I hope we have all had the benefit of a break from our normal everyday routine this summer, and are feeling refreshed and renewed in body, mind and spirit, ready to take up the challenges that await us.

At this time of year many people have new experiences. For children, perhaps, it's going to a new school.

Young people may embark on a college course or their first job, or taste of unemployment. Some leave home or get married.

Others change jobs, or retire, or begin a new leisure activity, or take up a new skill.

The autumn is a time for new beginnings, fresh oppor-tunities, different challenges. This can fill one with trepidation or fear - or excitement as new horizons, knowledge and a sense of achievement are experienced.

I feel we can make a comparison with our relationships with one another.

Do we take each other for granted? Are our relationships static, superficial - or vibrant and deep? Are there people we dislike?

Do we just shrug our shoulders and ignore them - or will we accept the challenge to seek opportunities to heal strained and damaged relationships?

What about our relationship with God - however we perceive Him?

When we stumble and fail Him, will we just give up, or learn from our mistakes and allow Him to pick us up and set us on the right path again? Will we seek fresh opportunities to deepen our relationship with Him?

Will we put our trust in Him and step out in faith and allow Him to lead us into new and exciting ways as we worship, serve and witness for Him in our community?

So, this autumn, let us all resolve to seek new opportunities in our everyday living - physical, emotional and spiritual - to play an active part in contributing to a happier, healthier and more loving society - the benefits of which we can all enjoy.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.