The day today started well with the diocese New Year service with the bishop. This is a service when the diocesan staff, and those from the cathedral, join together in worship. I was encouraged and excited by Bishops James’ words in his sermon this morning. I hear words such as ‘encouraging’, ‘mission’, enabling and permission giving. Those words sugest an outlook in the diocese that give me hope – and I believe that would be the case for both parish based staff and also for pioneers.

I’m becoming quite excited about what we could achieve in this diocese as we look ahead together.