Scripture:In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ (Luke 1 26-28)Reflection:As we arrive at the 4th Sunday of Advent we are called to focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus - a young girl betrothed to a carpenter living in an insignificant backwater of the Roman Empire. There was nothing in her past that could have prepared her for what the angel Gabriel told her was to happen. She had been favoured by God and she simply had to trust that what she had been chosen for was a blessing. The experience of Mary is there to remind us that God’s blessing has no connection with human standards of acceptability, wealth or comfort - Mary had none of those. We are being encouraged to open ourselves to receive God’s blessings so that we, like Mary, can step out into the world in trust.Lyn Hayes ALM
Scripture: Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5: 7-8) Reflection: At this time of year many people are aware it’s advent. This can mean counting down the days until Christmas Day on calendars, whether the chocolate, perfume or pet variety. For the young, or young at heart, the idea of being patient is the most challenging thing imaginable. The commercial aspect of Christmas starts nice and early, and threatens to overwhelm the meaning of advent. This is a time for quiet, calm, reflection, as we get ourselves ready for the best birthday ever. The outside world tries to counter this, encouraging us to cram our calendars with social events we’ve been missing, or avoiding all year. School, family and friend commitments suddenly seem to breed, leaving little room to remember to stop and be ready. We’re impatient for the presents and visits, or perhaps for the calm after the storm once Christmas and Boxing Day have passed. This week, just stop, and try to remember what the busyness is for. The coming of the Lord will be so incredible my words won’t do it justice. Stop and imagine that, and think what you can do to be ready. Victoria Bray
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 7th December and for the week ahead:Scripture: 'In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’ This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”' (Matthew 3.1-3) Reflection:Jesus’ cousin John was born before Jesus. In his birth and life he proclaimed himself as preparing the way – a way, a path, that requires us to clear away the obstructions that get in the way of peace of heart and mind; admitting to ourselves and to God the things that are troubling us. We are preparing to celebrate the assurance given by the birth of a baby that God is with us, not against us. We are also looking to prepare ourselves for a fuller experience of the Kingdom, any time. No need to wait! David Harmsworth
Scripture Many peoples shall come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Isaiah 2.2- 4ReflectionThis vision of a peaceful future, where peoples and nations will live together in peaceful coexistence and where even training for warfare is abolished and weapons are turned into farming implements, feels very far away at this precise moment. As we look back into history, we can see that many periods in the past were also marked by great uncertainty or worse. Even though we might not feel it, statistically the world has actually become a safer and more peaceful place.But Isaiah’s vision is not only for peace, but also for a time when people will turn to God, eager to learn the right peaceful ways to live from Him and to ‘walk in his paths.’As this week marks the start of Advent, the time when we are waiting; waiting for the birth of the Saviour, Jesus Christ, waiting for new life and new hope to be born in our hearts and in our world, maybe this vision of peace can give us sustenance. Revd Ylva
Scripture:There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ (Luke 23:38-43)Reflection:This Sunday is the end of the church year; it is marked by the feast of “Christ the King”. Luke’s Gospel speaks of Jesus being crucified; of there being a sign on the cross saying, “the King”; and of one of the others saying, “remember me when you come into your kingdom”.It cost Jesus so much to show us this new kind of kingdom. It cost him his life. What is the cost you have to pay to enter this kingdom, this paradise? Nothing! Jesus freely gave his life for you; for your atonement – so you could be “at one” with God. As we mark the feast of Christ the King, recognise that in the Cross is shown the power of our King.Revd David
