Like our friendship groups and our work places we had a pre Christmas Fuddle in the Band Stand

(Fuddle a Derbyshire term for bringing along something to share – usually food)

This involved each one of us bringing along something inspirational to share for the last Sunday at the Bandstand before Christmas, the last Sunday in Advent.

An Advent liturgy

For God to become a baby he had to
Squeeze himself into a small space
Confine himself into a fallible body
Restrict himself to humanity
Reduce himself to limited movements
Become weak and vulnerable
Rely on humans to take care of him
For Christ to become one of us
He had to be born like us
The light was hidden within the womb
The thirst quencher received refreshment from the breast of Mary
The bread of life had to learn how to eat
The one who holds us, first had to be held
The Lover was loved
The way had to learn to walk
The word had to learn to speak
The creator taught how to create
This is our GOD

James Hawes

REFUGEE

We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,

Or cosy in a crib beside the font,

But he is with a million displaced people

On the long road of weariness and want.

For even as we sing our final carol

His family is up and on that road,

Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,

Glancing behind and shouldering their load.

Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower

Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,

The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,

And death squads spread their curse across the world.

But every Herod dies, and comes alone

To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.

From “Sounding of the Seasons” by Malcolm Guite published by Canterbury Press 2013

We reviewed our prayers written for 2014 and renewed prayers for those we know who are in need for 2015, writing them on labels and attaching them to a walking stick which hangs up at Holly House. These hang as a continual reminder to pray.

 The past prayers were symbolically offered up to God as we placed them in flames and watched the smoke rise.

In the bleak mid-winter

In the bleak mid-winter come into the places of despair and ignite the flame of hope.

Come into places on Earth where the iron rod oppresses and bring release

Come into hearts of stone and bring healing and warmth

In the gentle fall of snow may wisdom fall upon wisdom

May our past, our present and our future join in the spiral dance of life

May our hearts and lives become home to your coming.

Be born in us a fresh each day, each year, each mid-winter

That we may be able to be with those in death and life

To bless all creation throughout its seasons

And be ourselves those who take up our cross in hope of new life

That the life of God may live in all, bless all, renew all for now and for eternity.