and is linked to St Mary's Church in Swindon's Lydiard Park via the Church Mission Society.

This Christmas and New Year will be my first in the UK since 1993. For the past six years I have spent them in Africa, mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, (DRC), the former Zaire, where I work as a doctor.

Of course this year is special, being the millennium, but I am already surprised by the hype and sadly see that much of it bears little relation to what the millennium really celebrates - the birth of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago.

Both Christmas and the millennium will be much quieter affairs in Congo. On both days families will try to eat a special meal - one that has meat which is a luxury that many folk will not be able to afford.

I think that relatively few people will stay up until midnight on New Year's eve. There is no electricity where I have been working so once it gets dark people tend to have a meal and then go to bed. Candles, torches and paraffin lamps are available for lighting, but all cost money. Churches will be decorated with fresh foliage and flowers, but otherwise there will be no decorations, no Christmas trees, no fireworks and probably no presents.

Seeing all the activity here made me wonder what my colleagues in the DRC are thinking about when they reflect on the millennium. The country is sadly in the midst of a civil war, so their thoughts are understandably focused on the conflict so close at hand.

One said, "we see it as a time of hope, the time to end the war. It is a moment of light, when we hope. God will bring each person to a new start."

Another said, "our wish is that on New Year's eve God will reveal himself to each person on both sides of the conflict, so that all will unite to build a new Congo based on peace, love and hope. We all have the hope to begin again and start a new life at the millennium."

I'm sure that these thoughts would be reiterated by folk in many parts of the world where there is currently tension, unrest or war. So many long for a lasting peace to come to their country that will enable everyone to live without fear and to have access to the basic necessities of life: food, health care and education.

I am very much looking forward to both Christmas and the beginning of the new millennium, to be able to spend them peacefully with my family and friends in the UK. I shall enjoy the festivities, but I hope that I will not forget to be thankful that I have been born in this country with its peace and relative prosperity, and that I will remain concerned for those, who through no fault of their own, find themselves facing a much more precarious and uncertain future.

I hope the next millennium will be peaceful and joyful for us all, lets do our best to make it so for everyone.