by Stephen Cook, Team Rector of Okehampton and Northmoor ?TIS the season to be jolly, tra-la-la-la-la? goes that wonderful old carol. Of course, if you?re not feeling jolly then you can?t really make yourself, and the fact that everyone around you is having a good time makes you feel even worse. There are some people who just want to hide under the duvet until Christmas goes away. There will be people around us for whom this is the first Christmas since losing a loved one and others who always find this time of year hard. Some people eat and drink too much because it seems like a way of covering up the emptiness inside. I mention this because it is important to make our happiness include others, not shut them out. The Christmas story is full of joy, but there is also a tinge of sadness. The boy born to be king was to wear a crown of thorns. The Prince of Peace had to be born in a stable because Bethlehem was full of family reunions as people came together for the census. There was so much partying going on there was no room for him in the inn. I hope you have a really ?jolly? Christmas and I hope as well you are able to find space in your thoughts for those on the outside of the celebrations. If you do you will be making room for Jesus himself, and he alone is able to fill that empty space inside each one of us.
by Cllr Tony Leech, Mayor of Okehampton ANOTHER Christmas approaches and the years just seem to fly by. It is not just the elderly who feel this way; younger people are also saying the same thing. Maybe it?s the pace of modern life that is giving this impression. The pace of change is continuing to have an effect on Okehampton. The new developments, as dictated by the Government and the ones created by our own efforts (eg the new sports centre and the regenerated museum, plus the visit from Prince Charles to officially open our new hospital) are all having differing effects on Okehampton. I will leave it to the reader to say which will be the more beneficial to the town. My year as mayor of Okehampton is also racing away. It has been a privilege for me to represent the town around Devon and act as the chairman of the town council this year. Christmas would look very different it we didn?t have Christmas lights in the town centre, and I would like to personally thank the chamber of trade and especially Donald Rooke for providing us with yet another wonderful light show. I believe that our lights are certainly the best in the county. Edwardian Evening was also a great success and my thanks to all involved. Sue and I hope you all have a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.