Collect for Advent Three
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
Olivia Erin Barton, daughter of Charlotte and Matt, entered the world at 11 p.m. yesterday 15th. She shared a birthday with 384, 999 others across the world – a world where ongoing conflict rages, where people perform acts of violence to others for reasons of race, tradition, language and religion – or for no reason at all. Where the future is increasingly uncertain, with unknown effects of uncontrolled technology and the need to face inevitable drastic lifestyle changes as result of unchecked global warming.
I wonder what she will think of the legacy we leave her. It wouldn’t surprise me if she wasn’t hugely impressed.
There is one thing that we can – must – do for her, though.
We owe it to her to be witnesses to the truth that will sustain her through good times and darker ones – she will hear it proclaimed in story, carolling and celebration during the days around her birthday. It is the story of another baby – whose birth is a sign of God’s unfailing love, whose life will guide us, His death redeem us, His resurrection inspire us. Whatever may happen, His love will never fail us.
So may the Lord of Lords bless you, Olivia, and your sisters and brothers born that day. May you walk in His light throughout your life; may you be His body on earth, share Faith, Hope and Love, and use the all the gifts He gives you to bring His Kingdom in.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 17th September 2023
And when it comes down to it, I will always need forgiveness – as do we all. For all of us have sinned and fallen short.
Praying Together 10th September 2023
Yes of course we have a responsibility to address sin – but before we criticise others, we need to start with ourselves.
Praying Together 3rd September 2023
‘Those who want to save their life will lose it’, said Jesus, but though people hear Him, they don’t actually listen.
Praying Together 27th August 2023
In the end, it is Peter, once again, who takes the step that faith demands. Thousands since that day have proclaimed the same. And so do I.
Praying Together 20th August 2023
As are we all, whoever we may be – Jew, Greek, slave, free, man, woman. One in Jesus, the Christ. That’s the important bit.
Praying Together 13th August 2023
Once in a while, we might close our earthly eyes and leap over the side. There is nothing that Jesus asks us that we can’t achieve.
Praying Together 6th August 2023
The prophecy is fulfilled, the light has come, the day will dawn and the morning star will rise in our hearts. Hallelujah.
Praying Together 30th July 2023
The treasure is there – it just needs to be found. We search for truth, and realise that Jesus is the truth; the way; and the life.
Praying Together 23rd July 2023
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.
Praying Together 9th July 2023
‘What do I have to do to be free?’, they ask. What will it cost me?
Just believe, He says. I’ll buy it for you. On a cross
Praying Together 25th June 2023
When we are baptised in Christ, washed free of our past, we have the opportunity of starting again. We try – and will inevitably fail. But that mustn’t stop us trying.
Praying Together 18th June 2023
Someone once asked who would be the best person to talk about Jesus to a lorry driver. To which the answer is ‘another lorry driver’.