Advent Sunday Address at St Mary Abbots

ADVENT



Piercing the darkness short days
Contrast to light
Human condition

VATICAN TWO on the Church:
“Christ is the light of all nations. Hence this sacred Synod, which has been gathered in the Holy Spirit, eagerly desires to shed on all men that radiance which brightens the countenance of the Church. This it will do by proclaiming the gospel to every creature.”


Finding a Prophetic Voice putting your finger on it

Not being afraid to speak out
God’s messengers

Finding new confidence

ARCHBISHOP William Temple
“The prophet is primarily the man, not to whom God has communicated certain divine thoughts, but whose mind is illuminated by the divine spirit to intercept the divine acts: and the act is primary.”


Being Prepared preparation is a biblical priority

preparation for Jesus

preparation for each stage of life

preparation for Resurrection

ST JOHN
John 14.2
I am going to prepare a place for you.

Yorkshire

First time in Yorkshire to stay over for a while.
Great to be back:)

Book Review Sadie Jones The Outcast

Sadie Jones won the Costa first novel prize with this extremely readable and surprising novel.

The story of a young man, set in post war England, the victim not only of a culmination of family circumstances but of an age when talking of feelings and emotion seemed odd and unmanly.

The book is about childhood, bereavement, trauma and abuse - abuse in many and various forms, multi-layered and complicated beyond recognition at times.

All of the characters are strongly portrayed and brilliantly researched; you get to know them and they add up.

There are several twists which I would not like to reveal so as not to spoil your enjoyment: but go with this book: it's really good.

Remembrance Sunday

Sacrifice
theme runs through our liturgies deeply today

Hebrew Bible
sacrifice - different types and different reasons
Abraham - Isaac

Jesus
essence of fulfilment
essence of transformation
supreme sacrifice

Disciples
called to share in this
"follow me"
means sharing in this sacrifice

Remembrance Sunday
human sacrifice
examples of service
dedication & love which speak to us

"Accept through him, our great High Priest, this our sacrifice of praise."
Eucharistic Prayer

Brings together
thanks
calling
prayers for the church and the world.

All Saints St Mary Abbots

I believe in the Communion of Saints

what do we mean by this?

communion = coming together as one

saints = 20Th emergence of greater association of saints within Anglicanism

"The saint is one who has a strange nearness to God and makes God real to other people."
Michael Ramsey

nearness - pilgrimage
"makes God real" - pilgrimage
inheritance
illuminate out paths
unity- communion
golden thread
Cedd- saint of the moment - courageous, cultural, cross

Company of Saints
St Augustine in City of God
"We shall rest and we shall see; we shall see and we shall love; we shall love and we shall praise; In the end which is no end."