A happy 2016 to all our readers, and a New Year's message from some of Medway's prevalent figures:

Churches Together in Medway columnist Adam Voke.

A lady walked in on her husband weighing himself on the scales on New Year’s Day, she noticed that he was sucking his stomach in as his did it.

She said to him laughingly “silly-billy, that won’t help you” and he replied “it will because I can see the numbers now!”

Physical exercise, watching the diet and adopting other good habits are valuable things to do in 2016 but just as important are healthy exercise of the mind and giving yourself a new diet of thinking.

One way you can do this in 2016 is to practice being thankful.

It can change your perspective, boost happiness and act as an antidote to regret, sadness, pain and depression.

Start by considering what you have, especially the small things you take for granted: if you have a roof over your head, be thankful; if you have food to eat, be thankful; if you have clean water to wash in and drink, be thankful; if you have eyesight, hearing and taste, be thankful.

Start with those kind of things and work outwards from there to family, friends, jobs, income or benefits and transport.

Then write them down (plus other things you think of) and pin it to your wall.
Throughout 2016 practise turning your mind to thankfulness every time you benefit from the things you’ve written down.

When recently visiting an elderly lady I found her upbeat and happy as usual, despite being housebound for about two years due to health issues.

How is this possible?

She shared how she would regularly pray and thank God for what she has and how this helps her remain positive.

For example when eating she would consider all the “links in the chain” that enabled the food to end up on her plate and would spend time working her way through them one by one, thanking God for the farmer that sowed the seed, the labourers that harvested it, the workers that packed it, the shopkeepers that sold it and the friends who bought it for her, and so on.

This may all seem simple, childlike even, but the Bible speaks about the power of thankfulness in lots of places and encourages us to direct our thankfulness towards God.

Everyone can try to think positive thoughts and be grateful for what they have but there is an added dimension and power when thankfulness is expressed to God through Jesus Christ.

Have a great 2016 and may it be filled with a thankfulness that enriches your life.

Rehman Chishti MP for Gillingham and Rainham

“This special and wonderful time of the year is a time for people to come together, as a family, and as a community, to show how much we appreciate the important people in our lives.

“But it is also a time to remember those who are less fortunate than ourselves, and those that cannot be with us this Christmas, as we see so much conflict around the world.
“I wish to commend the work of Churches Together in Medway, which, together with Housing Justice, is organising the Medway winter night shelter.

“This is planned to run from the 4th of January for ten weeks of winter until mid-March, to cater and provide overnight accommodation for up to sixteen people.

“It will operate in churches across the Medway area (such as St Barnabas in Gillingham) and will run all week for its duration.

“Twelve churches will be venues for people to stay, and many more are providing funds and other support.

“I know you will all like to join me in saying a big thank you to our brave and courageous armed forces personal and the police who do so much to keep us safe.

“I want to wish everyone a successful, prosperous and peaceful 2016."

Labour group leader Cllr Vince Maple

"Medway is a community full of care and compassion - I’m so proud that so many of quarter of a million of us who call Medway home have stepped forward to show their compassion and care for others.

"A couple of examples come to mind over 2015 to highlight that compassion in Medway: We have seen record numbers making use of the Medway Foodbank, it is wonderful that so many people are generous to make donations to such a community focused organisation but it shows that the system is simply not working when thousands of people, many of them working, need to ask for charity to feed themselves or their children.

"Equally, we are seeing a humanitarian crisis like no other with millions losing their homes, their safety and security with worldwide conflicts. Medway residents have come together to form the City of Sanctuary which sends the message loud and clear that refugees are welcome. Again, their council and government are dragging their heels in showing an equal amount of compassion.

"The year ahead will bring a wide variety of challenges, with further cuts to local government funding and increasing service demand meaning that the council budget processes will undoubtedly have a negative impact on Medway.

"We will be engaging in the election process for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner. We may also have the European Union Referendum in 2016. I will be campaigning hard alongside other Labour colleagues for us to remain as part of the European Union.

"Those are some of the challenges for the year ahead but at this time let us enjoy the festive period and, so, on behalf of the Medway Labour Group I wish you and your family a Happy New Year."