Christmas message from the President

In spite of the bright lights and the early Sales all is not well. From the highest monthly rise in unemployment figures for three decades coupled with the imminent closure of Woolworth's to the acute difficulties and losses in the financial markets we are experiencing a very poor end of year report for 2008.

I assure all those directly and indirectly involved in these crises of our prayers and thoughts at this time. However this Christmas, in a world of uncertainty we all need to remind ourselves of the certainty of God and his great compassion for us seen at Bethlehem in the Incarnation of Jesus - Immanuel - God with us.

May I wish you a Christmas where you will know God's presence, peace and provision.

Rev. Aian W. Ferguson
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland