TUESDAY 20th DECEMBER

                                                   Annunciation: Dante Gabriel Rossetti


O unknown God,
whose presence is announced
not among the impressive
but in obscurity;
come, overshadow us now,
and speak to our hidden places;
that, entering your darkness with joy,
we may choose to co-operate with you,
through Jesus Christ, Amen.

                 Janet Morley

Yesterday...

Twenty four carol singers of all ages braved the rain and cold to take some happy Christmas music to the streets of Weston Favell, and make some money for the East Park Hostel for the Homeless. Rosemary, Peter and the Enterprise Committee send out a thank you to all who sang, collected and gave. The total raised is at least £404, with two sizable donations included.

Throughout the year, the Enterprise Committee work on events to show the practical side of our faith, and in the course of that raise thousands of pounds for good causes. They in turn deserve a huge thank you for their hard work in organisation and in pricking our consciences.

Talking of raising money, Bill Kingston and his team persuaded hundreds of pounds from the pockets of those singing Christmas music in the Bold Dragoon last Thursday in aid of the visually handicapped. As Richie Benaud would have said...'Good effort!'


Tomorrow...

At 19.00 our Blue Christmas, a service for hope and healing. For many of us the approach to Christmas is tinged by sadness and regret. Here we take time to acknowledge those feelings on the shortest day of the year.



Annunciation     by John Donne

Salvation to all that will is nigh;
That All, which alwayes is All every where,
Which cannot sinne, and yet all sinnes must beare,
Which cannot die, yet cannot chuse but die,
Loe, faithfull Virgin, yeelds himselfe to lye
In prison, in thy wombe; and though he there
Can take no sinne, nor thou give, yet he will weare,
Taken from thence, flesh, which deaths force may trie.
Ere by the spheares time was created, thou
Wast in his minde, who is thy Sonne, and Brother;
Whom thou conceiv'st, conceiv'd; yea thou art now
Thy Makers maker, and thy Fathers mother;
Thou hast light in darke; and shutst in little roome,
Immensity cloystered in thy deare wombe.


The Advent Antiphons

The antiphons, or refrains, all beginning 'O...' were traditionally sung before and after the Magnificat at the service of Vespers on the seven days before Christmas Eve. They're addressed to God, calling for him to come as teacher and deliverer, with a tapestry of scriptural titles and pictures that describe his saving work in Christ. We too are using them each day this week.

Antiphon:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.


Throughout this blog from time to time we use materials which are the copyright of the Church of England with thanks.