Coming - Advent Reflection

Really getting into 'Advent' this year - over and above the cheesy/chocolaty advent calender thing. Even with my CofE background the church I went to was so low we missed out on lots of the wonderful church calender stuff that i am now appreciating much more.

Anyway simple thoughts on 'Advent'

• Advent is from the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming"
• Adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia ("coming, arrival, personal presence")
• Its a period of expectant waiting and preparation
• Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians today as they await the second coming of Christ
• These days I see the expectant waiting and preparation as less passive and more proactive
• In fact the bible story invites us to be part of the 'coming'
• The coming of the kingdom of God, a totally different empire than the one that the Xmas stories set themselves up to subvert (Herod 'king of the Jews', Emperor Caeser)
• The coming of Peace, 'Goodwill to all men', grace, love, justice, healing, the transforming power of powerlessness
• God becoming incarnate in humanity in order to save, rescue and redeem humanity
• Advent then seems now to also be about our part in that becoming incarnate / coming of
• God and his presence and in the reconciling of all things in him
• In Christ God came, in helpless babe
• For those who are now 'In Christ' we are also the helpless babes of his coming who will grow in grace and good deeds as apprentices of Jesus and followers of his way, as instruments of peace, as God's own gift to the world.

Perhaps everyday is an advent calender day when we open the door to the surprise possibilities of Gods coming in and through us.

Advent Conspiracy

Glorious Viral Vid from - Advent Conspiracy

Advent Conspiracy is an international movement restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption.

Permission to be human...Sir?

From the every brilliant ASBO Jesus (his site is listed in 'stuff' on the right)

Is being allowing/encouraging ourselves and others to be 'human' dangerous or essential to being an apprentice of Jesus? (I say 'apprentice of Jesus' rather than a 'Christian' or 'for the church' as honesty is definitely often seen as threatening in those cultures)

What do you think - honestly!?

How great (thou) ART

Let me kick something off- just sharing a thought I had today when I saw this image. I am a big fan of 'Art'. I think that Creator God is particularly, prophetically, poetically and profoundly present in the God image reflecting act of creation that we do when we make/encounter art. (you could also say 'make...' - something else that is about creation and beauty joy comfort etc!) Anyway, I am not saying all Art is 'good', it just seems to create what the Celtic Christians called 'thin places' where heaven and earth are mysteriously close, even touching. Take a look at this bit of graffiti and keep in your mind the Lord's prayer

Our Father which art in heaven,Hallowed be thy name,Thy kingdom come,Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil:For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,for ever. Amen.

What does it make you think, feel, want to stop doing, start doing, continue doing, pray, cry out for, confess, etc etc etc? What was your own response?

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So then

So then - what are we going round the field with this time? What shall we get out in the open to explore and get excited about. What questions could this space give us space for? What's round the next corner and over the next horizon? What might we dream?

Basically - What do we want to do on here?

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