The relentless march towards Christmas goes ever onward: this Sunday we celebrate Advent Sunday. It is the beginning of the time when we, as a church, journey together and realise our need for the Lord to save us. It is the same plea of the disciples to a sleeping Jesus during the storm on the sea of Galilee.
All of us have our personal storms - maybe we feel as though God is asleep at the helm as we navigate our way through what seems like endless choppy waters.
Advent enables us to see the present world as a signpost to a larger reality. It gives us a glimpse of hope amid what can sometimes seem the ruins of our lives.
Advent anticipates and waits for Christ’s return, remembering how a young refugee mother with a small, frail and defenceless child came for us and changed everything. Lifting us up and showing us the way.
If it seems that you are in the middle of it at the moment, talk to someone, talk to God, none of us are alone.
I hope that you have a wonderful, stress-free and peaceful Advent.
Rev’d Mark
Readings for Sunday 27th Nov (Advent Sunday)
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Monday 28th Nov – Isaiah 4: 2 – end, Matt. 8: 5-11
Tuesday 29th Nov – Isaiah 11: 1-10, Luke 10: 21-24
Wednesday 30th Nov (St Andrew’s Day) – Isaiah 52: 7-10, Matthew 4: 18-22
Thursday 1st December – Isaiah 26: 1-6, Matthew 7: 21, 24-27
Friday 2nd Dec. – Isaiah 29: 17 -end, Matt. 9:27-31
Saturday 3rd Dec – Isaiah 30: 19-21, 23-26, Matthew 9: 35 - 10: 1-8
