So, what's this new vicar like, then?

It's a curious feature of the Church of England appointments system that most of the congregation don't get to see their new vicar, and certainly don't get to hear him preach, until after he is appointed.

Unlike our free church colleagues we don't 'preach with a view' prior to appointment and the congregation don't get the chance to suck it and see beforehand.

I met quite a few members of St Anne's and St James on Tuesday night but today at our united service it was our first real chance to all meet together.

It was great to see everyone. It was great to preach for the first time in Bermondsey. It was great to share communion together. It was great to share lunch together - there was lots of food - I'm starting to think this might be feature of life at St James and St Anne's.

I enjoyed being interviewed by Stan followed by a few questions from the floor, one of which produced a shocking confession - I don't actually support Millwall! As I explained, if you come from Battersea you have to support Chelsea, even in you're not interested in football.

But Millwall fans, don't be alarmed, I support Chelsea like most of the population support the Church of England - from a distance.

As for today's sermon,  for the second Sunday of Advent our theme from Luke 3.1-6 was John the Baptist preparing the way. A bit like the warm-up pre-procession getting the crowds ready to greet the Olympic torch in this summer's torch relays around the country, John the Baptist was the trailer, not the main feature, pointing to Jesus and calling people to get ready to meet him.

I always like the Advent blessing from Common Worship which speaks about the Lord making us 'ready to meet him when he comes.' That was the thrust of John the Baptist's ministry and that remains the purpose of Advent.

My final point was that we are all John the Baptists - in the sense we are all pointers to Jesus. And for St Anne's and St James as we begin a new phase of our lives together, it is good to remember that we are John the Baptist organisations, pointing people to Jesus.

May God bless us in this work.

Thanks to Colin for this photo from Tuesday night