Welcome to the season of Advent which pre-empts the two secular cultural commercialisations of our day:  the Christmas rush and New Year's.  It is a declaration by all Christians that this is a season where we anticipate and lovingly await the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of all of us who have chosen to respond to the relationship He has offered to us, and the hope of the world. 

Advent historically, and in the preparation of this newsletter, pre-empts the raucous demands of the culture and intentionally and pointedly re-appropriates this season as an experience of worship and adoration.  It will be of interest to some of you that historically Christians considered Advent to be the beginning of the new year rather than the 1^st of January.

Claudia Wakeman and I have selected a variety of readings for your own devotional reflection in this month's newsletters leading up to Christmas. 

Warmly

In Christ,

Jeremy

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            From Gathering For Worship, The Baptist Union of Great Britain, published by the Canterbury Press Norwich, 2005, p. 354-355

Advent 3: The Forerunner

John the Baptist as a servant of God's preparation and call. Thanksgiving

for ministry and for those involved in ministerial formation. Prayers for

those engaged in prophetic witness and its dangers.

Isaiah 6.8-9a; 40.35; 40.9; Jeremiah 1.4-10; Malachi 3.13; Matthew

3.1-3; 3.11; Romans 10.11-15; 1Corinthians 1.26-31.

Intercession and Petition

God of love and truth,

you call men and women to full-time service

for the building up of your Church

and the proclamation of your gospel.

We pray for local churches and associations

that they might be responsive to the leading of your Spirit,

able to discern the gifts of ministry and the signs of your call.

We pray for regional ministers and those who serve our Union

as they lead and encourage the churches in ministry and mission,

caring for the pastors, and encouraging the people.

God of grace, you call us and you equip us for our calling.

Open our ears to hear your call.

Open our eyes to read your word

and to see your world as Christ sees it.

Open our hands to give what we have and what we are

back to you for your service.

Open our hearts to the wonder and the glory of your love,

that we might all minister in the way of Christ;

in whose name we pray.

Prayer for Renewal

God of faithfulness and truth,

you sent your servant John the Baptist

to preach in the desert

and summon the people to repentance.

Make us and all things new,

that in the wilderness of our hearts

we too may prepare a way

over which your Son may walk.

Kingdom Prayer

God our deliverer,

whose approaching birth

still shakes the foundations of our world:

may we so wait for your coming

with eagerness and hope

that we embrace without terror

the labour pangs of the new age,

through Jesus Christ.

Collect

Living God,

as we remember John the Baptist

who by his integrity prepared the way for Jesus,

and every other faithful witness

who has stood by your truth

whatever the cost,

make us faithful

to the truth we know,

so that by our integrity

we may prepare the way for Jesus

into many lives, to the honour of your name.

From Celtic Daily Prayer, Prayers and Readings from the Northumbria Community, 2002, p. 232

O Adonai and leader of Israel,

You appeared to Moses in a burning bush

And You gave him the law on Sinai.

O come and save us with Your mighty power.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height,

In ancient times didst give the law

In cloud, and majesty and awe:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

From The Lion Book of Christian Poetry, compiled by Mary Batchelor, (a Baptist deacon), 2005, p. 192, 195.

Salus Mundi

I saw a stable, low and very bare.

            A little child in a manger.

The oxen knew him, had him in their care,

            To men he was a stranger.

The safety of the world was lying there,

            And the world's danger.

                        Mary Coleridge, 1861-1907

Chanticleer

All this night shrill chanticleer,

Day's proclaiming trumpeter,

            Claps his wings and loudly cries,

            Mortals, mortals, wake and rise!

                        See a wonder

                        Heaven is under;

From the earth is risen a Sun

Shines all night, though day be done.

Wake, O earth, wake everything!

Wake and hear the joy I bring;

            Wake and joy; for all this night

            Heaven and every twinkling light,

                        All amazing,

                        Still stand gazing.

Angels, powers, and all that be,

Wake, and joy this Sun to see.

Hail, O Sun, O blessed light,

Sent into the world by night!

            Let thy rays and heavenly powers

            Shine in these dark souls of ours;

                        For most duly

                        Thou art truly

God and man, we do confess:

Hail, O Sun of righteousness!

                        William Austin (1587-1634)