Merry Christmas To Everyone In Brent From Sarah Teather

12.00.00am GMT Sat 23rd Dec 2006

Christmas is a time for the whole community to come together

Christmas has always been a special time for my family - we always go to Church together at Midnight, followed by excessive eating for the rest of the week, which takes most of January to work off!

This time of year is important for Christians and non Christians alike. Whether it be Christmas, Diwali, Eid or Hanneke, the marvellous thing about community spirit in Brent is that people come together to celebrate everyone's festivals!

Christmas for most people is about family, reflecting on the year gone and looking forward to the year ahead. Many of us here in Brent will be thinking of those affected by the tornado in Kensal Rise, who won't be able to spend Christmas in their own homes; or the brave family of Thomas ap Rhys Price and so many other tragic victims of violent crime who will be feeling their loss this Christmas.

Though for most, Christmas is a time of celebration, for some it is a time of heightened loneliness. I would urge people to look in on elderly neighbours and those who may be spending the holiday season on their own.

As we look forward to the new year, I hope our leaders will make a new pledge to work for peace in the Middle East and resolution to conflict in Iraq.

In Brent, I hope I may be able to continue to call upon the readers of the Times series to help my work for our community. The impending health cuts are likely to fall on the most vulnerable of our society. Please, whether it affects you or not, join me in fighting for those who may not be able to fight for themselves.

And please continue in 2007 to support the Times campaign for justice for Jamil el-Banna. Without your help, his youngest daughter may never get to meet her father.

Finally I wish you all a peaceful, healthy and joyous Christmas, and best wishes for the year ahead.