This Christmas has been a special time for my wife Nadia and I as we have been celebrating the birth of our new grandson.

His name is Otis and he is the first boy to be born in our family for quite some time.

We have two daughters and two granddaughters, so it’s lovely to have a wee boy to add to the collection.

Obviously, the birth of a long-awaited baby boy at this time of year makes me think of the birth of Jesus – the light of the World and the Prince of Peace.

It also makes me think about how the Lord of the Universe became so helpless and vulnerable for our sake.

But it also makes me think that there are so many boys and girls who are born into this world in situations where there is little light or peace.

So my prayer for this Christmas time was for the children of our world, the ones born into war-torn nations, the ones born into counties riven by drought and famine and also the little ones who are poor, neglected or even abused in our own nation.

I hope you joined me in this prayer.

I also hope that you had a happy and peaceful Christmas and looked around you for those neighbours or friends who were maybe spending Christmas alone.

In that way, you were able to share the light and the peace that Jesus was born to bring.

I have been minister at St Andrew’s Church, in Barrhead, since 2013.

I was asked to become Moderator of the Presbytery of Greenock and Paisley around April time.

I was delighted and honoured to be asked and said ‘yes’, before starting the role in October.

In my role, I am able to represent the Presbytery at various civic functions, including the Remembrance Day services.

I know the congregations in this area to be very supportive and I look forward to spending the next year as Moderator.

Wishing you God’s richest blessings in the New Year.