Every Sunday, across the world, Christians share an agreed three year cycle of Bible Readings in Sunday worship, this is called the Common Lectionary. We offer materials including prayers bible study and worship resources for each one of these Sunday's via our Lectionary Bible Notes Section.

Advent 1 Year B 29 November

In most places in the world this Advent you will be preparing to celebrate a Christmas the like of which you have never seen before. This is the first Sunday of Advent, and the first Sunday of the church liturgical year. It comes at a time of year when we are all wondering wqhat the next month will bring. We must not lose sight that Christmas is a celebration of something extraordianry, the coming to earth of God to live as Jesus in human history.

The reading from Isaiah today longs for God to come down to earth. We can all echo this longing, and we seek an assurance of God's presence in our world and in our lives. We live in a world which so needs the healing touch of God. Advent is a time when we think of light but it is an honest season in which we also acknowledge the darkness. The world is not a happy place, we are surrounded by evil and suffering and it is okay to be truthful Christians who recognise that we are weary of hoping and waiting and long for our Lord to appear to sort out the dreadful mess. Our minds are filled with all manner of worries of the damage done by the Covid crisis but each Sunday we will be lighting candles, they remind us that we live in times of darkness in which the light of Christ is present with us.

The reading from the Gospel of Mark encourages us to 'watch and pray.' This is important for us as we go through this time of preparation for Christmas, we seek to create space for the presence of God. Advent is an opportunity to create time to reflect. In four short weeks it will be Christmas and we will have to be filled with joy, but for now we can be realistic and think awhile before we rejoice. Christians are a joyful people but we are not supposed to head in the clouds people who have lost touch with the realities of life. Prayer is not meant to remove us from the chaos but rather equip us to be better able to serve in it. As Christians we know that ’All shall be well’ but this statement is a future assurance, in spite of the present reality.

At Advent  we remember that our Lord Jesus will come again and we look to be ready to welcome him. We also remind ourselves that Christ has come and is present with us. It is all to easy in the rush of modern life to become preoccupied with the hurry of day to day existence and we loose our spiritual awareness. Advent  is a good time to resolve to awaken our spiritual sight and to become conscious of God's presence. Wake up and watch, for it is in the darkest night that the light shines most brightly.

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Advent Lighting Ceremony

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Lectionary Material for every Sunday in Years A, B, C

 

 

Each morning and each evening
let the peace of the Father, be ours.
Each day and each night
let the peace of the Son be ours.
Each dawn and each dusk
let the peace of the Spirit be ours.
Let the blessing of the three in one be ours;
both now and for ever. Amen.
Carmina Gadelica