Yesterday we marked the start of our advent journey by providing some postcards based on an icon of the Nativity (Novgorod 15th C). A card with this on it and a card with readings, what to reflect on and action point/thought for the next four weeks. We’ll also use it Christmas Day to gather up the whole story.
And are encouraging people to taken them and use at home with family or to share with friends and give away, maybe even leave in coffee shop.
During the week I had scavenged an old wardrobe thanks to a Pre-school music mum. Perfect!
So we started by thinking about stepping into the unknown. We had several examples of what that meant to/for people. In particular we used the wardrobe placed at the front of the church. It created a bit of curiosity and I invited some, if they wanted, to step through into the unknown.
I then invited us to use a collective response as we began advent and the journey into the unknown.
In the main we were thinking about Mary: what did it mean for her to step into the unknown; ‘How can this be’ words that echo also at the Resurrection. Blessed by God – nothing earned, but Mary pregnant with the hope and Promise of Israel and so a ‘servant’ who took God at his word and acted with trust, involved in the central, pivotal event that disrupted all certainties and orders and the coming of a new Kingdom in our midst. Isaiah 64 too helped us with the cry and longing for God to ‘tear open the heavens and come down!’ In such terms Jesus came, so, are we ready for that for which we long for?
We read this refelction:
Birth
To wait,
To endure
To be vulnerable
To accept
To be of good courage
To go on
Day after day after day;
To be heavy with hope
To carry the weight of the future
To anticipate with joy
To withdraw with fear
Until the pain overcomes’
The waters break
And the light of the world
Is crowned.
Then the travail is over,
joy has overcome.
Lord of heaven and earth,
Crowned with blood at your birth,
Delivered with pain,
Bring new hope to birth
In your waiting world,
Bring fresh joy
To those who weep.
Be present
In all our dyings and birthings.
by Kate McIlhagga
In closing I invited people to walk through the wardrobe and as they did so consider their response to these things and consider their servanthood and Kingdom calling today – O Lord tear open the heavens and come down!’ Maranatha!
And are encouraging people to taken them and use at home with family or to share with friends and give away, maybe even leave in coffee shop.
During the week I had scavenged an old wardrobe thanks to a Pre-school music mum. Perfect!
So we started by thinking about stepping into the unknown. We had several examples of what that meant to/for people. In particular we used the wardrobe placed at the front of the church. It created a bit of curiosity and I invited some, if they wanted, to step through into the unknown.
I then invited us to use a collective response as we began advent and the journey into the unknown.
In the main we were thinking about Mary: what did it mean for her to step into the unknown; ‘How can this be’ words that echo also at the Resurrection. Blessed by God – nothing earned, but Mary pregnant with the hope and Promise of Israel and so a ‘servant’ who took God at his word and acted with trust, involved in the central, pivotal event that disrupted all certainties and orders and the coming of a new Kingdom in our midst. Isaiah 64 too helped us with the cry and longing for God to ‘tear open the heavens and come down!’ In such terms Jesus came, so, are we ready for that for which we long for?
We read this refelction:
Birth
To wait,
To endure
To be vulnerable
To accept
To be of good courage
To go on
Day after day after day;
To be heavy with hope
To carry the weight of the future
To anticipate with joy
To withdraw with fear
Until the pain overcomes’
The waters break
And the light of the world
Is crowned.
Then the travail is over,
joy has overcome.
Lord of heaven and earth,
Crowned with blood at your birth,
Delivered with pain,
Bring new hope to birth
In your waiting world,
Bring fresh joy
To those who weep.
Be present
In all our dyings and birthings.
by Kate McIlhagga
In closing I invited people to walk through the wardrobe and as they did so consider their response to these things and consider their servanthood and Kingdom calling today – O Lord tear open the heavens and come down!’ Maranatha!
