WHAT GAVE YOU JOY IN 2025?

Our church members were asked to send in thoughts on “What gave you joy this year?” This is what they said:

• Two of us getting new jobs (even though we’re getting on a bit!)

• Our daughter graduating uni.

• And for me, finding time to paint and draw, seeing native verge garden grow and joining the choir of course! 

•  (New challenges always good!)

• I received joy this year by spending quality time with family and friends and making new connections.

• I received joy this year by helping the people I love and also those I don’t know. 

• The dictionary definition of joy identifies it as the absence of misery, and the presence of pleasure, gladness, happyness and , glad feelings feelings. However my concept of Joy particulaaly in a christian perspective transends this definition. My year may not have  included joy in the dictinary definition but  my Joy did not depend upon present circunstances but on the presence of the love of God and friends providing hope in  every situation.   

   

• I feel joy in the presence of the familiar faces in my parish community; the commitment of others to show up for me and each other, to contribute to this humble spiritual community that strives to serve as Christ directed. 

   

• What gave joy this year is the great love of God that shows on me and my family regardless of our sins He still loves us and supplies and protects us and still gives us time to move towards Him!!!

   

• I was married to my love. And this was possible due to Australia voting yes!!!

   

• The last year has been a hard one for our family for a number of reasons - possibly one of our hardest to date. Reflecting back it occurs to me the things that brought me the most joy are often also the things that take the most work or presented the greatest challenge. In tough times it pays to take time, reflect and be thankful or the joy gets lost in the mix. 

  I’m sure it’s a common answer, but my children, family and friends are always my greatest joy. Having lost a parent this year it struck me that - despite having a sometimes strained relationship - the joyful memories of my Dad were those that bubbled to the surface, even in the saddest times. The joy brought by I… and G….. is far easier to see.

  I’ve also found new joy in gardening this year. Having moved into a house with a garden that has received a lot of love in the past, it has been a joy to nurture plants and enjoy visiting wildlife. 

   

• At this particular moment, I sit here feeling depleted of joy due to loss of ability to use a finger that has been vital to my joy all my life. 

  Even so, making music has always brought me so much joy. God has blessed me with the gift of music and I so love to repay Him with beautiful sound.  

  Those are what brings me joy. And my dog, of course; my companion in grief and in joy. 

   

• My joy for 2025 has been my elderly father  coming to live in Perth from overseas where he’s lived for most of my life. The chance to reconnect with someone held dear, and the opportunity to get to know him as an adult (and he me) is providing me with such joy, despite the difficulties we’ve had. I look forward to being a part of his twilight years (so to speak but he’s a healthy man so they could be long, God willing) and I wish everyone who has had a difficult year to feel the warmth of Jesus’ hands as he holds you as he has held me this year. 

• Moments of joy for me are eating my breakfast on the verandah and watching a raven having a wash in our bird bath or a New Holland honeyeater collecting nectar from the flowers. Finding tiny orchids on a bush-walk. Seeing the joy on my grandchildren’s faces when they have done something they feel really proud of like winning a race or getting an award for being kind. 

• Hi I went to the Midland hospital a few weeks ago to get blood test done.I get joy and gratitude every day from having my health,doing simple things just like walking,lifting,breathing having sight and able to hear.Having good health is the dream of the sick and frail and I count my blessings everyday

• For me; playing and singing with my musical comrade of almost 50 years and wife of 35 years; F……..

  “She was just Seventeen….”

   

•            the Xmas decorations in my house that have all been the result of my very clever wife's creative endeavours

•           the excitement in my wife's eyes when we visit the Xmas lights at the houses in and around our neighbourhood

             seeing the birds and other wildlife during my morning walks in Greenmount National Park

• My joy has been our garden in spring. A wetter winter than the last few years, resulted  in a mass of roses, beautiful flowers on deciduous trees and shrubs  and to cap it all off, a purple carpet of jacaranda flowers. Nature brings so much joy and I am thankful for the lords Blessings.

   

• Indeed reunions with , in our case, distant children and grandchildren have been joyful events,

  Moving back to the place of our birth and reigniting old friendships,

  Weekends away from home, visiting new horizons,

  Social meetings with friends,

  Discovering a warm welcome at Ascension Church,

  Utilising personal skills to the benefit of others and receiving gratitude,

  Following the success of a sporting team or individual .

   

• Last week I felt so much joy at the Advent Candle Lighting. 

  I received joy this year when I enjoyed conversations with people at church and experienced belonging.  

  Flowers are joyous to me.

   

•   I have a special relationship with some grandies. They all know I pray for them and I use a prayer candle so when they have a test, exam, job interview, & lately a loan for a house, they ask me to prayer for them and light my candle - one even biught me a new candle!!   I then pray for their result.  Thank you God for that gift.

   I know sooo closely that my God is with me through all my days and nights.  I also know there is nothing I can do to change His Love - He loves me always. 

   

• Amongst so many blessings, just recently, singing  with the choir in our beautiful  church as we prepare for  Christmas midnight mass  has been joyful and enlivening. Our spirits soar when we blend our notes and hearts together. 

• "I had JOY this year, as I was able to come to church most Sundays and I feel thankful about all the friendship I have made".

   

• I felt joy from visiting my oldest and dearest friend when her life was in the balance and being able to connect with her and provide comfort for her fear which made a difference and we’re still friends today?

• Our joy is our daughter, N… — a long-awaited blessing after more than a decade, and a reminder of God’s faithfulness.

• M…..- joy in being able to recently watch F Troop, a show I greatly enjoyed in my much younger days bringing me laughter and joy.
  A….. - joy in being able to regain my health and join in the community in slightly bigger steps bringing me relief and more pain free joy.

• I am in awe and wonder of the place and people I am with now, which 6 months ago would have been an unthought of outcome. There are so many of you who are passionate about what you do and how you care for people. I have been included and felt the care. It is the joy that  all of you share and show that gives me joy when I am here. It is a Joy that energises . It is not any church but this special congregation. Thank you.

   

• Thank you all. Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.