Holy and loving God, in this Advent Season [on this Sunday of Advent], we turn our hearts and our minds towards you. You are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with tenderness all that exists: Every creature that crawls or swims or flies, every plant that turns […]
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Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. –Isaiah 60:1 Originally written as an Advent reflection, this may be used in either Hemisphere as a Winter reflection. Life moves unrelentingly on. We tackle projects. We make connections and friendships. We earn our bread and sometimes break […]
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This annual service, ‘From Darkness to Light’, held in Salisbury Cathedral starts in complete darkness. A single candle is lit, and the light spreads throughout the cathedral until hundreds of lights burn brightly illuminating the vastness. These words from the programme set the scene: “The darkness is at one and the same time a comforting […]
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A responsive reading Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel and restore us O God: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. From the throngs of city centers to the far-flung wilderness: Let your face shine, that we may be saved. To every nation, race and people: Let your face shine, that we may […]
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Hope when pressed to earth Will find nourishment and life In truths long buried.
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The Christmas season is not always a happy time. — Mary Oliver (from Thirst, Beacon Press, Boston, 2006) The Advent and Christmas seasons can remind us of loved ones or relationships we have lost. The sights and smells of the weeks approaching Christmas, rather than bring joy and delight, can bring sadness and grief. A “Blue […]
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Peace be within your walls and quietness within your towers. Psalm 122:7 I think of Advent as a “pray and prune” time –a whole liturgical season in which to weed and prune in order to reset our hearts and souls as we prepare for and make the pilgrimage to the manger. Advent is here. As […]
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Creator God, We pray for our beautiful world. Yet as we consider your amazing creation, images arise of global warming, greenhouse gases, climate change, and rising sea levels. We bring to you in prayer farmers whose land is dry and parched, And our need for drenching rain to fill our catchment areas and water our […]
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Each Advent season, the Scout International Peace Light travels from Bethlehem around the world. Towns and faith communities hold services for receiving the light and for sending it forth. These resources are for use in a Peace Light Service. Peace Light Prayer May the kindly spirit of Christmas spread its radiance far and wide, So all the […]
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A British Panto never ruins a fairy tale, only makes it better. So logically, a Nativity Panto (or almost-Panto) won’t ruin the treasured Christmas story, but will only make it better. That’s the case with… The King’s Christmas: a Modern Medieval Play Script downloads (10 pages): PDF: Christmas Nativity – The King’s Christmas Panto WORD: Christmas Nativity – […]
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You give us Advent, Lord, and we are grateful and glad to abide in your time, urgent, yet measured, imagining life. You give us Advent, Lord, and we are grateful and glad to watch by your light, candid, yet hidden, sharp as a truth. You give us Advent, Lord, and we are grateful and glad […]
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The Christmas story told by the children, in the words of children. A gift from the children of St. Paul’s Chuch in New Zealand.
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