December blog
Dear Friends
This Sunday was busy as we started Advent. How do you enter Advent? I love Advent, and I love the Christmas season. Even with so many different services, meals and school visits. I am just like an 8-year-old on Christmas morning – excited! I love the opportunities we have at Advent and Christmas, where so many people will connect with us over the next 4 weeks, whether at School Christingles, carol services, Christmas musicals or Home Communion visits. There is so much we do, and why do we do it? Quite simply, because everyone is invited into the Joy of the stable. This year, the Church of England’s focus is the Joy.
Find out more here: https://tinyurl.com/y2xawxjd
This is a key focus we are called to be in Advent, people of Joy. In a time where so many people are struggling, wars rage, and people are at breaking point. We are called to be people of joy. This is the message of Christmas. Over the next four weeks of Advent, we will focus on the joy, love, hope and peace and finish on Christmas Day, celebrating the light of Christ. To help us live this out and come expectant, we are encouraging you to join us with our Advent reading challenge of reading Isaiah and John through Advent. Why? Not because we want to add another thing for you to do, simply to take some time to pause and be. Just as Mary and Joseph would have slowly journeyed to the stable, most likely in fear and worries, but they journeyed slowly and came in the joy of Christ. So, check out our plan, and daily reflections will be emailed to you daily and posted on our social media pages. See this link for the daily readings: https://www.facebook.com/smartchurchliskeard
As we journey together this Advent, I have been drawn to Mary’s song of Joy that she sang. Known as The Magnificat, which we read in Luke 1 and speaks of the joy of being chosen to be Jesus’ mother.
Luke 1: 49-55
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name, His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever,
This Advent, I encourage you to pray this beautiful prayer of joy.
Not only come in Joy but also come in invitation, who do you know who this Advent and Christmas season needs to hear this invitation and maybe invite them to one of our celebrations. Also, as you give that invitation, in January we shall be running the Alpha course, whom might you want to invite or bring to Alpha? If you’re interested in Alpha, it will be on Wednesday evenings in January from 14th Jan at 7pm. To book your place, please go to https://smartchurchliskeard.churchsuite.com/events/uqtpekwa Find out more about Alpha here:
https://www.alpha.org/what-is-alpha
May this Advent and Christmas season be full of Christ’s Joy
God Bless
Rev Mark