Daily Scripture:‘You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.’ (Luke 1.75-9)Daily Reflection:There are many who live in the darkness of fear at the present time, and the ‘shadow of death’ is something we are all too aware of. What Zacharias (father of John the Baptist) foresees is not just a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel, but a magnificent new dawn, bringing us the knowledge - knowledge, not just a faint hope - of God’s love and compassion for us. It is this certainty that enables us to walk in ‘the way of peace’, through faith in the loving mercy of the God who ‘so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son’.In spite of everything the light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Revd Rosemary
Tomorrow's services: Sunday 13th December8am BCP Communion St George's, Benenden 10am Holy Communion at St Nicholas, Sandhurst
Daily Scripture:‘For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.’ (1 Thessalonians 4 16-18)Daily Reflection: It’s an everlasting promise: One day we shall be reunited with our loved ones in the glory of God’s eternal kingdom. We long to love and be loved. And whether it’s a son or daughter, a brother or sister, a father or mother, a husband or wife, when we come into a genuine loving relationship with another person we want to hold on to it and make it last forever. And it’s this very gift of loving relationships that sets the stage for the inevitable grief and loss we experience when those who are nearest and dearest to our hearts are taken from us. The Good News is that Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised from the dead that we might receive the gift of eternal life. Through faith in Jesus Christ we have the promise of another dimension of life beyond this world that’s complete and perfect and timeless. Encouragement indeed. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture‘I will listen to what the Lord God will say, for he shall speak peace to his people and to the faithful, that they turn not again to folly. Truly, his salvation is near to those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.’ (Psalm 85:8-9)Daily ReflectionDo you ever think, “I’ve never heard God speaking to me?” You wouldn’t be alone if you did. How do we listen to what God will say to us? Do we even expect God to speak to us anymore? If He used to speak to the psalmist and the prophets all those years ago, He still speaks to people today. God is constant, He does not change; so He must still be speaking to people. “But how do I hear Him?” By reading your Bible; by praying; by speaking to other Christians about God; by going to church and worshipping God. By giving yourself time and space to listen. Two weeks today we celebrate once again the birth of Jesus; give yourself time to really listen to that wonderful message of love and hope afresh this year. His salvation is near to you. Revd David
