As 2021 draws to a close, I am looking forward to the Christmas season, albeit different to any I have experienced before. Travel plans will be curtailed this summer, however I look forward to getting together with family and friends and taking a break from what has been a somewhat tumultuous year.

Attending Conference as an observer last month gave me a real experience of what it is to be astonished by the unexpected. Covid fallout has proven to be a cause of ongoing disruption and often disappointment with long anticipated events, activities, plans and festivities cancelled and / or rescheduled at short notice. Witnessing the success of Conference online renewed my sense of faith in what can be achieved – in different ways – when we are open and willing to doing ‘normal’ differently.

I extend a special thanks to all my contributors and the team that have helped me produce Touchstone over the past year. Despite the trials and tribulations of pandemic, we have managed to share news, views and information relating to the faith community in Aotearoa and beyond. I wish all our readers a safe and blessed Christmas season and look forward to reconnecting in February with the first edition for 2022.