Believing in Birmingham > Advent Resource
Thursday December 24th 2009
Some scholars see Luke‘s Gospel as an account of Mary‘s reflection on her life and the life of Jesus. We can imagine Mary recalling all the events at the home of Nazareth and sharing them with the family, neighbours and friends.
Giving an account of the happiness of Elizabeth and Zechariah on the birth of John the Baptist, Luke shares with us Zechariah‘s great prayer recalling God‘s promises and prophecies to His people.
John the Baptist would prepare people for the coming of the Messiah and Mary would prepare Jesus for life. Like any parent, Mary had many wonderful memories of her Son.
This is a great time for reminiscing. We remember our Christmases when we were growing up and as adults helping other people to have a happy time. Hopefully our memories are mostly happy ones.
What will Christmas 2009 mean for us, what memories will we carry into the New Year to store in our minds for the future? How will the children of 2009 remember it?
Will there be a prayer time in there?
Lord, we pray for families celebrating the birth of Jesus together. We pray also for those who are away from home and family this Christmas, especially those on peacekeeping missions around the world. There are many people working to maintain vital and emergency services for us over the Christmas period, we pray for them.
This Christmas for some people may be lonely, we think of them.
On this Christmas Eve may our words and actions play an important part in contributing to happy memories of Christmas 2009.
Patrick Browne, St. Chad‘s Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral
2 Samuel 7:1 – 5 | Luke 1:67 – 79 | Acts 13: 16 – 26
Wednesday December 23rd 2009
Malachi – Messenger of God –
You tell of one preparing the way for the Lord to come to His temple.
But that day of his coming brings judgment as well as blessing
– to purify those who did not obey God.
God, help us not to trust in our own righteousness.
John – Yahweh is gracious –
You are a gift from a gracious God to those who have waited so long.
You will tell of another to come, greater then you.
The Messiah will make clear the way for us to become God‘s temple.
But the day of your coming brought confusion as well as joy
– your God-given name a break with tradition by those who did obey God.
Father, help us to trust in your good time and to obey your will.
Elijah – my God is Yahweh –
You spoke God‘s word to Israel, who had broken their holy covenant.
Your mission continued through John the baptiser,
who called for repentance and turned human hearts to each other and to the Messiah.
In the glory of transfiguration you again bore witness to the Messiah.
And will you again be a messenger, to prepare the way for the ultimate coming of God to His world?
That day of His coming will bring judgment as well as blessing –
but our faithful, gracious God ever promises and enables a witness to turn hearts to each other
and help those who want to obey God.
Lord, help us spread tidings of great joy and good will – your will.
Wendy Firmin, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Malachi 3:1 – 4, 4:5 – end | Luke 1:57 – 66
Tuesday December 22nd 2009
Praying for a child?
Yes, praying for a child…the boy next door, the girl down the street.
Prayer for a child?
Yes… that love be received and given, the potential be realised and released.
Offerings for a child?
Well…maybe prayer for those who long to conceive,
Prayer for those who have loved and lost,
Prayer for justice for the unwanted and rejected,
Prayer for wisdom in the face of unexpected, undesired pregnancy,
Prayer for strength for exhausted parents,
Prayer for those who fear total loss of control,
Prayer for all those for whom love has given way to loathing.
A child lent to God?
Strange on first reading…but we acknowledge the challenge:
Stewards, not owners;
Carers, not coveters;
Guardians, not hoarders;
Trustees, not overlords;
Servants, not saviours.
Eternal God,
Renew within us a proper sense of our place in your creation,
A clear understanding of the responsibilities of parenting,
A passion for rights of the child and a vision for the opportunities of childhood.
Help us to acknowledge and to grasp something of the pain of others.
May love, stability and deep warmth be discerned in our lives.
Neil Riches, Carrs Lane Church Centre
1 Samuel 1:24 – end | Luke 1:46 – 56
Monday December 21st 2009
A revolutionary prayer
the rich are sent away empty
the poor are lifted up
this is her God
A God who looks with favour on the lowest
who brings down the high and mighty
the rulers are taken from their thrones
the hungry are given a feast
this is her God
A holy, powerful God
a fragile speck of life in a young girl‘s womb
Rosie Venner, Student Christian Movement
Zephaniah 3:14 – 18 | Luke 1:46 – 56
Sunday December 20th 2009
It doesn‘t take much to look at the world and realise we need voices to speak of something different from that which often surrounds us. The hope of a messiah in Micah, one who ‗shepherds the flock‘, who brings peace and justice to a world torn apart by injustice and brutality: a dream to those who heard Micah‘s message when they were struggling politically and economically. The Old Testament constantly presents a picture of a God who reaches into history and offers not just the hope of a messiah but of a world so different from the one which rushes to greet us. Providing hope that peace and justice are possible even when circumstances suggest otherwise.
It must have been hard for Mary to believe everything that the angel promised, and to ask the question of Luke 1:43 seems what most of us would want to ask. There was nothing extraordinary about Mary; the gospel writers tell us nothing of note, she was an ordinary person! Yet it seems it was not who she was that mattered but how she dealt with the extraordinary events which followed her. The baby leaping for joy in Elizabeth‘s womb was confirmation. Mary‘s baby would be no ordinary child but God‘s offer of hope beyond our wildest imaginings. Mary was about to embark on an extraordinary journey.
In the Oxford Dictionary hope is defined as a ‘feeling of expectation and a desire for something to happen.’ Our challenge is keep those feelings of expectation with the knowledge that hope did not die with Christ at Calvary but is reborn in each of us, using the ordinary and everyday events, and using ordinary people to bring something quite extraordinary. I pray that God will continually ’surprise us out of our socks.’ (Max Lucado) This advent journey we need to be reminded that ‘Nothing is impossible for God’ (Lk 1:37) for those who believe.
Kim Plumpton, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Micah 5:2 – 5a | Luke 1:39 – 45 | Hebrews 10:5 – 10
Saturday December 19th 2009
Today‘s readings reflect on the miraculous joy, and inevitable challenges, of two families in their welcome of unexpected children. As we get further through advent and nearer to Christmas it is important to remember those for whom Christmas, and especially the emphasis on the joy of a family life, can bring more challenges than celebrations. Sometimes the Christmas season itself is viewed as the symbol of all that uncertainty, upset and discord from which Jesus‘ birth offers the hope of transformation.
Elizabeth was one such person who found the challenge of trying to uphold her faith in an environment which did not serve, honour or even really respect her. She reflects that until the birth of her son, John, she was viewed with scepticism and was unwelcome in polite society. Many people, inside and outside our church communities, find family and social respectability a challenge and, while Christmas can offer confirmation of those difficulties, it does offer great hope.
In the birth of a child to each of the women mentioned in the readings, and later to Mary, we find hope that family can be found in the most unexpected times and places. It is in the loving welcome of friends and strangers that each of us will find a reflection of the love personified in Jesus: a man born to a teenage mother in a rough and ready outbuilding, and brought up by a man who knew he wasn‘t the child‘s father. As we look in more detail at this miraculous child, we find the man who found his closest family in the friends that accompanied him, and his offer of friendship continues to this day.
Whatever our own family circumstances we can find the companionship, and family in Jesus, who is the best of family and friends for each and every one of us.
Jo Merrygold, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Judges 13:2 – 7, 24 – end | Luke 1:5 – 25
Friday December 18th 2009
The Christian community is one that remembers, remembers deeply the life, death and resurrection of Jesus so that we can be formed by that remembering, seeking to become more Christ-like.
Jeremiah and Joseph are part of a remembering community. The Exodus is key to Jewish understanding of their community identity and true relationship with God. The community may not have remembered the prediction that a ‘virgin shall conceive’, but Joseph was reminded.
Yet Joseph and Jeremiah have more than a capacity to remember, they see signs of God‘s involvement with his people in the present. In an unexpected pregnancy, and in the return from exile, they see God‘s hand and recognise events which will carry meaning for this and future generations.
At the centre of Christian faith is Emmanuel, God with us, but often we think of that as a past event. Something we remember in traditional ways at traditional times. We find it harder to name things in our ordinary times that reveal God‘s involvement with his community. Perhaps that‘s because we see the messiness and imperfection of things, so hesitate to name them as God‘s presence and action. Yet the return from exile and the pregnancy of Mary were messy for those directly involved. It‘s only with hindsight that they look more deliberate and complete.
As we move towards Christmas, we must look in expectation for ‘God with us’ in the ordinary. Where is God in the shops, airports, theatres and railway stations we‘ll be visiting? Where is God in the larger movements of the world? It may be difficult, but if we don‘t look in expectation, we cannot hope to find Him.
Barbara Hayes, Churches Industrial Group Birmingham
Jeremiah 23:5 – 8 | Matthew 1:18 – 24
Thursday December 17th 2009
Christmas is a time for families we are told. And quite right. But not necessarily nuclear families, or kin. Jesus‘ natural family was important for Matthew, to establish who Jesus was. But Jesus had a much larger view of family – whoever followed him was family. Genes and chromosomes were no longer the marker of who belonged and who didn‘t, blood was, Jesus‘ blood shed on the cross. So yes, Christmas is for families, and everyone is my brother and my sister.
As Mary waited she looked forward and back.
Back to centuries of ancestors,
weighing her down with history.
Forward to – what?
Would this child change everything?
As Mary bore down
history was rewritten,
old ties broken,
new ties formed.
Family no longer contained,
it invited.
All are welcome.
God as parent,
brother and sister.
God as family,
where you and I belong.
Mary Gilbert, St Paul‘s in the Jewellery Quarter
Genesis 48:2, 8 – 10 | Matthew 1:1 – 17
Wednesday December 16th 2009
From the rising of the sun,
the birth of the Son.
In the light and in the dark
the birth of the Son.
In the creation of the heavens in the creation of the earth
the birth of the Son.
In the chaos in the calm
the birth of the Son.
In righteousness and strength in humility and vulnerability
the birth of the Son.
In the world that has been and the world that ever will be
the birth of the Son.
To the ends of the earth
the birth of the Son.
Amen.
Jo Merrygold, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Isaiah 45:6b – 8, 18, 21b – end | Luke 7:18b – 23
Tuesday December 15th 2009
Can we be the people pure in speech,
the people humble and lowly?
Can we seek refuge only in the Lord?
If so, then we can be free from fear and take rest from our troubles.
We can “pasture” in the Love of God.
But Jesus calls us out of complacency to do His work.
We do not always hear the cry.
We do not always see the need.
We must listen more carefully and look more thoroughly
and pick up the tasks that are meant for us.
Lord, forgive us our weakness, strengthen our belief
and grant us the true rest that comes from knowing that we do your will. Amen.
Jill Veitch, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Zephaniah 3:1 – 2, 9 – 13 | Matthew 21:28 – 32
Monday December 14th 2009
How is it possible to hope in a cynical age?
In Jesus‘ time there were those in authority who wanted an easy life. They did not want to upset the people, but neither did they want to upset their own lives. This left them uncertain and unable to deal with Jesus. It was as if Jesus‘ simple question about John the Baptist‘s authority overwhelmed them. Unable to answer for fear of getting the question wrong and offending the people or revealing their own failures, the preferred option was remaining immersed in doubt and hesitation. Had they been able to “leap over the walls of hesitation” (to use Brother Roger of Taizé‘s words) they would have got an answer from Jesus. Who knows what might have happened as a result?
In retrospect we could say that Jesus‘ authority could be seen in the scriptures – see the reading from Numbers 24. Here are words full of hope – “[Israel‘s] seed shall have abundant water,” “A star will come out of Jacob” – set while the Israelites were far from obedient to God and were often distracted from their faith. In that time, it would be hard to see how such a thing could be, yet a word of hope is spoken from the mouth of an oracle and for Christians Jesus fulfils that hope.
How much more immediate to the authorities of Jesus‘ day were the words of John the Baptist? But in John‘s case too, scholars and those in the religious hierarchy were unable to accept the implications of what was being prophesied. Nevertheless, Jesus‘ birth, death and resurrection did happen and for those who were witnesses, hesitation and doubt were swept aside.
Questions:
What words of hope can I speak in my context?
What gives me the courage to leap over my doubts and hesitations?
Stephen Willey, NEC Group and Methodist Industrial Chaplain
Numbers 24:2 – 7, 15 – 17 | Matthew 21:23 – 27
Sunday December 13th 2009
Our first encounter with John is seen in an exchange between him and his followers: a gathered crowd waiting expectantly to be baptised and to listen to John – the baptiser, the preacher, the teacher.
John‘s words are a challenge to the crowd that baptism must go beyond the expected one off sign of remorse. The symbolic must produce tangible change in their lives. The crowd do not understand what this involves and ask, “What should we do then?”
What should we do then?
Be content with what you have
What should we do then?
Give your clothes to your sisters who have nothing
What should we do then?
Share your food with your brothers when they are in need
What should we do then?
Do not accuse falsely, but seek truth
What should we do then?
Be content with what you have
John prepares the way for Jesus‘ teachings, pointing to a kingdom of equality and justice; a way of living that goes beyond signs, symbols and material wealth. It goes beyond the letter of the law and involves a generous outpouring of love to those around while finding contentment with your own lot in life.
As we like the expectant crowd wait for Jesus, how can we seek this way of living? What should we do then?
Sarah Henderson, Student Christian Movement
Zephaniah 3:14 – end | Luke 3:7 – 18 | Philippians 4:4 – 7
Saturday December 12th 2009
So much fire…
A prophet-like fire.
Words which burned like a torch.
Fire brought down from the heavens.
Eijah taken up by a whirlwind of fire.
So much fire…
We celebrate fire which warms, caresses, embraces.
A dark night illumined by a bonfire.
A closed space transformed by a match.
The lightening skies of Advent,
The promise of brightness and power to come,
A sign of the Spirit, present, powerful, blazing,
Knowledge that the empowering flame need not be all-consuming,
Heat that heals,
Fire that forms.
And yet…
Potential for destruction,
Fear in flames,
Carelessness which loses control,
Power which leaves only ashes in its wake:
Not the echoes of pictures of doom,
But reminder that proper respect is required,
Care should be taken,
Power used aright.
Spirit not as plaything, but potential.
Divine sign, not gaudy light.
Humbling gift, not tempting toy.
Herein we sense anew the Advent themes:
Light to be welcomed, light which transforms,
Light which means that shadows are drawn into sharper focus still.
Light which bestows much needed sight.
Neil Riches, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Ecclesiasticus 48:1 – 4, 9 – 11 | Matthew 17:10 – 13
Friday December 11th 2009
It‘s easy just to worship churches. Buildings are fun, and can completely consume time and energy. Church politics can be engrossing and the niceties of hierarchy can become a passion. Even the simple things like flower arrangements can turn into an argument more like wrestling than Christians loving one another. We‘ve often created a home for ourselves that we are comfortable in and think that it is how church should be. We are settled and we like the way that things are.
I‘m passionate about those who have gone from our pews because our songs and words were not theirs. Research shows that many have simply left because they feel that they have outgrown us. They aren‘t interested in our church culture and start to look instead for relevance elsewhere because they find little in our preoccupations.
We aren‘t going to reach out by remaining the institutions they fled. What we need is to learn their songs. We need to create a harmony that is in tune with us, them and what God compels us in the Gospel — to do acts of love and mercy. Tweaking at the edges won‘t do.
It‘s not selling out and betraying our heritage — it‘s about doing the work of God in the world in the here and now.
It isn‘t going to be popular, particularly with those who love their churches as they are, but it is essential. Otherwise we simply become a sort of spiritual National Trust with much of what we cherished eventually converted into flats and bars when we are dead and gone.
God will never allow the Church to die but that doesn‘t mean our version of church will remain. If we are to pass the torch to a new generation we must learn to speak in words they value and understand.
Chris Dowd, Journey Metropolitan Community Church
Isaiah 48:17 – 19 | Matthew 11:16 – 19
Thursday December 10th 2009
In the reading from Isaiah, God responds to the need for water by doing something new.
In the centre of Britain‘s second city the constant pressure to do something new and eye catching drives the retail sector on towards another Christmas. Fresh gift designs, innovative gadgets for children and something new for the person who has everything, compete for our attention in the shop windows.
For some, this round of commercialism is a matter of concern, as year by year we seem to move further away from the simplicity which is at the heart of the Christmas story. For others targets need to be met and future employment is at stake. The need to stand out from the rest and get another sale seems paramount.
Is it possible that something new could emerge at Christmas which would bring together those who are desperate to have a successful commercial Christmas and those who want to focus on the simplicity of Christ‘s birth?
In the Matthew reading there is an emphasis on God‘s Kingdom moving forward. But what might this look like? Jesus says that even John the Baptist is less than the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. So the heavenly Kingdom is truly different – a new heaven and a new earth. This perhaps is the beginning of an answer for us. Signs of that Kingdom can break in at any time. In the middle of the commercial heart of the region, a Christmas simplicity might unite hearts long estranged, and something new might be reborn in our hearts.
Questions:
Where have I seen signs of the Kingdom today?
What might something new look like this Christmas?
Stephen Willey, NEC Group and Methodist Industrial Chaplain
Isaiah 41:13 – 20 | Matthew 11:11 – 15
Wednesday December 9th 2009
I wonder if the pressure of Christmas is getting to you. It might be the actual Christmas arrangements, such as the need to fulfil family expectations at a time when you know you will be very tired after a hectic December. It could be the thought of all that needs to be done in the run up to the Christmas period, such as completing a present list or visiting a packed supermarket.
For some the effort of putting on an outward show of ‘happiness’ during the social round can be exhausting. Pretended happiness is hard work, most especially if you are stressed, not feeling well and only looking to the end of the festivities and a proper rest.
If this is you, then take to heart the words of Jesus in Matthew, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
So often we tell Jesus in our prayers that we are burdened and stressed. We move on through the day, continuing to carry the same load with us with all its weight and care. Jesus calls us to another step, to offload our burdens for Jesus to share them with us. Only having done this will we create sufficient space for God to speak about a different set of priorities for the day – and a yoke or burden that is lighter.
Colin Marsh, Birmingham Churches Together
Isaiah 40:25 – end | Matthew 11:28 – end
Tuesday December 8th 2009
Mothering God,
who holds each of us in your bosom
and gathers us in your arms
Guide and help us each to reflect your loving warmth
that we may hold one another as you hold your flock.
Mothering God
who cries out for justice
and sings in solidarity with your children
speak aloud for us and
help us to speak aloud in your name. Amen.
Jo Merrygold, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Isaiah 40:1 – 11 | Matthew 18:12 – 14
Monday December 7th 2009
These two passages can be seen as illustrating three aspects of God‘s loving and gracious plan for the salvation of humankind.
One such theme is exile. Isaiah is writing at a time of exile for Israel. Their longing is to return to Zion. The paralysed man in Luke‘s account is in a different kind of exile, being cut off from society by his inability to move about freely. These forms of exile have contemporary echoes, and without God‘s plan we would all be permanently banished from His presence.
The second theme is transformation. In Isaiah‘s wonderful vision of the return of God‘s people to Zion we see a desert blossoming abundantly. A spiritual transformation will also take place, providing strength for the weak and hope for the traumatized. The transformation of the man healed by Jesus gives him an independent life with all its promise. This new strength and mobility speaks of opportunities for service, so that God may be glorified in word and deed.
The third theme is restoration. Through the analogy of a highway Isaiah envisions not only the return of Israel from exile but also God‘s plan for the restoration of all people to a right relationship with Him. Jesus will come into the world to show how life can be lived and sins forgiven. The incident in Luke is an illustration of His mission on Earth. It is notable that He offered spiritual succour before the anticipated physical healing.
At this time of year we celebrate the coming of Christ, the first step in establishing the ‘Holy Way’, by which ‘the redeemed of the Lord’ can be led out of exile and weakness, transformed and restored, and brought into everlasting joy and fellowship with God.
Wendy Firmin, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Isaiah 35 | Luke 5:17 – 26
Sunday December 6th 2009
For ten to fifteen minutes they stood waiting for a break in the traffic so as to cross what they knew to be a very busy road. Eventually mum and dad, with their three young children, made the crossing and continued on their way. Around the corner, about a hundred yards from where they stood, they saw the pedestrian lights! They knew them to be there. If only they had made the effort. So much would have been achieved – quicker, safer and stress free crossing, and a lesson on the rules of the road for their children.
The pedestrian lights had been installed a number of years ago, they had become an integral part of daily life for the people of the area, and very useful.
For generations the People of God awaited the coming of the Messiah. Many prophets and learned people had proclaimed his coming. John the Baptist was given the role to finally make the way open for Jesus, the Messiah. His way of doing so was not popular – proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins- which really means make a path in our hearts for Jesus. Make room for him.
We await the feast of Christmas, we prepare for it. And some may even long for it to come. How many Christmases have we had?
It has been with us all our lives. We know it is there, a part of our calendar and it can be part of our daily life also. Do we use it? Like the pedestrian crossing the Christmas message is ever present, ready to guide us to Christ, to lead us to a better understanding of our responsibilities in life.
Christmas is every day! If only we use it properly.
Patrick Browne, St Chad‘s Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral
Malachi 3:1 – 4 | Baruch 5 | Luke 3:1 – 6 | Philippians 1:3 – 11
Saturday December 5th 2009
Isaiah‘s message is one which cuts to the very heart of day-to-day life and transforms that life to offer great hope.
The “bread of adversity and waters of affliction” form part of every day life and in the time of advent can come more into focus. Advent marks the shortest and darkest days with the coldest grey weather, and it can feel that the challenges we each face become more than those we normally encounter.
While those times of adversity and affliction are part of our human experience, it is important to remember that Isaiah‘s reflections present a very honest face of God, but one that offers hope that our challenges can be overcome.
The image is one of a God who can understand that we need, at times, to hold him responsible for both good and bad, but it is made clear that God can cope with that. Despite our petulant cries, at times, and our need to blame, God offers hope and love that heals. This is the God of Isaiah.
That hope of God‘s loving healing takes on a whole new meaning in light of the Gospel voice. In our burgeoning discipleship, we find that we are committing to follow someone with whom we can truly share the bread of adversity and waters of affliction. In Christ, whose birth we‘re starting to think about, we find God made truly man. The God of hope who can in turn experience first hand those same adversities and afflictions we each encounter and in turn offers freely an under-standing and unending love.
Whatever our lives of discipleship throw at us we can find the eternal love and healing of Christ as one who understands first hand, and through him the kingdom of heaven comes near.
Jo Merrygold, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Isaiah 30:19 – 21, 23 – 26 | Matthew 9:35 – 10:1, 6 – 8
Friday December 4th 2009
Over the centuries the people of Israel had compiled themselves a checklist of signs of the Messiah‘s arrival. One of these signs was the restoration of the sight to people who were blind, for example, “then the eyes of the blind shall be opened” (Isaiah 35:5). So this passage from Matthew should be straight forward with Jesus ticking off one of the signs from the list in order to prove who he was – but it isn‘t.
We are dealing here with the ‘unexpected Messiah’ who turns the expectations of centuries on their heads. Instead of welcoming an opportunity to glorify himself, Jesus focuses his attention on the faith of these men who were excluded from their society. To their cry for mercy Jesus asks, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28), so when the men reply that they have faith in him, Jesus makes it clear that their faith has set them free.
By the end of this incident the two men were in no doubt that Jesus was the son of David, he had ticked every box for them. But then the ‘unexpected Messiah’ tells the men to keep quiet. As if! Unable to contain themselves, these anonymous outcasts became liberated proclaimers of good news to all who will hear.
Neil Johnson, Methodist Central Mission
Isaiah 29:17 – end | Matthew 9:27 – 31
Thursday December 3rd 2009
One of the most important things in constructing a building is getting the foundations right. Similarly when embarking on a project it is important to plan well early on. The two readings make reference to good foundations and strong walls but, of course, are referring to more than just bricks and mortar. To grow spiritually we have to spend time laying down good foundations, making sure our roots go deep. The deeper the roots, the firmer the foundations, the more we can grow and the more buffeting we can stand. Time spent in prayer, in contemplation of God and in worship can help us to grow deep roots. And then whatever happens our feet will be firmly placed on the God who is our everlasting rock.
Roots shoot down unseen,
pushing through soil
and working round stones.
Down, down seeking water,
nourishment.
Down, down, into the darkness,
spreading, growing.
And up above,
nothing for a time.
Wait, wait,
while the roots do their work.
And then, the flower blossoms,
the tree grows,
the fruit ripens.
Growth and life happen.
Mary Gilbert, St Paul‘s in the Jewellery Quarter
Isaiah 26:1 – 6 | Matthew 7:21, 24 – 27
Wednesday December 2nd 2009
The Mountain of Hope
The God of Compassion felt for those who were hungry on a mountain
The God of Abundance satisfied the hunger of thousands on a mountain
The God of Healing brought wholeness to the suffering on a mountain
Those who believed the promise climbed the mountain in expectation,
seeking healing and salvation, recognising the need in themselves and in others.
They found their health and life renewed, and praised God
The Mountain of Promise
The God of Compassion feels for all our sadness and sorrow, and promises to wipe away all our tears
The God of Abundance promises a great feast for all people
The God of Healing promises to destroy death, bringing succour to our souls
through a cross on a hill and an empty tomb in a garden
The God of Love promises that through faith in him all are invited to the Great Feast.
We recognise our need and rejoice in that promise
The Mountain of Brokenness and Promise Fulfilled
On the mountain of hope bread was broken and distributed by faithful followers of the Messiah
to feed the hungry
Still today faithful followers minister to the needy,
and the hungry are fed by the bread broken in remembrance of the broken body of the Messiah.
This is the Victory over death,
promised on a mountain touched by the Hand of the Healing, Compassionate, Generous God of Love,
glimpsed in the glory of Transfiguration, perfected in Ascension above any mountain
Wendy Firmin, Carrs Lane Church Centre
Isaiah 25:6 – 10a | Matthew 15:29 – 37
Tuesday December 1st 2009
When we hear the ringing cadences of Isaiah we are whisked back to a churchy Christmas nostalgia: candles, chilly churches and carols, perhaps with a whiff of incense and mulled wine…
But increasingly those who experience this nostalgia are in the minority. Somewhere in the sixties we stopped talking about God, and Church stopped being part of our shared experience and conversation. Our shared church experiences are only dimly reflected in Christmas cards and television shows for many people in Birmingham today.
Forty years on we now have generations without a church culture. We sit in church and wonder how to welcome them in… somewhere in our hearts we wonder what we have done to drive so many people away… Perhaps what we haven‘t done rather than what we have.
The world is changing at a breakneck speed; we struggle to keep up. Sometimes we think tinkering at the edges such as introducing praise choruses or using PowerPoint brings us up to date – it doesn‘t.
The Good News is beyond time: the story of a disgraced teenage girl and her working-class husband bringing into the world the Saviour of Humanity. Christ who reached out to those on the edge and jeered at rules that kept them from God. Jesus, whose birth was told to homeless shepherds before kings. This is the Good News we need! This is the Jesus we must share: who speaks to injustice, to climate change, to recession. Who unleashes a shockwave of love to rock complacency. Who teaches the dominion of God can be achieved if we try.
So while we revel in our nostalgia, let us also think of who we are really welcoming into the world…
Chris Dowd, Journey Metropolitan Community Church
Isaiah 11:1 – 10 | Luke 10: 21 – 24
Monday November 30th 2009
At once they left their nets…
I‘m intrigued by the urgency at the heart of this story. Two pairs of brothers leave behind their livelihoods to follow this wandering preacher. Did they understand the cryptic promise Jesus made or what lay ahead?
I love the idea that the call of discipleship is about a willingness to get up and go with Jesus rather than a need to understand, or even to believe. Perhaps the fishermen felt a sense of the urgency of Jesus‘ mission and ministry, and this awoke in them the freedom to follow him. A freedom which meant leaving behind possessions, a place to call home and the familiarity of their community, for something unknown, because there was something both more immediate and transcendent about the call of Jesus.
Where do you sense this urgency?
What would this radical discipleship look like today?
What freedom are you being called to?
Rosie Venner, Student Christian Movement
Isaiah 52:7 – 10 | Matthew 4:18 – 22
Sunday November 29th 2009
The days are surely coming…
…I will fulfil the gracious promise I made… I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David. (Jer 33: 14-15)
Main Entry: Advent (noun)
Definition: 1. Beginning or arrival of something anticipated 2. The coming of Christ into the world.
Synonyms: appearance, approach, arrival, coming, entrance, occurrence, onset, visitation.
Main Entry: Await (verb)
Definition: 1. Wait with expectation. 2. Expect
Synonyms: anticipate, attend, be prepared for, be ready for, count on, hang around, hang in, hope, look for, look forward to, stay.
Advent God,
You who break forth into our world sprouting new beginnings, come near, we pray. We await your coming amongst us; we anticipate all that you bring.
We know that you are ever present yet especially present in the frailty and humanity of a tiny child born so long ago.
Be born anew in us, bring shoots of new life in us and in your frailty transform the frailty of the world. Help us to prepare, look forward, anticipate and place our hope in your drawing near, we pray, Amen.
James Pritchard, Aston University Chaplaincy
Jeremiah 33:14 – 16 | Luke 21:25 – 36 | 1 Thessalonians 3:9 – end