Jeremiah/Jeremeia 33:14
The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah
Wele y dyddiau yn dyfod, medd yr Arglwydd, fel y cyflawnwyf y peth daionus a addewais i dŷ Israel, ac i dŷ Jwda.
Sunday 1
Today, Advent dawns. We journey towards Christmas not
looking to the past. The candle on the wreath symbolising the prophets who
challenged those in power to return to God and look to the coming of Christ and
the readings speak hope of the second coming of Christ. We look to the future.
The future is an uncertain place, sitting on a knife edge
between fear and hope, it’s always, just beyond us. When we get to the future,
we find that it’s become the now and future still lies ahead.
It’s tempting to think like Yoda talking with Luke Skywalker
“This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away…to the
future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was
doing.” “Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.” The future will be
what it is, we must focus only on the now.
Jesus message is different. The now can be terrifying, wars,
unrest, climate change and pandemic.
When you look at the world like this, look for the sprout of
hope, leaf buds on a barren tree. Let it spark hope not fear and sadness. This
hope isn’t a wish that things will sort themselves out, this hope is a sureness
that stepping forward, hand in hand with Jesus, trusting in God we will make
better choices, shaping the future into God’s Kingdom, where creation is cared
for, the poor are lifted up and the oppressors brought low, where sickness is
cured and fears are calmed. We wait in that hope.
Pocket Prayer
The first candle of Advent is lit.
The gentle flicker of that slowly kindling flame touching
the darkness of uncertainty. Hope begins small, in a remembered word, a
whispered promise.
It is the leaf bud of hope of life coming from darkness and
death, it is the lamplight of the approaching visitor on the horizon, it is
light and warmth spilling out from the door of sanctuary as it is opened it
welcome.
It is by this light that Christ plants our feet onto the
right paths that lead us to the future that is hoped for.
It is by this light that we read your word and illuminates
our understanding of ourselves as being part of the answer to prayer for those
struggling to find hope.
It is by this light that we find those who are lost and
trying to find the way, the lost sheep awaiting their shepherd.
It is by this light that the fire is kindled, giving warmth,
light and hope to all humankind, a safe space to tell the stories of sadness
and joy, loss and redemption, fear and hope.
It is by this light we can understand where we have come
from, where we are and where the next steps of the journey will take us.
Let this small light, raise us from our sleeping, awaken us
to what we need to do, where we need to go and take your hand which is leading
us on.
The future can seem big and scary, we wonder what we could
even do to change the world before us,
Help us to know that one small light, when shared begins to
push back the shadows and many small lights shining together can banish the
darkness and lights the path.
The future can seem so dark and empty, we worry that we will
be left in need or lose what we have,
Help us to know that one small light, when shared begins to
push back the shadows and many small lights shining together can banish the
darkness and lights the path.
The future can seem so uncertain, too many possibilities
stretching out before us, we don’t know what to do, which way to go,
Help us to know that one small light, when shared begins to
push back the shadows and many small lights shining together can banish the
darkness and lights the path.
Loving God of all hope, we offer you our small lights,
kindle their flame of hope as we journey, bring us together as a shining stream
of hope flowing from the now into a future transformed by love into your
Kingdom of peace and joy.
In the name of your son, our long awaited, long expected king
we pray.
Amen
Since the latest update
Filmora 10.7.7.9 has gone very glitchy, I cannot use all of the features, the
audio will not all load, when I click on title packs I have they come up as
blank boxes which do nothing
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