Monday, November 30, 2009

Advent Meditation - Monday 30 November


Come thou long expected Jesus
Born thy people to deliver
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.



Readings
Psalm 130: 5-8
Malachi 3:1-4
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

Reflection
During the recent postal strikes the level of people using recorded delivery increased. Users wanted proof of postage and the details given allowed them to track where their post was. Isn’t it amazing how God recorded the intention, delivery and effect of the incarnation?

In this season of Advent we begin to explore how God comes to us and of how God recorded supremely the act of redemptive love. We think and remember God’s first
coming into human history in the birth of Jesus. That God comes in the present moment and that God will come again.

Sometimes we long for God so much as the needs of our lives and the world press upon us. Life’s demands and the expectations of others can overwhelm us and we seek for God in it all. At the start of Advent what do you hope for? Do you seek a deeper understanding of God?. This season reminds us that our God is a God who comes to those who wait.

Prayer
Come thou long expected Jesus into the parts of my life hidden to others.
Come into the barren and hurting places. Come into the dry places that need refreshing by the outpouring of your love.
When I lack love and compassion, change me.
When I am impatient and frustrated, deliver me.
When I fail to see the goodness, help me to focus on you, the author and perfector of my faith.
Amen

Further Prayers
We pray for those who live, work and socialise with.
May the hope of Advent be present in our conversations and actions with
others.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Advent Meditation - Sunday 29 December


O Come O Come Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.

Readings:
Psalm 118:19-29
Isaiah 40:1-5
Luke 21: 25-36


Reflection

What does it mean to ask and pray that God would come?
“O Come Immanuel” is the cry of our hearts for the Messiah to dwell within our lives. What does it mean to watch and wait for Christ? Do you know how it feels to wait for a friend but they do not come?. Or to wish the time away or be anxious for something to happen and then it does not? Do you know how it is to be with someone so closely that you watch their every move, know their soul and anticipate what they are to say—that you know them so well that when they smile you smile, when they are sad you are downcast and when joyous you rejoice.

May we watch and wait with urgency and anticipation.

Come, O Come Emmanuel.

Prayers
Loving God. As I enter this Advent season, open my eyes
to see in new ways the delight and wonder of your love.
In the darkness help me to see the promise of light and peace.
In the cry of the hungry help me see the possibility of a world where all are fed.
In my own yearnings and weakness help me to see the
hope of Christ.

And in the eager anticipation of the coming of Jesus, may
I embrace the dawn of a new heaven and a new earth. Amen

Further prayers
We pray for all young people and children, our local schools and those involved in youth and children activities in our local churches.

Advent Meditation - Introduction


Introduction
Today begins Advent and with this in mind all within the circuit have been offered this advent booklet as a resource. I hope you will also find the online versions helpful.

I hope you will find meditations a helpful resource over Advent and Christmas. They are designed purely as an aid to help us to draw close to God in the busyness of this particular season. The form of our Advent prayers this year reflect on our desire to seek God the giver of gifts - supremely seen in the gift of Jesus and continual outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
We all have very different lives and our pattern of worship and prayer is as diverse as we all are. This resource is based on both traditional and modern songs and hymns sung during this season, reflecting on a verse or line to help us focus on Christ. You may like to light a candle as a starting point. When God created the heavens and the earth, the first biblically recorded creative act was the
production and establishment of light, our Advent journey is a journey towards
that light – the light of Christ.

Can you pray for others during this time? Remembering particularly those for whom Advent and Christmas bring despair, fear and longing. And could you ask your neighbours if they have any prayer requests?

Could you pray with another person from church once a week during Advent?
Either in person or on the telephone—and perhaps using the booklet together.

For families this could be a special time together? If it is morning you pray for the day ahead. If the evening, then each could give thanks for some aspect of the day and also remember someone they have met.

I pray that this resource may help you on your Advent journey as we contemplate again the overwhelming love and grace of God dawning upon the world.
Jackie Bellfield—Advent 2009

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Retreat - home again



Just come back from a wonderful 2 day retreat. Space, stillness, chocolate and wine all contributed to the relaxed nature of the time. Andrew and Wendy Rudd led the retreat so well and allowed through careful planning and exploration a time of peace and restfulness. Both amazingly skilled creative individuals - Andrew - poet, teacher, preacher, composer and musician is skilled at communicating through words, music and imagery. Wendy, a textile artist communicates and ministers God's love through major art installations, and has a capacity in a genuine heartfelt way, to reveal the mystery of God in dramatic ways. So ably led, we looked at various picture and icons - Andrei Rublev's icon of the Trinity, a stained glass image of Abraham and Issac and The Annunciation by Fra Angelico. In our times of stillness we were encouraged to write and reflect on our thoughts:

My reflection on Windows (not the computer version! or the delight of anticipated double glazing)!

I close my eyes and the world around me disappears
I am Silent, Still
Empty

I open my eyes and the world dances to life
I gaze across the grounds
to forest masses
under gray skies of swirling clouds

Windows are for watching
Square pieces of life form ahead
and there i see life
ever changing

The second came after reading Blue Iris by Mary Oliver (see the previous blog entry to view this)

And my heart panics not to be *

to be

to be

to be

to be

be

what does it mean "to be"?

my heart panics
as I do
*Taken from Mary Olivers poem Blue Iris

Blue Iris - Mary Oliver



Wow - what a poem

"Blue Iris" Mary Oliver

Now that I'm free to be myself, who am I?

Can't fly, can't run and see how slowly I walk.

Well, I think, I can read books.

"What's that you're doing?"
the green-headed fly shouts as it buzzes past.

I close the book.

Well, I can write down words, like these, softly.

"What's that you're doing?" whispers the wind, pausing
in a heap just outside the window.

Give me a little time, I say back to its staring, silver face.
It doesn't happen all of a sudden, you know.

"Doesn't it?" says the wind, and breaks open, releasing
distillation of blue iris.

And my heart panics not to be, as I long to be,
the empty, waiting, pure, speechless receptacle.