We pulled out all the stops and met in the deep snow and freezing temperatures in the bandstand this morning.
Worshipped with very appropriate liturgy adapted from wellsprings.org.uk (Celtic Liturgy for Advent)
| CELTIC MORNING PRAYER FOR ADVENT On days when heavy clouds shut out the sunlight and the world is burdened by greyness and gloom. |
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| OPEN OUR EYES, LORD, TO THE COMING OF YOUR LIGHT LIFTING THE BURDEN OF DARKNESS FROM OUR LIVES. |
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| Chilliness that seeps deep into bones, hearts and spirits rigid with cold, souls wrapped up against coldness and loneliness. | ||
| OPEN OUR MINDS, LORD, TO THE WARMTH OF YOUR COMING MELTING THE HARDNESS THAT KEEPS US FROM YOU AND FROM EACH OTHER. |
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| Trees – snow covered against steel grey skies, stems crumpled under weight of snow – nature oppressed by wintriness – resting – awaiting rebirth |
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| FILL US WITH HOPE, LORD – ASSURE US OF YOUR COMING, OF YOUR CALL TO NEW LIFE. EMPTY MANGER ACTIVITY. We built a snow sculpture of an empty manger. Thinking about others who have demonstrated sacrifice, kindness and service we took a handful of straw for each act we remembered and we partially filled the manger with straw. We then thought of acts of kindness, service, sacrifice and love that we could be invovled in and determined when we would do these Kingdom acts as we filled the snow manger with the rest of the straw. Based on a Advent tradition in which Jesus manger is made more comfortable for his coming on Christmas Day by acts of kindness and mercy. Bible Reading: Isaiah 9: 6-7. CELTIC LITANY |
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| Gathering in this place where heaven and earth whisper greeting; In this park where the High King of Heaven comes to meet us; In the winter chill of this place, we kindle lights of hope for the world. (light candle) We kindle lights of hope for our families and friends. (light candle) We kindle lights of hope for Tony. (light candle) Short silence for prayer followed by sharing bread and wine. |
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| We take the light of our prayers into the world. | ||
| TO PRAY FOR THOSE UNABLE TO PRAY, TO OFFER OURSELVES AS ANSWERS TO PRAYER. |
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| We take the light of Christ’s love into the world: | ||
| TO COME ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING AND TO BE AS CHRIST FOR THEM. |
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| God enters the hearts of all who pray – and feel they are not heard, HE SUFFERS THEIR PAIN AND ANGUISH, AND DIES THAT WE MIGHT LIVE. May our God bless us: |
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| MAY GOD’S LIGHT SHINE IN OUR LIVES AND CHRIST’S PEACE FILL OUR HEARTS THIS DAY AND EVERYDAY. AMEN. | ||
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