From Advent 3 -- for the New Year

 

From Advent 3 -- for the New Year. Rev. Robert sent this video last week, along with his sermon video for Advent 4. Given the subject matter, your trusty editor thought it might be appropriate to save it until now...for New Year's Eve and the move into 2024. May it bless your day.

Scripture Reference: 1Thessalonians 5: 16-24.

A Reflection for the Fourth Sunday in Advent

 

It may be Christmas Eve, but it's also the fourth Sunday of Advent -- and Rev, Robert has recorded this sermon for this particular Sunday in Advent, and for this time and place. May it bless your day. 😊

He adds this prayer:

Blessed are you, Lord our God,
our eternal Father and David's king.
You have made our gladness greater and increased our joy
by sending to dwell among us
the Wonderful Counsellor, the Prince of Peace.
Born of Mary,
proclaimed to the shepherds,
and acknowledged to the ends of the earth,
your unconquered Sun of righteousness
enlightens our darkness and establishes freedom.
All glory in the highest be to you,
through Christ, the Son of your favour,
in the generous love of his Spirit,
this night and for ever and ever.   AMEN.

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26

Romans 16: 25-27

The Gospel of Luke 1: 26-38.

Advent IV & Christmas Eve

 

This is just a reminder that tomorrow morning at St. Cyprian's there will be a service of Lessons & Carols at 10 a.m.

All are welcome!

St. Cyprian's Anglican Church,

5005 C&E Trail,

Lacombe, Alberta

Sharing the Nativity

 

Nativity Sets take over St. Leonard's Sanctuary

What started as an idea by one of the  ACW* women to set up Nativitiy Scenes at St. Leonard-on-the-Hill in Red Deer has blossomed into 45 (!) sets arriving and being arrranged in the sanctuary.  This display has even captured the attention of the local newspaper.

     There is also a YouTube video for folks who can not physically be there.

Shared from the Anglican Diocese of Calgary news, and the Red Deer Advocate, with thanks.

*Anglican Church Women

A Blessing for the Third Sunday in Advent

 

A Blessing for Joy

(for the third Sunday of Advent)

Blessed are we who wait with bated breath,

who wait for something new to be born

—for new hope or new joy or new life.

Blessed are we whose patience grows thinner

by the day.

We who are tired of the world as it is

—in all of its heartache and loss

and hopelessness.

We who want more.

More hope. More joy. More life.

Blessed are we who sit here,

waiting at the still point between desire

and expectation.

We who are making room for more of you,

oh God, this Christmas.

-- Kate Bowler

A Reflection for the Second Sunday in Advent

 

In his parish e-mail this week, Rev. Robert wrote this:

I don't know about you, but I have been enjoying our slow walk downhill into colder temperatures. I actually got out to ride my road bike mid-November. It was 10 degrees above [Celsius]! Loved that.

December is now upon us and the whirlwind of Advent has begun.

This Sunday we read about John the Baptist beginning his ministry preparation in the wilderness. The hubbub (or chaos) of pre-Christmas might mislead us about what "wilderness" signifies in the opening of the Gospel of Mark. 

Wilderness in Mark is a quiet place, not the big bad jungle of beasts and the mythical survival of the fittest. It is rather a still point into which the outpouring of God's spirit can be heard and received. It is a place where one can hear and commit to the good news of the (coming) reality of the kingdom of God. This is true of both John the Baptist and Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, though we read Sunday only about John. [Mark 1:1-8]

I mention the still and quiet associated with Mark's mention of the "wilderness" not only to help frame our interpretation of scripture, but I want to contrast it to our customary busyness and festivity preparation (or fear).

... If we think on the quiet place of wilderness peace and the outpouring of God's spirit, perhaps we can endure the feeling of information overload that so often creeps our way these days.

In my defence, advanced notice can sometimes help us get organized, sort out our plans, and make clear commitments. Well, that is my hope...

    Almighty God,
    give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
    and put on the armour of light,
    now in the time of this mortal life
    in which your Son Jesus Christ
    came to us in great humility,
    that on the last day,
    when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
    to judge both the living and the dead,
    we may rise to the life immortal;
    through him who lives and reigns
    with you and the Holy Spirit,
    one God, now and for ever.  AMEN

May this bless your day. 😊

The Gift of Compline in December

 

From the Diocese of Calgary December news letter:

Evening Compline with Meota Parish via Zoom - Thursdays in December.

For details and a link to join the meeting, click here: https://meotaparish.com/worship-schedule/2023/12/5/winter-compline

A Blessing for the First Sunday in Advent

 

a blessing for hope

(for the first Sunday of advent)

God, these are darkening days,

with little hope in sight.

Help us in our fear and exhaustion.

Anchor us in hope.

Blessed are we with eyes open

to see the accumulated

suffering of danger,

sickness, and loneliness,

the injustice of racial oppression,

the unimpeded greed and misuse

of power, violence, intimidation,

and use of dominance for its own sake,

the mockery of truth,

and disdain for weakness or vulnerability

—and worse, the seeming powerlessness

of anyone trying to stop it.

Blessed are we who ask:

Where are you, God?

And where are Your people

—the smart and sensible ones

who fight for good and

have the power to make it stick?

Blessed are we who cry out:

Oh God, why does the bad

always seem to win?

When will good prevail?

We know you are good,

but we see so little goodness.

God, show me your heart.

How you seek out the broken,

lift us on your shoulders,

and carry us home—

no matter how weak we’ve become.

God, seek us out, and find us,

we your tired people,

and lead us out to where hope lies

where your kingdom will come

and your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Fill me with your courage.

Calm me with your love.

Fortify me with your hope.

P.S. Open your hands

as you release your prayers.

Then take hold of hope.

As protest.

-- Kate Bowler