Advent 1 God in You
In God's eye's every human being is unique and uniquely loved; not just a somebody; not just a nameless face among the 'everybodies.' God's desire for relationship with us, his presence within us as an invitation to that relationship, confers upon our humanity a great dignity. We have been created in an extravagant gesture of unbelievable love; we have been created for love.
Members of the Body of Christ, we are called us into a new and radical way of understanding and of living that love. Like Mary, we are asked to bring the Christ within us to others. It is a very new and different kind of life because we are challenged to believe that the Risen Christ, though his Holy Spirit shared with us at baptism, is working in us and loving through us. And we are challenged to live, like Jesus, lives of compassion, of generosity and faithfulness.
We are challenged also to embrace lives of joy, joyful in the knowledge that our life is made new because it is imbued with God's meaning, God's purpose, awash with God's love. Christ is within you, offering you new life in relationship with him; working through you to bring God's life - God's love - to others. Blessed are you
(First prayer is taken from Sunday THINK-DO-PRAY suggestions)
Loving God Help us to recognise and to enjoy the simple pleasures in life, especially the good people we meet and the good times we have together.
Lord Hear Us
Loving God Spending time is often a better way of finding joy than spending money. Help us to see how we might spend our time this week in ways that bring joy to others and to ourselves.
Lord Hear Us
Loving God We pray for those of us who are struggling with financial worries. Grant us the wisdom and strength to survive these difficult times. Help us as parish community to know how we can support each other.
Lord Hear Us