New Year Letter

A story entitled ‘New Year Letter’ concluding with the words, ‘under the familiar weight of winter, conscience and the state’

‘Dearly beloved,’ wrote the Reverend Wroth in his New Year epistle where the usual well-worn pearls of wisdom were invariably offered, though not on this occasion.

Wearied by another winter in a chilly church and having nothing new to say about Epiphany or any other festival throughout the coming church year, his thoughts had wandered during a recent service to the numbers on the hymn board.

‘Dearly beloved, God moves in mysterious ways,’ he wrote, ‘as he did when I memorised the hymn numbers last Sunday. For years I have longed to be pointed in new directions and, by Grace, it seems that I have been. Thanks to the numbers on the hymn board corresponding to the winning numbers in last night’s Lotto, I intend to retire forthwith to the Seychelles where I shall finally rejoice and languish no longer under the familiar weight of winter, conscience and the state.’