January's a good time to look both back and forward - the Romans knew that, with their two-headed god Janus, who names the month. Back: to remember what we hoped to have achieved in the course of last year and to appraise how well we've done. Forward: to plan what we would like to do this year - though, of course, we know that however thoroughly we plan, God is bound to have a few surprises in store for us.
Here are some of the 2006 church activities our Elders Retreat discussed this year:

Work in our church

• More people leading worship than just the Minister
• Pastoral support by members, Elders and Minister
• Network and church walks fostering relationships
• Study groups deepening our faith and knowledge

• St Andrew's work Tuesday afternoon group, mainly for older people
• Craft afternoon and other outings for children
• Service for office workers preparing for Christmas
• Students' outings
• Off the Shelf events and concerts

My work

• Muslim-Christian dialogues in Broomhall Centre
• Chaplaincy and work with student Christian groups
• Volunteering at Broomhall homework club
• Helping Janet Brown's work with older people
• Chairing and helping at Broomhall Breakfast Club

A lot of people have put in a lot of work in 2006, aimed both at building up our church community and at reaching out to our neighbours - whether it's children, students, older people, the Somali Muslim community or people interested in the arts. All these areas are worth exploring. However, as we plan for 2007 we need to be aware of our priorities - for trying to do everything at once is not an option! So how should we decide, as we look forward into the unknown, where God may want us to focus our energies this year?
• We should ask God for guidance, both individually and as a church. This is something each of us can do, for God doesn't preferentially listen to the prayers of ministers, or of elders, or of people who've studied the Bible, or even of people who can get to church. God's wisdom comes through us all.
• We should consider where our own gifts lie. What brings a smile to your lips? Where do you get your energy? God gives us our abilities to bless others - and there's not a person in this church without some gift to share.
• We should discuss St Andrew's work with one another, and with others beyond our church. The January Elders meeting will start to prioritise our work for the year, and your point of view is vital to their discussion. So tell your Elder what you believe is most important for the continuing life of the church and how you think we should be carrying it forward in 2007.
Finally, I can't do better at the threshold of this new year than leave you with the words of Minnie Harkins:
‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: "Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." And he replied, "Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!"