
Collect For Advent 2
Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: Give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God, Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Isaiah 11: 1-10
Romans 15: 4-13
Matthew 3: 1-12
“It’s not what you eat between Christmas and New Year you should worry about, it’s what you eat between New Year and Christmas.” Anon
Christmas preparations. The shops started their pressure selling straight after Halloween. ‘Shop early for Christmas’, in case things go out of stock. Mince pies, puddings, crackers, trees, big boxes of chocolate – and would you believe, Brussels Sprouts. No matter how much you love ‘em, I doubt that month-old sprouts would actually enhance the Festive meal. (I know quite a few people who would love it if the Brussels Sprouts ran out of stock).
And then there are the go-to presents of the year. Apparently Air fryers are hurtling off the shelves, but if the budget doesn’t allow, there are always seasonal standbys – I am told that there really are people who enjoy that disgusting mixture of Carnation milk and British sherry sold as ‘Something’s Irish Cream’.
The pressure to do Christmas properly is huge. But the truth is that ‘Christmas’ is now an industry, a smokescreen hiding the harsh reality of social injustice.
In the last few years, a new tradition has arrived with the Christmas tearjerkers from the major retailers. Like the unsolicited charity mail, these highlight real, deserving causes – but it’s impossible to respond to each and every one, and I’m afraid compassion fatigue is hard to resist.
Well, tough. Resist it.
It’s not as hard as going a week without a hot meal, sleeping on the street, living in fear of domestic violence, warming soup on the top of a radiator because you can’t afford the electricity to cook; worst of all, feeling that no-one cares and that there is no point in living.
So what should our response be? We can’t heal the world We can’t do everything. But that is no excuse for doing nothing. Over the Christmas period, there will be initiatives to reach out to help those in real need. We respond as we are able. But we then have to ask ourselves what happens on St Stephens day and for the rest of the year. Our giving, our support, our prayers must not be seasonal, but continuous. Perhaps the Advent preparations should encompass the whole year?
To paraphrase the quote above: “It’s not how we serve between Christmas and New Year that we should worry about, it’s how we serve between New Year and Christmas.”
Now, as we pray for whatever our personal response should be, we ask our Father what we could do to serve, not just at Christmas, but all year round. Doesn’t have to be a huge thing – but a small sincere act is a thousand times better than a grand promise unfulfilled. Be silent for a few moments and listen to God. It might not be a bad idea to write His answer down and pin it on the wall as a constant reminder.
Praying Together 30th March 2025
As Julian of Norwich wrote, ‘the example of a mother’s service is closest, most willing, and most sure because it is most true’, and thus we use that example as part of our Lenten journey.
Praying Together 23rd March 2025
God gives us the freedom to make that choice, and will always offer us another chance when we fail, as He did to the barren fig tree.
Praying Together 16 March 2025
Unlike the other tragic heroes, Jesus has no flaw or blemish other than those inflicted by others: the scars on His back, the thorn-blood on His forehead, the betrayal by His friend.
Praying Together March 9th 2025
God’s demand for perfection need not discourage you in the least in your present attempts to be good, or even in your present failures.
Praying Together 2nd March 2025
God of the nations, whose sovereign rule brings justice and peace, have mercy on our broken and divided world.
Praying Together 23 February 2025
Meditation for the Second Sunday before Lent CollectAlmighty God,you have created the heavens and the earthand made us in your own image:Teach us to discern your hand in all your worksand your likeness in all your children;through Jesus Christ our Lord,who with you...
Praying Together 16th February 2025
And if you accept Him as Lord, allow Him to lead you as you walk into the future without looking back, and do what He has equipped you to do as His body on earth
Praying Together 9th February 2025
We are all asked to have the faith to put out into deep water, but we must remember that we will never be on our own. Peter’s ministry was made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit, as will ours.
Praying Together 2nd February 2025
We are all called to be the Body of Christ in His entirety – and we are to take the example of all ‘Saints’ who have gone before, both male and female, as models of our required behaviour.
Praying Together 26th January 2025
Most importantly, in the face of what appears to be a society built upon prejudice and hatred, we are sustained and strengthened by the knowledge that in the end, love will triumph, leaving the wordly values of the tyrant to be forgotten.
Praying Together 19th January 2025
Jesus has demonstrated His authority and power. He takes something ordinary, and it becomes extraordinary. He turns water to wine. He heals the past and offers a new future. He changes his followers from sinner to saint.
Meditations 5th January 2025
With the same eyes as the Magi, we look into the manger, see the light of the world – be it for the first time, after a dark time, or in our daily devotions – and every time we see something new.