Here we go again…
25th November 2021
Next Sunday is Advent Sunday – the beginning of the church’s year. Every year we move through the story of the coming of Jesus – Advent, Christmas and Epiphany – then after a short break we follow the story of Jesus winning our salvation, through Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and on to Ascension and Pentecost.
Then after a quieter time over the summer we come through All Saints and Remembrance to the Feast of Christ the King (last week) and the whole thing begins again.
How are you with repetition? You might feel this is just like being caught up in an eternal circle. But there is something very grounding about the seasons – the four natural seasons and these seasons of the church’s year. They give us a sense of movement forward, but also a reassuring sense of continuity – we know that although winter is arriving, spring will come again. We know that each year we will follow the story of Jesus in these different ways.
In our part of the world there is a lovely connection between the church’s seasons and the natural seasons. As we go into the dark of winter we think of the one who came to shine as a light in the darkness, and the tiny spark whose light spreads as the days lengthen. As we move into spring we experience the new life all around us, showing us living images of resurrection.
This season by season experience has a wider message too, reminding us that we are part of a bigger story. Our day to day lives are grounded in the love of the one who was, and is, and is to come. And as we enter into this story again each year we are invited to go deeper, and discover more of this love.
Advent is a time of preparation, like Lent. We may be caught up in the practical preparations for Christmas, but alongside this we may want to find time for some spiritual preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s coming. Some of us get the daily Advent emails from Brian Draper – Google him to find out more. Some people may ready Advent books – I have some to borrow if you are looking for one. Some people simply light a candle each evening as they prepare for the coming of the light.
Next week at Communion I’ll be wearing my purple stole for Advent. This week I have the green one on for the last week – but thanks to the kind friend who made it I have embroidered on it the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, reminding me of the words from our reading at Communion today: ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come.’ God’s life and love span all of time, from the beginning to the end, and all our days are in his hands.
- Lord of all, we come to you at the point in the year, at this time in the term, with all that that means to us – weariness maybe, pressure of work, a sense of the darkness of winter coming… maybe the excitement of Christmas. We remember your overarching love and place ourselves into your care…
- Lord Jesus, as we prepare again to celebrate your coming, we open our lives more deeply to you. May this Advent be not just a busy time, but also a holy time, and a time of waiting and longing which brings us to joy…
- Holy Spirit, you are always with us, drawing us closer to the unchanging love at the heart of all things and leading us forward into all that you have for us. May we know your presence with us and your life within us every day of our lives…