Benefice
of St Mary’s Chard, St Nicholas Combe, St Mary’s Wambrook and St Andrew’s
Whitestaunton
Well here we are the first Sunday of Advent; we
often say “where did that year go?” For some of us the Church year has gone
past so quickly that the phrase bears more relevance that normal for us.
We are moving into that space of waiting which for
myself definitely feels different this year, waiting and reflecting on the
coming of the Christ child wating to see what will happen.
To try and bring some rhythm for those of you who
feel unable to return to Church we are going to give you the Advent Candle
prayer for each week, you may want to light your tea light as you say it and
spend time in your devotions.
Hope: Sunday, November 29, 2020
Today we light the candle of hope. As
the flame begins to burn on this first candle of Advent, we are reminded how
far we’ve come. From our ancestors of the faith who walked in the wilderness
for 40 years, to the year that we have all experienced together. Hope does not
come from instant gratification. Instead, it comes from a longing inside of us
that knows things can be different. And yet, this year we have learned how to
wait and hope at the same time.
As we light the candle of hope, we
acknowledge a longing inside of all of us. We acknowledge the tension between
waiting and hoping. We acknowledge the stubborn hope that holds us in one with
each other as we begin our journey through Advent.
Prayer: Holy God, we thank you for the
gift of hope that we find in Christ Jesus. Remind us of your presence as we
live another week of hoping and longing. Amen.
Also, with this letter you will have received a
booklet which is for Advent, it has readings for everyday from Nov 27th,
until Dec24th, we will include it in your envelope each week, please use this
if it helps o focus towards the coming celebration of the Emmanuel. This week
it has all the “stuff” on the front that allows us the privilege of printing it
off for you, next weeks will start from the date you need. I hope and pray that
the words contained will speak into your hearts by the Holy Spirit.
I and several others have had chats with Colin
Adcock on the phone and he wanted us to send you all his love from Wales he has
settled in well and has found a Church too.
Can I remind you as preparations begin to hot up for
many that if anyone phones you and asks you for details of your accounts, pin
numbers, or for that matter any personal details please don’t not give them
over the phone. Some scammers are pretending they are the police and can sound
very realistic in the information they are giving and asking for. Always put
the phone down, wait five minutes then pick up the phone and put it down again
to check the line has been fully cleared, and contact the agency or bank, or
police station to check if the phone call was real. No one wants to have their
life savings taken from them.
We are holding our “Light up a Life” Service on
Saturday 5th at 2.30 and Sunday 6th at 2.30, if you would
like to come or give us the name of loved ones you would like included in the
remembering list, please phone the office.
Our scripture reading from Mark talks about “Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” And “Be ready
Watching and Praying, if you can take some comfort in these words for this
extraordinary moment in history, remembering that no matter how we are feeling
about what is to come in our lives, will we be able to join with members of our
family, or our friends, or do we actually want to, that God is with us and that
the words of scripture are living and breathing words, they can speak the right
thing for us in the right moment through God’s Holy Spirit in all emotions and
turmoil’s. Our prayers may be intimate and of deep depth or they may be a quick
“help me God” in a moment because that is all we can manage, all constitute
watching and praying and being held in the love of a God who is like no other,
so like no other that he came to dwell amongst us.
Be Blessed Rev Georgina.
Lastly, I had this little prose and thought on my
Facebook Page which I had shared because it seemed to me to sum up some of the
mixed feelings going on right now.
I don’t know who needs this, but if you woke up freaking out
a little because it’s almost Christmas (like...what? How is that even possible?
It was just August two days ago), remember that the first Christmas was pretty
simple.
It’s okay if yours is too.
No tree. Five trees.
No elf. Elf every single night.
No lights. A yard full of ‘em.
No decorations. So many decorations it looks
like HomeGoods threw up in your living room.
No parties. A calendar filled.
None of that stuff matters, and none of it is
worth stressing or obsessing over.
Jesus.
Jesus matters.
Everything else is extra, and I can almost
guarantee nobody will notice and nobody will care if it doesn’t get done.
Christ is perfect. Your Christmas doesn’t have
to be.
Now deep breaths.
It’s gonna be a great season as long as He is in
it, and as long as you relax just a little.
Sometimes it is the simplest things that mean the
most.
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