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Expectation
Oh the bliss of a bit of shelter,
some straw to lie down on
after that interminable journey;
somewhere to rest between pains.
I thought we’d never make it
at one stage – the checkpoint
as we entered Bethlehem.
Thank God for a compassionate soldier,
and the kindly innkeeper –
she obviously understood
what I was going through.Here in the quiet, away from the crowds,
surrounded by the warmth of animals
and the solicitous strength of Joseph,
I can get on with things.
I never imagined when I agreed
to Gabriel’s request from God
that it was going to be like this.
I didn’t expect a palace
but hoped for a home and maybe
my mother and the local midwife
to help out, or even cousin Elisabeth –
she’s been through it recently.The trouble is, when you say ‘Yes’ to God,
you never know what to expect!Carol Dixon
Reflection for Advent Sunday (written after a concert at the Sage)
The Conductor
The conductor is in place, baton raised: the tension is palpable, violinists poised with bow ready to strike a powerful downward first note; percussion on tenterhooks for the first roll of the kettledrum; the wind section alert, ready to count bars in before their entry.
The audience sits with bated breath watching the conductor’s arm, waiting, waiting, waiting for the first notes as, what was dreamed by the genius, Brahms and committed in a passion to the paper, suddenly, they know will rise from the air. It will be the sublime climax of all the effort and the labours and the skills of composer, musicians and interpreter; a chord of harmonics so perfectly constructed that it must be a foretaste of heaven…….
It is in the waiting, the tension of now but not quite yet, in the pause of the hand, ready to come down on the first beat that is created the drama and the excitement and the meaning: that pregnant silence of total enrapture and participation in the moment.
It is a few seconds of sheer bliss, readying ourselves for something soon to be revealed, greater even than we had imagined. And we would not rush this nor shorten it…..
And so it is with this Advent time of waiting for the start of the great symphony of love played out in the arena of a watching world. With hard-to-control control eagerness, we steady ourselves to hear a song described once as angelic by simple folk who seemed to know what they had heard. And, by prayer and imagination, we prepare ourselves to hear the familiar music of Bethlehem and the harmonies of heaven on earth and be moved, despite familiarity, to a fresh understanding, a new interpretation…..
But look - the arm is coming down... the waiting is at an end… the symphony has begun…….
Stuart Brock
Advent prayer
God, we are waiting,
waiting for your coming
into our lives.God, we are expecting,
hoping to see you
at work in the world.Give us patience
to keep on waiting,
hoping, and workingfor the coming
of your kingdom,
through Jesus our Lord –born as a baby in Bethlehem,
living, dying and rising,
reigning with you and the Holy Spirit –bringing us life and love and peace,
this day, and every day,
to the end of time.Carol Dixon
Coming
‘I’m coming!’
Words of re-assurance
to a frightened child.‘Coming, ready or not!’
Exciting anticipation
of being found.‘It’s coming now!’
Time to relax
after a long wait.Lord Jesus, coming king,
You take away our fear of the future,
You find us when we hide from you,
You fulfil all our longing expectation.Your coming
comforts us,
thrills us,
settles us.Come again
into our hearts,
in peace, in joy, in love,
this Christmas.Carol Dixon
2nd Sunday
The roar of the prophet against oppression and injustice;
the faintest breath of the Spirit,
caressing and healing;
together the sounds of God.The Word of God’s Wisdom,
dwelling in the bosom of eternity,
waiting to become the blood - stained flesh of a little boy,
squeezed into the world,
weeping in the night -
God -
beyond us
and with us
coming to meet us.Blinding light and deepest darkness;
companion in the darkest valley,
disallowing false comfort,
exposing hypocrisy,
encouraging freedom through Truth;
God, the honest one,
holding hope for a sin sick world.Crushed flesh and pulverised bones;
hatred and fear,
so deep, and broad, and long,
as buildings crumble
and technology explodes around -
speaks the need for salvation.Reaching out, fingers touching,
gently, tentatively, holdingly;
Incarnation dawns,
slowly, responsively and painfully;
waiting for a woman’s agreement.
3rd Sunday
Inside - outside
within - without
now - not yet.The Kingdom here - not here;
within - but not as it will be,
next month - next year.
Outside and amongst us,
intimately drawing us,
but not yet there.Developing
to a different fruition
that we may not recognise;
a reality we do not know,
except dimly,
through a dark glass;
kingdom of this world
and the next.A king arrived
and still arriving,
bringing into being what is not,
but will be.
Waiting at the threshold;
sitting in the prime place;
guest and host,
lover and ravisher,
healer and destroyer,
called and caller,
“Prepare to become
what you are not,
except dimly,
in glass-fragile darkliness!.”
Kingdom of this world,
and the next.
4th Sunday
Mary? In me? A mother? In me?
Birthing the Christ Child?
In me?
Enfleshed in weakness
and joy
and pain?
Me?
Christ in me?
Mine?Growing?
Holding?
Keeping?
Speaking?
Acting?
In me?
Christ in me?You sure?
Caressing?
Healing?
Justice making?
Peace bringing?
In me?God?
In brokeness?
In talents?
In anger?
In bitterness?
In eagerness?
In curious questioning?
In me?Still?
Small?
Gentle?
Powerful?
In me?
Well?Barry Hutchinson 2006
God of the dawning promises
we greet you
as people still surrounded by darkness
yet daring to believe that night will end;
we greet you
as people cowered into silence
yet longing to join in the watchmen’s cry
that dawn is breaking
that freedom has come
and that your people’s story has made a new beginning.God of the dawning promises
break into our lives now
and renew your Church
through the good news of your coming.
John Durell 2006
Candle 1: I light this light as a reminder of
the darkness before Jesus came,
and we remember the greater light which will dawn when he returns.
Candle 2: I light this light as a reminder
of the Word of God's love, spoken
through prophets long ago,
and we remember that he still speaks through today's prophets.
Candle 3: I light this light as a reminder
of the Kingdom which is amongst us,
and we remember to prepare ourselves for the Kingdom which is still to come.
Candle 4: I light this candle as a reminder
that a young woman saying “Yes ”
initiated the birth of God,
and we remember that he is coming to birth in us, today.
Barry Hutchinson 2004
Announce
to the world
'God is coming!'
Proclaim
the message
'The Lord is here!'
Build
new roads,
new avenues of hope
for all people.------
Lord of the wild desert places,
we praise and adore you
for your refreshing message
of repentance, forgiveness,
and restoration.Thank you for sending John,
as messenger -forerunner of Jesus -
to people wandering in the wilderness
of disobedience and despondency.
Cleanse and renew us
with your liberating love;
bathe us in your peace,
so that we are prepared
to take your Word to the world.Lord of the supermarket and leisure centre
we praise and adore you
for your blazing message
of hope, reconciliation,
and renewal.
Thank you for sending us,
as announcers -f ollowers of Jesus -
to people fumbling in the fog
of despair and disillusionment.Set us free
with your purifying power;
inflame us with your joy,
so that we are ready
to broadcast your Word in our day.
Carol Dixon 2004
Words and music by Tom Wright and Carol Dixon - 2004
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