At 8:00am on the 8th October, 2012, Samuel James Britton was born. We are thankful to God for this healthy little boy, our third child. In the old testament we are first introduced to a the future prophet Samuel when he is born to Hannah, a desperate, childless woman. She is described as praying and weeping "in bitterness of soul" that God would grant her a son. She vows that if her prayer is answered, "... then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life..." Of course, God is faithful and little Samuel is born (I am told that in Hebrew this name is is a homophone for the word meaning "Heard of God"). Hannah is also faithful and gives Samuel, even as a young child, to the service of the Lord and he goes to live with the priest, Eli. One night God calls out to Samuel. This is remarkable in the text since, "In those days the word of the Lord was rare." Samuel hears the Lord on three occasions before it is clear to him who in fact is calling. On each occasion Samuel responds, "Here I am". With Eli's coaching he also responds on the third occasion with a profoundly important and life shaping phrase, "Speak, for your servant is listening." It is our prayer that little Samuel's life will be given over to the Lord. We hope that he will listen to God, be open to His leading and be dedicated in His service.