Advent is about preperation. Obviously about preparation for Christmas; with the enormous food deliveries, the negotiations about who is having Christmas dinner where, the nightmares about trying to find a present that says just the right thing again this year. But all that preparation distracts us from the fact that Advent is a significant season in itself.

But the significance of advent is actually closely connected to the preparations for Christmas. Because in the same way that we are getting ready for one special day on the 25th, we are reminded that through our lives we are getting ready for one very special day when the King born in a manger returns on the clouds of heaven.

The ‘Advent Conspiracy’ is a beautifully simple idea that encourages us to change the way we prepare for Christmas, and in so live more in keeping with the spirit of Advent. It wants to excape from the commercial hyjackking of this Christian Festival, and encourage us to spend less, but give more; to give love and to give ourselves as much as we give stuff. It is far more in keeping with the first Christmas – where we celebrate Gods’ giving of himself to the poor for the sake of the whole earth.

Have a look at the Advent conspiracy website for ideas about how to give rather than to spend, and may our advent preparation prepare us better for that day when God’s Kingdom comes, and Justice shall be seen in all the earth.

“All human wisdom is summed up in two words – wait and hope”

The advent calender is nearly empty, the waiting is nearly over. Our girls are a little over excited already and it is only 8am. They can’t understand why we won’t let them open just one of the presents under the tree. But that would miss the point surely. Wait and hope.

This season of Advent has been intended to make us watchful, to teach us to wait and to hope. 
It is hard for us, for we have got used to having what we want and having it now. When we don’t get it we feel angry and frustrated.
But if we can learn to wait and hope it will shape our lives.
Instead of settling for what we have, and trying to make ourselves comfortable we are willing to put up with discomfort, with not belonging, even with suffering because this is not it.
And we long for the day when justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth, when God will wipe away every tear. We pray “Your Kingdom Come”.  
And we celebrate the glimpses of it, the stories of it and the echoes of it. We love selflessness, generosity, grace, mercy because these things are kingdom things. 
These things, like the windows on our advent calendar are reminders as we wait and hope  and pray the conclusion to morning prayer during advent:

Our Lord says, I am coming soon.
Come Lord Jesus.

May the Lord, when he comes, find us watching and waiting.
Amen.

 

[Mark]

The Guardian reported again on Saturday with regards to the rising number of violent incidents among London’s young people. This morning on the news we hear that the number if call outs of the police to tackle violence in or around London schools has risen.

A survey of 11-16 year olds this year asked them for their favourite things about school. A resounding number of them noted that school was a place where they felt safe.

The significance I guess if that, is that schools are not the safe place I recall. With incidents ranging from being cut with a razor blade in PE to requiring stitches after being hit by a flying baguette from the canteen, things happen. They happen regularly. So how bad is it outside school? That us the worry.

School holidays always worry me a little bit as the children teachers can attempt to keep a handle in during term are suddenly not there for monitoring purposes.

Can we pray today . . .

For those teenagers who have ended up with the wrong crowd and now have a fortnight to sink deeper in with them.

For those teenagers where home won’t be a happy place filled with love, warmth and safety.

For those teenagers who see Christmas as just a period if time where you can demand the latest games console.

Bee mentioned finding a ‘one thing’ for 2009. Steve pointed out how great it would be if we all at church got ‘one’. If anyone thinks theirs might be involvement with local teenagers then let me know. There’s much to do.

Happy Christmas eve eve!

[Jayne Welburn]

Other people drive me crazy. They disappoint me. They irritate me. They put far too much importance on things which do not matter. They care too much about appearances. They are vain and selfish, self centred and self-serving.
If someone fails to live up to my expectations of how they should be, I am not slow to say it out loud, usually in an unhelpful manner to someone else.
Sometimes I want to run away and find new people who won’t be like this, who won’t disappoint me, who won’t make me want to moan about them.
Yes, a whole bunch of things about logs and specks springs to mind at this point, but that’s not where I’m going with this. We no doubt all have a list of things we’d change about individuals and about our church. But there is good stuff too. And all I really want to say today is remember the good stuff.
We are a family. And I am so so so grateful that I get to celebrate not just Christmas, but the whole of God’s great story with you, week by week.

Dear Lord, help me to climb down from my high horse.
Teach me some humility.
Thank you so much for my messy, sometimes dysfunctional and disappointing family.
Help me to be generous in forgiving their imperfections, and quick to see the ways in which they reflect you.
Help me to celebrate them.
[Ruth Dickinson]

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13 44 – 46

I remember a couple of years ago reading a newspaper article, with various contributors asked to give their views on the question “what is the purpose of life?”. A range of  people provided answers, from novelists, to poets, to scientists, and many senior figures representing different faiths. The responses were varied, some thought-provoking, some challenging, some bizarre, and all showed the depth and variety of human thought.

Amongst these columns I saw one simple, short, and shattering statement. Archbishop John Sentamu had provided a response, purely quoting Matthew 13 44 – 46. Amidst the complex theories, poetic writing from many talented thinkers stood these striking verses:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

The simplicity of these verses cut to the core – no argument, no logical exposition, no theory – just the words of God speaking directly to us. And the content delightful, challenging, and full of hope.

The hope we have in Christ is of countless and infinite worth. The gift of salvation that began with the birth of Christ continues now.

• Pray today that we’ll all recognise Christ as the foundation stone of our lives.

• Pray today that we see the infinite value of our faith and hope in Christ and treasure this above all else.

• Pray that God will work so that many people will come to see the value of the Kingdom this Christmas time.

[Tom Pike]

All the peoples

The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. Psalm 97:6

In my work – international news – it often seems like we are always writing about the same countries and the same people: another bomb in a crowded Baghdad market, another EU summit fails, another US firm goes bust, another charity announces another humanitarian disaster.

We focus our attention, quite rightly, on the big stories with the most impact. That’s what news is, after all. And if time permits, we go a bit smaller: the arrest of a Chinese dissident, the discovery of a previously unknown species, a land protest in South America.

We see stories all the time that we don’t have the time and space to cover. They’re not important enough they don’t matter to enough people.

On those occasions, I have to remind myself, they matter to God. God is there, God knows, God cares, intimately, whether the people involved know him or not. And for all those people, Christ came.

For the remote Andean tribe, the poor mining town in Eastern Russia, the unremarkable Eritrean village, the lonely rich child in Boston, the elderly widow in New Zealand, the struggling Bangladeshi farmer, the pious Cambodian monk, the hardworking nomadic Arctic community.

Christ came for every single person, ever created,  whether they matter to us or not.

Today, use the link below to find an online newspaper in a part of the world you know little about. Pick a local story and pray for those people involved. And pray also that they may know something of the promise Christ brings at Christmas and always.

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/

[Anna Jones]

To Starbucks or Not to Starbucks that is the question?

I think this question is actually probably a lot bigger than the one I intend for today and a question I fear could get a bit feisty, so don’t dwell, move on!

I gave up Starbucks in a fit of Advent enthusiasm and I think its been really beneficial for me but I am not really sure of the long term effects. However, it has made me see, for example, that coffees on the way to places are just a total unnecessary and expensive treat. I also discovered that I am finding it really hard which is quite a shock. Long term effects? Yeah, I still struggle with this and as I ponder in grande, extra shot skinny latte withdrawal, I see that again this is a challenge that affects just me. So much of what we do is based on our need, our wants and our own feelings. I came across this quote that summed up what I am thinking:

“During Advent opportunities for works of charity abound calling out for Christians from every side: a sack of food for a needy family, money dropped in a Salvation Army kettle, a donation of an Indian school, a toy for ‘Toys-for-tots,’ etc Unfortunately, these works of charity so easily can assuage the Christian conscience, while doing nothing to being about a solution to the root causes of the problem.
Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR

I realise that although this time year really ephasises the point, it is something we struggle with all year round. So often we band aid issues by chucking money at them or by signing the odd petition. It is difficult to be involved in everything and busy lives of London do make it hard. It has made me think about the conversations I have had with Mark about ‘the one thing’. So for me this year Advent is about working out what my one thing is for ’09.

but which one is yours?

Spend a bit of time today pondering:
What your one thing is?
What thing will you get passionate about in ’09 ?
What you can give your time/and talents to in ’09 ?
What you can change for someone else in ’09 ?

[Bee Arnold]

Today’s bible reference is slightly different, it’s the Marks and Spencer Christmas advert on telly. Maybe someone reading can add one!

Has anyone seen the Marks and Spencer Christmas advert this year????
Yes? No?……Let’s recap…..
We see a beautiful inviting house, hear “Walking in the Winter Wonderland” sung superbly by Macy Gray and “Take That” knocking on the door.
Twiggy opens the door, Erin O’connor is playing charades, Mark Owen plays snow ball fights outside, there is delightful food, drinks, log fire, Myleene Klass walking around in her M&S underwear, Gary Barlow giving gifts out and receiving a red bra, fun, laughter, joy….real Christmas magic and it’s so sad when Twiggy finally closes the door on us….

Have you ever wondered or dreamt that maybe just one Christmas coud possibly be like this? That the day would finally deliver that forever promised magic? That magic moment and time when we could say, “yes, it’s Christmas.”

Well I’m sorry to disappoint you, but Gary Barlow, Jason Orange, Twiggy and Myleene Klass don’t really live in that house (you don’t say!) and I’m also sorry to say that Christmas simply can’t deliver all the promises and expectations that we try to put on it. It is not the fault of Christmas, even though we may be disappointed with it or feel it is a let down. Someone somewhere showed us this dream of Christmas, and I’m afraid if we cling to it and put all our hopes into it, it will rarely produce what we are hoping for.

However, don’t feel so sad, there is good news and the 25th December is available everyday, where we will be invited to a house, won’t be asked to leave, and won’t feel let down or disappointed. The gifts are also beyond our wildest dreams.
Yes, I’m talking about Jesus Christ and his house.

This Christmas, why not invite him to come into your house. You will never be disappointed and you wouldn’t believe the wonderful things and magical moments that await you. When Jesus knocks on our door, we don’t need to have a house full of treasures and beautiful presents. We only need to open the door……….and he will come in and show us his gifts.
Now that is what you call Christmas.

Take care everyone, William Oliver.

The Intrusion of Christmas

I find Christmas a little intrusive. Its onset is rather insidious but the music and the presents and the trees and the tacky decorations slowly but surely take over everything. We don’t have much say in the matter; if you are anywhere in the Western world at this time of year, it is inevitable. I mean, nobody asked me if I wanted to eat turkey and sing Jingle Bells and send cards every December.

I have the whole year to prepare, to mentally get ready for days of family and carols and mince pies. And yet I don’t. I forget about it all by mid January and only remember again when the first window displays go up in October. And then it feels intrusive because nobody asked me. Nobody checked with me to see if I was happy to celebrate Christmas again.

But Jesus intruded. He intruded 2,000 years ago and he intrudes today. I go about my daily life quite happily and then every so often something will happen that reminds me of the bigger picture. My self-centeredness is no longer acceptable. God intrudes on the ordinary and I remember. I remember God becoming human. I remember the desire for peace on earth. I remember eternity.

So maybe Christmas intruding once a year isn’t a bad thing.

[Liz Tissingh]

 psalm 23:3
‘he restores my soul’

I guess ultimatly this is what we all desire. 
That which we can’t fix alone or together.
So we look to the bursts of light in the darkness,
in the perplexion and promises of nativity
and we hope.

He will restore my soul.

[Sally Jacobs]