January/February 2026
Revd Kyung Mi Banks
Minister at Frimley Green, Hartley Wintney & Cove Methodist Church
MA. In Missiology & Wesleyan Theology
Kyungmi.banks@methodist.org.uk
“Have you accepted the Gift?” “For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by
works, so that no one can boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8-9)
In my last Letter from the Manse, I shared a few important “verbs” that
might guide our response and actions as we journeyed through this
season: seeking, searching, waiting, and being ready. While the world around us has been busy preparing for this special time in many visible ways, we, as
Christians—followers of Christ—have also been preparing, though in a
different way.
Throughout Advent, we sang familiar carols (more than once!), lit the candles,
and shared in the Advent liturgy when we gathered. We decorated, reenacted
the Nativity, and welcomed neighbours and friends from our community to join us in these moments of joy and hope. Then, at last, Christmas Day arrived— the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall
be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Now, I would like to ask us all once more: Have you received the gift of
Jesus Christ—our Saviour and Immanuel—for yourself?
During Advent, some of you took part in the Advent Bible study, where we
reflected on the theme of being “gifted.” God has given us the greatest gift of
all—Jesus Christ. As we receive Him, we are also called to be “gifted people,”
sharing this precious gift with others and with the world around us.
As we move into the new year, I would like us to spend the next two months—
January and February—reflecting on the theme of “being accepted.” In a similar spirit, I invite you to reflect on these questions:
- Have you accepted the gift of Jesus Christ for yourself?
- Do you know that you are accepted by the love of God and welcomed into His kingdom?
- Are you willing to accept others, recognising that they, too, are offered the same gift of Jesus?
- And can you accept that Jesus truly accepts you?
If your answer is “not yet,” I encourage you to gently explore why not. Is the gift of Jesus not enough, not valuable, or difficult to trust? Or are there other
reasons holding you back? At heart, the question is this: are we able to accept
the truth that Jesus came into the world for you and gave His life on the
cross out of love?
On the first Communion Sunday of each year, we will set aside time to renew our commitment through the Covenant Service. I warmly invite everyone—
especially our members and those seekers! —to take part in this annual
service, prayerfully reflecting on the questions shared above as we renew
our covenant together. May the Lord of every gift be present, and you know that He is Immanuel – God is with us all! Amen.
*see more articles, Revd Kyung Mi’s Blog, “outside the gate”
https://outsidethegate3.wordpress.com