours in a day … there’s not enough days in a week … there’s simply just not enough time! We’re getting busier and busier. We get more and more tired. We seem to get less done than we used to do – and we lose the time for family, relaxation and God.

A very happy New Year to you all. 2008 already! The years seem to go by faster – and plans for the future have to be made even earlier.

Throughout the country, this year has been designated Hope 2008. Individual Christians, and whole Christian communities, are making plans to demonstrate the love of and passion of God through local practical actions. One such example is our Prayers for our Neighbours project (read about it elsewhere in this edition of Outlook).

After 30 years of editing and presenting Outlook, and arranging for its widespread and expanding distribution in Great Dunmow and Barnston, Catherine Salmon is hanging up her editorial scissors. Thirty years is a very long time in any job, and Catherine has fulfilled this responsibility with a mixture of dogged perseverance, warm wit and good humour. For all this hard work, Catherine, we thank you very much indeed.

Characteristically, Catherine’s last edition is full of news of major celebrations in our churches. Christmas Services bring much that will be familiar – but this year there are also some fresh new opportunities to celebrate the coming of Jesus into this world. See the various articles in this edition for all the details.

We think we’re invincible. We expect to bounce when we fall, and live to a ripe old age. Advertisements promoting health products promise us the earth – and we believe them!

It comes as a shock when things work out differently. In the space of six weeks I have lost two colleagues - Paul, aged 50, and Chris, aged 55. Paul was a brilliant teacher and an enthusiastic leader of children’s work in many different churches. Chris was Vicar of a parish in Epping and known to many as a BBC Radio Essex presenter. Their deaths were totally unexpected. They were fully committed to their respective work. They are both mourned by grieving families and multitudes of friends.

Take an average length street in an average sized town and there will be some Christians living there who attend church regularly, one or two people belonging to other faith communities, one or two committed followers of Richard Dawkins, quite a few people who go to church occasionally, several people who used to go to church but have got out of the habit, and then a large group of people who might go if they received an invitation and if coming to church was made a bit easier.

This is what Back to Church Sunday is about; inviting people who used to go, or who are open to going, to give church a try. Experience elsewhere where churches took part in the campaign last year found it very helpful.

Not only did they find people coming to church, but their churches had to think through how they could make themselves more welcoming and how they go about nurturing people into the Christian faith.

Anyone who has played "Monopoly" will be familiar with these words, as the consequence of accidentally landing on the dreaded square is imposed.

Similarly, anyone who has been in the public gallery of a High Court may have heard something similar when an accused person is committed to prison as the consequence of being found guilty of the alleged crime. As I write this article, the news has just been full of the four would-be London bombers being sentenced to at least 40 years in prison, and a dangerous schizophrenic man committed to a secure hospital for an indefinite period. For them, jail is not a game - it is very serious.

With those memorable words, Jesus called upon the adults to make it possible for children of all ages to come to faith in him. True, the church has struggled over the centuries to live up to this - but, for better or worse, we try.

Every week someone asks us to pray for them. People in need are glad to have someone standing alongside them in support and occasionally, and very joyfully, we are asked to give thanks for someone’s recovery or significant improvement.

It’s the season of true love. As I write this I am aware that St Valentine’s Day (February 14th if you need reminding) will soon be here. Florists, garden centres, card shops, chocolate manufacturers, and a whole host of other manufacturers and retailers will be assaulting our senses with the latest must-buy items for those we love. The noise of cash tills working overtime will bring joy and delight in many quarters.