Physical Holy Communion Service resume Sunday 29, November
An Online Service of Prayer for Advent
— see below for further details.
An Online Service of Prayer for Advent
— see below for further details.
A lit wreath illuminating a detail form the Violet Teague mural in our historic church showing the Christ child, his mother, Mary, and the adoring shepherds, a sheep, and even a rabbit if you look carefully enough.
Vicar's Reflection — Advent Flames 1: LIGHT
Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good;
and God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4, (NRSV)
We might imagine the very first light being 'ignited' in some way, the beginning of the universe described by scientists as the Big Bang where the first thing that truly happened was light. Light pouring out, spreading and revealing expanses of space (or 'darkness').
Light, the first act of creation.
The first Advent candle ignites the Season, letting us know that time is really moving on, that what we await is actually drawing near. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, our journey towards Christmas coincides fortuitously with our journey towards the longest day, the summer solstice on 22 December.
Jesus is described as the coming of the light into the world (John 1:1-5, 9). The true light which enlightens everyone.
Those who follow his light will receive the light of life, and never walk in darkness (John 8:12). But it is a journey over time. Even what is called a 'day' in the Genesis account of creation, may be understood as a length of time, an era, or an age.
And during these lengths of time, God spoke, created, separated, named, made, gathered, brought forth, set in place, blessed...and saw that it was very good (Genesis 1-2:4a).
The first Advent Candle ignites the Advent Season, starting a process of waiting, and during this waiting more candles will be lit lighting up the path towards Christmas. It is a time to ponder the coming light, to explore the light which is in our own selves, to ask, "what is there of God in me?"
As we mark the time of Advent by lighting a candle each week, we can also mark where we are in our own journey, where the creating work of God is being felt, where light is suffusing the darkness.
You are a God of new beginnings, my Lord.
Continue what you have begun in me,
and bring it to fulfillment in the coming of Christ
toward which I begin to look, even now. Amen.
God be with you.
Jennie
Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good;
and God separated the light from the darkness. Genesis 1:3-4, (NRSV)
We might imagine the very first light being 'ignited' in some way, the beginning of the universe described by scientists as the Big Bang where the first thing that truly happened was light. Light pouring out, spreading and revealing expanses of space (or 'darkness').
Light, the first act of creation.
The first Advent candle ignites the Season, letting us know that time is really moving on, that what we await is actually drawing near. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, our journey towards Christmas coincides fortuitously with our journey towards the longest day, the summer solstice on 22 December.
Jesus is described as the coming of the light into the world (John 1:1-5, 9). The true light which enlightens everyone.
Those who follow his light will receive the light of life, and never walk in darkness (John 8:12). But it is a journey over time. Even what is called a 'day' in the Genesis account of creation, may be understood as a length of time, an era, or an age.
And during these lengths of time, God spoke, created, separated, named, made, gathered, brought forth, set in place, blessed...and saw that it was very good (Genesis 1-2:4a).
The first Advent Candle ignites the Advent Season, starting a process of waiting, and during this waiting more candles will be lit lighting up the path towards Christmas. It is a time to ponder the coming light, to explore the light which is in our own selves, to ask, "what is there of God in me?"
As we mark the time of Advent by lighting a candle each week, we can also mark where we are in our own journey, where the creating work of God is being felt, where light is suffusing the darkness.
You are a God of new beginnings, my Lord.
Continue what you have begun in me,
and bring it to fulfillment in the coming of Christ
toward which I begin to look, even now. Amen.
God be with you.
Jennie
A Service of Prayer for Advent
The Service is available on our Advent Page, as follows:
The Service is available on our Advent Page, as follows:
- A video and downloadable pdf of the of the Service, complete with the weekly Psalm and Readings;
- a link to the Sermon audio podcast;
- an All Age Advent Video;
- and material for children, are all made available on our Advent Page.
Physical Services Resume: Sunday, 29 November
- We are pleased to announce that from Sunday, 29 November, we will be resuming Physical Holy Communion Services in our Church buildings!
- There will be one Service on Sunday mornings at 9:30am and a Wednesday morning Service at 10:30am, both in our main church.
- Be advised that when you arrive your temperature will be taken and you will need to register at the door, so please arrive a little earlier than you normally would.
- We are a COVID-safe environment.
- Regarding Christmas Services, details will be advised.