Advent tears.

Advent- a time of preparation- not just preparing for Christmas, but for the coming of Jesus Christ, the baby of Bethlehem, the Saviour of the world. It can be a time of people coming together, of food preparation, of carol services and prayer. We enjoy Christmas hymns in candle light, nativity services and the Word being proclaimed. Worship is sacred and meaningful.

Something I have noticed however, is that sometimes in worship we are told to be joyful. I understand that joy is a gift from God, and that there is so much to give thanks for. However people can be going through difficult days, when joy can be elusive. People can have health concerns, be experiencing family heartbreak, or the recent loss of a loved one. It can feel that everyone else is doing ok, but that you are not.

It seems so important to give people space to be real. Christmas can be a poignant time, with people travelling long journeys, under pressure to buy things they can’t afford, isolated from loved ones, remembering those no longer here, haunted by memories from the past.

We often sanitise the Christmas story, remembering only angels, shepherds and wise men. We forget the incredulity of Joseph, the stress for Mary, that long uncomfortable journey to Bethelehem, and the uncertainty of what was going to happen next. Having a baby round the back of the inn must have been a frightening experience for a young girl. Placing a new born baby in a manger, gives a small insight as to the impracticalities of the whole thing -the Messiah, being born on earth in the most humble and unlikely of circumstances.

In Matthew’s gospel, chapter 1 verse 22 it says ‘all this took place to fulfil what the Lord said through the prophet ‘ the virgin shall be with child, and will give birth to a Son, and they will call him Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’

We are so thankful for the presence of Jesus with us in all circumstances. As we come nearer to Christmas, we may well feel joy that we can celebrate Christ’s coming. But for those whose hearts are heavy through pain, worry or grief, may we acknowledge this, and sit with them without pressure or expectation. And may each person know that their story is known by God, that they are seen and not forgotten, and that they are treasured and loved.

Eternal God, You are our Creator, and we are so thankful at our Saviour coming to earth in the form of a human baby, vulnerable and small. Lord Jesus we are thankful that you are our Emmanuel, the God who is with us. We marvel at your grace to us, when we so little deserve it. We want to worship You, and to celebrate your birth. Sometimes however, our hearts are sore, and we worship through our tears. In our communities, help us to accept each other, in the same way that You welcome us, just as we are. Holy spirit, whatever our circumstances this Christmas, may our lives be touched by You, and may we experience, comfort, love and hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Advent justice!

In the world at the moment, there seems to be such conflict and darkness. A Christmas tree has gone up in Bethlehem, but the impact of violence and destruction of recent years is still current. Other places of fighting and instability include the Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Myanmar and so many others.

The shops are busy, there is bustle in the colourful Christmas markets, but many are in debt as a result of the temptation to overspend, and there are homeless in our cities, children fleeing from abuse, people struggling with illness and isolation. How do we reconcile such oppulance starkly contrasting with the despairing cry of a nearby child?

Of course, we want to celebrate the joy of Advent, meeting up with friends and family, enjoying concerts and plays. But perhaps it is also important to take time to give thanks for what we have, and to conciously decide to bless others. We can volunteer at a foodbank, hand gifts in to a local community project, check in with that neighbour, or give money to a charity that we resonate with. There are so many ways we can seek to serve others.

In Luke chapter 1, when Mary is singing praise to God because of the Holy Child within her, she describes the character of God in verses 51-53:

‘He has performed mighty deeds with His arm: He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts, He has brought rulers down from their thrones, but has lifted up the humble, He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.’

Sometimes I think we forget the radical nature of Jesus’ agenda, to turn the ways of this world upside down, to challenge corruption and greed, and to feed the hungry and lift up the humble. This is the mandate of that Child in a Manger, the one who came to bring a new kingdom of light, love and justice.

In this Advent season, may we savour what is good, be thankful for all we have, and rejoice in hope. But may we also recommit ourselves to challenging injustice, being an advocate for the poor, and to befriending the lonely and marginalised. In this way, we truly welcome Christ into our hearts and homes this Christmas.

Eternal Father, we thank you for this Advent season, when we prepare to welcome the birth of our Saviour. We thank You for times of stillness, to be touched anew by the wonder of Christ’s birth and the joy of the season. We also remember the Beatitudes, and Jesus coming to challenge the rich, and to lift up the poor, to unsettle the proud and to bring healing to the broken and disillusioned. May your holy spirit disturb our complacency, so we might call out injustice and show compassion and generosity to all in need. May people choose to lay down their arms, and choose the paths of peace. May your kingdom of justice, light and grace, come through our prayers and actions in this season and always, in the name of our precious Saviour, Amen.

Advent stilling

What a frantic season this can be, cards to send, presents to co-ordinate, food to purchase, events to attend. It can be a whirlwind of activity.

With this whirlwind, can also come pressure and worry however. People fall out over who is coming where. Anxiety builds when we take on too much. That old argument reemerges, and no one knows how it can be resolved. And there can be painful memories- so many reminders of the person no longer with us.

The season of Advent invites us to take moments of quiet. Instead of joining the melee of traffic jams and queues, God invites us just to sit, and to be.

Advent is a time of preparation- not specifically about decorating the Christmas tree and getting a new outfit! Rather just to turn our gaze to God, and to the significance of Jesus’ birth, the King of Kings born as a vulnerable and tiny human being.

Every baby born is a miracle, to give thanks for. There is an innate sense within us of the marvel of new life- when there is a baby in the room, your heart is drawn to them, their innocence, beauty and uniqueness. People spend hours just marvelling at the shape of their fingers and toes, and cooing over them. There is a sense of reverence and thanksgiving.

If these are the sensations we have in the presence of new life, imagine what it must have been like for Mary and Joseph that first Christmas. The prophets had foretold the birth of the Messiah for 100’s of years. Angels had spoken to Zechariah and to both Mary and Joseph directly. When they held the infant in their arms, they gazed on the demeanor of the Son of God. Round the back of the inn, amongst the animals and the hay, in the most unlikely and imperfect of circumstances, the Prince of Peace was born.

That sense of wonder, awe and thanksgiving, is central to the Christmas story, and to our preparations at Advent. We are not to focus on the superficial and the material. Rather we are to spend time sitting in candlelight, rereading the gospel narratives, praying for the holy spirit to fill us with reverent thanksgiving and joy.

The coming of our Saviour, reminds us that all is not lost. Though there is conflict and suffering, poverty and much pain in this weary world, yet God has not abandoned us. He sent His Son Jesus Christ, to save us from our sin, our prideful arrogance and stubborn rebelliousness, to offer forgiveness and peace. Every time we respond with humility and thanksgiving, we pray that the light of our Saviour would shine more brightly in this world.

We often despair at all that is wrong with the world, but when we see that, we also see that God can use even our small efforts to make a difference- to pray for peace, to reach out to the lonely neighbour, to be a peace maker in the midst of alienation.

This Advent, each day, may we have a quiet moment, when we reconnect with God. We might listen to Christmas carols, or put up a nativity, or just take time to imagine ourselves amongst the straw and the muck, gazing at the holy family, and that holy child in their midst with love and adoration.

Gracious God, forgive us for succumbing to the pressures of the season, rushing around, with the weight of expectations heavy upon us. Holy spirit, teach us to slow down, to pause and reflect, to reassess what is really important. Help us let go of perfectionism and to take time to medidate on that first Christmas, where the Prince of Peace was born amongst the animals round the back of the inn. So much was chaotic and messy, but in Your birth Lord Jesus we see Perfect Love being born. In the midst of our imperfect circumstances, may we make room for You, for that deep sense of wonder and awe to pervade all that we do. May this Advent be a slower and more contemplative time, that is all the more meaningful as a result, for the sake of the Babe of Bethlehem, Amen.

Thresholds…..

We spend so much of our time on the move, on foot, on the bus, in the car. Especially at this time of year, the traffic is heavy on our streets. Despite the bad weather, the puddles and the torrential rain, so many people are out and in a rush, looking frustrated and impatient.

When the hustle and bustle is too great, I love reading a devotional writer like John O’ Donohue. His writings and reflections invite me to slow down and to ponder, which I love.

It would be an understatement to say I have not had a good year. But something I appreciate is that today is the end of the liturgical year, and that tomorrow is the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of new beginnings, of looking forward with expectations and hope. This is a threshold time.

In his collection of writings ‘To bless this space’ O’Donohue writes beautifully about thresholds. He writes about moving from one season to another and says: “a threshold is not a simple boundary- it is a frontier that divides two different territories, rhythms and atmospheres”. He speaks of the courage to follow the inner voice that beckons us forward.

Preparing for Advent is an invitation to reflect on the year past, to give thanks for the good, and bring what is painful and discouraging to Jesus, and then leaving it with Him. Leaving our hurts and frustrations at the foot of the cross, then helps us to go on with a lighter step. Instead of walking slowly, being weighed down by burdens and regrets, we move forward more steadily with a renewed sense of hope and even wonder- a change of rhythm and atmosphere indeed.

Maybe you have had a difficult year, a disappointment, a sadness. These things are hard to sit with, and take a long time to process. Yet the twinkling of the lights of this season remind us of the light of Christ, coming into this world, even though God knows the very worst of what the human heart can do. The birth of that Holy Child brings us hope, a belief that things can change, that there is an invitation for renewal and new horizons. May this be a threshold time for us all, a thin place where we experience anew the beauty and majesty of God, and find fresh strength and vision.

Eternal Father, the Creator of stars and atoms, the Source of all love, thank You for your patience with this weary and conflicted world. There is so much which is dark and cruel and heavy. Lord Jesus, Babe of Bethlehem, forgive us for our selfishness, greed and pride. May this be a threshold time between the year past, and opportunity for healing and repair in the days to come. Holy Spirit bring transformation to us, so we can leave our hurts behind, and move into a new season of healing and hope and wonder. May our prayers be for a better world, where Your kingdom of justice, light and love can more fully come. Use even us, in our weakness, and helps us to trust as we take the next step into new territory, Amen

Lighting a candle, who knew it could be so hard!

I am so enjoying lighting candles in this season of Advent. Candles speak to me of light and hope and life. They are so calming!

So I went to light a candle this morning, and I had run out of matches. That seems like a small thing, but the thing was it had enormous emotional overtones too. For about 30 years ago, my late husband Colin bought a batch of boxes of matches. In his usual exuberant way, he bought 30 boxes at a time. And we have been using these boxes of Cook’s matches over all this time. But today, when I went to look, the last one has gone, and I can’t find any more. It is another link with him that is gone.

December is such a poignant month. So many symbols of hope and love, families coming together, concerts and nativity plays, and the reverence and joy of Christmas services, and the celebration of the birth of our Lord.

Yet at the same time, you miss the people who aren’t there, you think of old memories, you feel an ache of what is missing. The shadow side of it all, that is often unspoken.

I am going to have to go out and buy new matches. I might shed a few tears, for life seems to be moving on, and I have no choice but to go with it. A little thing in the universal scheme of things, but such incidents affect so many bereaved people. And so we listen to each other’s stories, and weep together, even in the unlikeliest of places.

Gracious God, You are our Creator, and You have made this universe and planet to be good and beautiful. Yet there is a season for all things, and along with enjoying what is lovely, we are saddened by death and loss. Lord Jesus, be our light and shine in the darkness. Little things can have such resonance. We feel the pain, but know that life cannot stand still. Hope spirit, breath new life and energy into us, comfort us, and give us courage to move on, for Jesus sake, Amen.