Advent Prayer.
A prayer for Advent written and read by Carolyn Lawrence, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference.
Take the long view.
URC Minister Michael Hopkins looks at the letter to Philemon and what it has to say to us today. Click on the image below.
Advent.
“I do wonder if this might not be the very year in which the Advent season can fulfil its principal purpose within me – to make me more vigilant for God at work, to make me more aware of the ways in which I can open the door to Christ. “
Read Jill Baker’s Advent Vigil by clicking on the picture below.
The Reverend Richard Teal, President of Methodist Conference, is getting ready for The Big Church Sing – Christmas Special & Nativity with All You Can, Advent Sunday Afternoon at 4 pm and available on YouTube.
Waiting.
Carys Walsh is following the same Carmelite pattern of waiting, accepting, journeying and birthing as the United Church. Read her thoughts on waiting ahead of our own Advent Sunday service by clicking on her photo below. 
Just vaccine distribution.
Listen to Chine McDonald’s Thought for the Day on Vaccine Distribution – ”The last shall be first”.
Do not be afraid.
Looking ahead with hope – Andrew Rumsey.
Gracious God, as we respond to your call in our lives, nurture within us the wisdom to respect your gift of life and your creation. May the roots of our faith be strengthened so that we reflect your kingdom values of justice, peace, hope and life for all. We pray in the name of Jesus and by the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Andrew de Ville, Southampton District Chair
Amazing Grace.
Listen to Judy Collins and the Global Virtual Choir singing Amazing Grace.
A Happiness Plan.
Find out more about Matt Finch’s work in Cambridgeshire where he with his local community founded mental health charity, CALMtown, by clicking on this photo below.
In weakness, O Lord, be our strength.
In weakness, O Lord, be our strength; in our sinfulness, pardoning love; in our need, all sufficient grace. In our anxiety, be to us both stillness and rest and at all times be to us the fullness of blessing; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)
New press release from Christian Aid : “Cutting the aid budget – breaking a manifesto promise made less than a year ago – would have lasting consequences for people around the world…” Read it here.
Discipleship,
Discipleship, a new resource for House Groups, written by Juli Wills, Tim Clifford and G. Howard Mellor, will be available from January 2021. Read more about it by clicking on the image below.
The Gate of Heaven.
At the centre of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusion, a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God, which is never at our disposal, from which God disposes of our lives, which is inaccessible to the fantasies of our own mind or the brutalities of our own will. This little point of nothingness and of absolute poverty is the pure glory of God in us… It is in everybody, and if we could see it we would see these billions of points of light coming together in the face and blaze of a sun that would make all the darkness and cruelty of life vanish completely …the gate of heaven is every-where.”
Thomas Merton
Caring for God’s world and God’s people.
Bless and inspire scientists and engineers who are working to devise ways of easing the strain we put on the earth.
Bless and inspire political leaders with an undaunted vision for environmentally responsible policies and the courage to make responsible stewardship fit seamlessly into our daily lives.
Help us all to walk more gently on your earth and live more gently with each other. Amen.
The Presidency of the Mehtodist Conference and the Chief Executive of All We Can have responded to reports of a potential reduction in the government’s commitment to foreign aid. Read more here.
The fulfilment of our dreams,
A shining light – the fulfilment of our dreams. Listen to Andrew Rumsey on Hilda of Whitby and how this gives us comfort for the future.
Reset the Debt.
Reset The Debt is a campaign launched by the Baptist Union, the Church of Scotland, Church Action on Poverty, the Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church.
The campaign grew out of listening and learning to communities during the lockdown of 2020, as part of the Gleanings project. Debt is becoming an increasing problem for households and communities across the UK.
Daily access to prayers and resources from the Methodist Church and the URC.
Access daily prayers, news and resources from the Methodist Church by clicking on the image below.
Access daily prayers, news and resources from the URC by clicking on the image below.
