Dear Friends,
Welcome to you all, and especially to any visitors, as we gather on this second Sunday of Advent. I hope that, particularly in this busy season, many of you will be able to give yourselves some quietness, and time to read the daily Bible readings (listed below). Our souls need feeding when big demands are being made upon them. In the readings for the season you will be exposed to some of the wonderful Advent images there: images of God who comes to us at every moment, and often in circumstances unpromising and surprising. Hopes of abundance and light and contentment and order, promise to supplant wildernesses and darkness and hunger and chaos as people turn around to the way that Jesus invites, and God’s Kingdom begins to come. The readings catch that deep sense of yearning that most of us have, the yearning that is the impulse for a healthy spiritual life.
Tonight at 5:00 pm the School community and families will gather in the church for the School Carol Service. This will lead into the last busy week of the year for S. Michael’s Church School. On Tuesday, some of our parishioners will again provide a lunch for the Year 8 School Leavers, to wish them well on behalf of the Parish. That afternoon, the Junior School will presents its nativity play in the church. Thursday will begin with the final Mass for the year at 8:40 am, and conclude with the Break-up and Prize-giving Ceremony at 7:00 pm in the Christ’s College Hall. At the end of Friday morning, the School will close for another year.
School families and others are reminded of the Children’s Crib and Carol Service at S. Michael’s on Monday 22 December at 6:30 pm. It is a short service followed with some party food.
Please do not forget the Christian World Service Christmas Appeal. As a parish we contribute generously each year. As we spend a lot on ourselves and our families, may we put aside some resources to give hope to those who have very little.
Last Sunday, a sizeable congregation of us enjoyed the Service of Advent Readings and Carols. The choir was in wonderful form, and with organ and trumpets it was a musical delight. We are very grateful for these dedicated musicians who week by week enrich the liturgy in this place, and make it a very special offering to the glory of God. As much as we look forward to every sung Mass and Evensong, we shall also be looking forward to the service of Christmas Readings and Carols on Sunday 21 December, and then to the wonderful Christmas Masses.
May God give us all strength and discernment in this ‘silly season’. May our quiet trust help to make it a time when our longing for the reign of God is refreshed and nurtured, and our desire for many lesser things put in its proper place.
May God bless you all.
Peter Williams
Advent Readings: Week Two
Monday Isaiah 35: 1–10 Luke 5: 17–26
Tuesday Isaiah 40: 1–11 Matthew 18: 12–14
Wednesday Isaiah 40: 25–31 Matthew 11: 28–30
Thursday Isaiah 41: 13–20 Matthew 11: 11–15
Friday Isaiah 48: 17–19 Matthew 1: 16–19
Saturday Ecclesiasticus 48: 1–4, 9–11 Matthew 17: 10–13
