CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES 2019

Tuesday 24th December ~ Christmas Eve

6.00pm Christmas Family Mass This Mass fulfils your obligation to attend Mass for Christmas

11.15pm Hymns and Readings to welcome Christmas.

Wednesday 25th December ~ Christmas Day

Holy Day of Obligation

12.00am Christmas Mass at Midnight

9.30am Christmas Mass

11.00am Christmas Mass

Thursday 26th December ~ St Stephen

10.00am Mass ~ all Altar servers invited to attend.

Friday 27th December ~ St John

9.30am Mass

Saturday 28th December

6.00pm First Mass of The Holy Family

Our Patronal Feast

Sunday 29th December

9.30am Holy Family Mass

11.00am Holy Family Mass

Holy Family Parish

Patchway

ADVENT 2019

Advent 2019

Dear Parishioners,

You may not realise this, but I start preparing this booklet

in the summer and often take it on my holiday to add to it

as thoughts and articles come to mind. This year is

different, I am now writing this part while in Lourdes with

the Diocesan Pilgrimage in August. But with such an

uncertain future of our status within the political and

economic areas of our world, I am also anxious that after

the 31st January 2020, our country could be very different.

The problem as I see it, is that we are wanting our

independence, but at such high costs, that we are becoming

a dangerously racist and intolerant people, especially to

the people who share our faith and beliefs. Our country has

always been made up of many nations and faiths which

have contributed to the richness and diversity of our

country that we call the United Kingdom. Let us pray that

this intolerance and misunderstanding will not threaten

this.

This year, we as a diocese, enter the Year of Communion.

Quite ironic when our country is looking to divide! So, this

year is going to be very important not only to the diocese,

but to every parish and parishioner as we profess to be an

Eucharistic Community. For me, while thinking about this

coming year and all it will unfold, I think we are going to

have to ‘up our game’ in welcoming all. From the people

who have attended our Church from birth, those who have

moved in and made roots here, those who have recently

moved in to the area, those who attend our Church for

whatever reason, to those passing through.

Communion is offering all the opportunity to get to know

Jesus Christ through our Church and each individual they

encounter. It is a big undertaking, and one we shouldn't

take lightly. To grasp an understanding of what needs to

Advent Events

Friday 22nd November

7.00pm Evening Prayer with Bishop

Declan ~ presentation of the

Resources for the Year of

Communion.

Clifton Cathedral.

Sunday 1st December

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT ‘A’

6.00pm Reconciliation Mass with

absolution ~ St Patrick’s Redfield.

Tuesday 3rd December

7.00pm Advent Mass

Friday 6th December

Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Christmas Fayre

5pm ~ 7pm

Amberley Road, Stoke Lodge.

Saturday 7th December

Sacrament of Reconciliation

5pm ~ 5.30pm

Sunday 8th December

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

‘A’

Tuesday 10th December

7.00pm Advent Mass

Friday 13th December

8.30am Mass

Key Stage 1 ~ St Mary’s School

Church Visit

9.30am ~ 12.30pm

Saturday 14th December

Sacrament of Reconciliation

5pm ~ 5.30pm

Sunday 15th December

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT ‘A’

Tuesday 17th December

St Mary’s School

Carol Service Rehearsal 1.30 - 3pm

Holy Family Church

St Nicholas Class Mass

2.30pm ~ St Mary’s School

St Mary’s School

CAROL SERVICE 6pm

Holy Family Church

Wednesday 18th December

7pm PARISH PENITENTIAL MASS

Holy Family Church

Thursday 19th December

9.30am Parish Mass

11am St Mary’s School End of Term

Mass in St Mary’s School.

Friday 20th December

9.30am Holy Family School End of

Term Mass ~ Holy Family School

(No Mass in Church today)

Saturday 21st December

Sacrament of Reconciliation

5pm ~ 5.30pm

Sunday 22nd December

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

‘A’

be achieved, we need to use the season of Advent, to look at

our approach as a parish and individuals. The first

approach should be to pray, to look at our own prayer life

and see if it is actually beneficial to us or is it lacking. Is it

a self-centred prayer time, navel gazing about what we

want from God for us, or is it almost non-existent, because of

the excuse that we are ’too busy’ or ’too tired’. Both of which

are weak excuses, but often ’default’ excuse.

We need this time of Advent to address the failings of our

prayer life and increase our faith, knowing that God, is with

us and loves us so much, that he willingly sent his Son born

of Mary, to give us direction back to the path of right and

eternal life. The best way to do this is to have his beloved Son

come as one of us, to show the reality of his message and to

be subject to the faults and failings of the human race, well

actually to be human, but without sin!

His conception was announced by an angel, to the chosen

young girl , Mary betrothed to a young man called Joseph.

Even from his conception his life was challenged, his mother

and partner being refugees and travelling to be registered

in the country and tribe of their birth. A journey which

would be difficult enough for anyone today, but at the time

of Christ it was days travelling with the only mode of

transport being a donkey. No cars, planes or trains, no

booking apps to ensure they had a nice cosy hotel, no phone

to ring and book, having to just see what’s available when

they arrive. And of course we know that because all people

are having to travel and register, there was very little left by

the time this little family arrived and only with the

generosity of an innkeeper, they were able to stay in a

stable, at least it was warm and dry.

I bet Mary didn’t expect that she would be giving birth in

such a place, and yet this was all part of God’s plan, to

ensure that all who will be influenced by this miraculous

baby would know his message was meant for them, and all

they needed to do was listen and act upon it! Which proves

to be the hardest task of all for us.

Advent is a time to remind ourselves of God’s plan for us

through this annual celebration of Christ’s birth. Sadly,

each year it gets harder and harder, to focus on the actual

true meaning of Christmas, as our world becomes more and

more obsessed with the secular and commercial side of the

season. It lies to us to ensure that we truly celebrate the

birth of our saviour and keep everything else in perspective,

especially for our children. It is easy for them to be tempted

and enticed into the fripperies of Christmas, presents, etc.

When we should be reminding and teaching them that the

reason they receive presents, is as a reminder of the greatest

gift we have been given in Christ.

As usual, in the parish well try to give you the support and

tools to keep Christ in Christmas. But, YOU have to embrace

the true meaning of Christmas and not let the demands of

the season to overtake why we have this beautiful season. Do

not make excuses, that you are too busy, don’t just let food,

drink, gift buying etc., be the centre of your preparations,

take time to prepare yourselves and your souls too. This

booklet will have daily meditations which will help you, it

will only take a few moments out of your busy lives to read

and pray them. There will be an extra Mass on a Tuesday

during Advent, so you can step out of your busyness for

about half an hour or so.

But unless YOU are willing to embrace these little changes,

you will fall foul to the secular and commercial side which

will not advance your journey to salvation, but could

hamper your good works. We can only help you, if you are

willing to change! Make this Advent, the refreshment of

your faith and the faith of your children and family. If you

do, your Christmas will be about the great gift of God’s love

Some Advent wreath traditions also include a fifth white "Christ" candle, symbolizing purity, that is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. Many circular wreaths can incorporate a white candle by adding a pillar candle to the wreath centre. COLOR: Violet is a liturgical colour that is used

to signify a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice and is used during Advent and Lent. Advent, also called "little Lent," is the season where we spiritually wait in our "darkness" with hopeful expectation for our promised redemption, just as the whole world did before Christ's birth, and just as the whole world does now as we eagerly await his promised return.

THE FOUR WEEKS OF ADVENT

During the first two weeks of Advent we light the first two purple candles. The Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. On this day we celebrate that our waiting for the birth of Jesus on Christmas day is almost over. Rose is a liturgical colour that is used to signify joy, so we light the single pink candle on the third Sunday of Advent. Then on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the final purple candle is lit to mark the final week of prayer and penance as we wait expectantly for the soon-coming birth of the King of Kings.

• The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolizes Hope

with the "Prophet’s Candle" reminding us that Jesus is coming.

• The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolizes

Faith with the "Bethlehem Candle" reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

• The 3rd Sunday of Advent symbolizes Joy

with the "Shepherd’s Candle" reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.

• The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolizes

Peace with the "Angel’s Candle" reminding us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

ENHANCE YOUR WREATH WITH MORE

SYMBOLISM

You can festively decorate your Advent Wreath with other natural materials that traditionally carry their own Christian symbolism. The use of evergreens reminds us of our eternal life with

Christ; pointy holly leaves and berries represents

the crown of thorns from the Passion of Jesus and his Precious Blood; and pine cones symbolize

Christ’s Resurrection.

THE BLESSING OF THE ADVENT

WREATH

The Advent Wreath tradition also involves an Advent wreath blessing. The wreath is blessed at the beginning of Advent in a special ceremony, so that throughout the whole four weeks you or your family will be drawn into deeper conversion to Christ through its symbolism and meaning. "The blessing of the Advent wreath can encourage a wonderful sense of participation in the Advent spiritual journey. It is a wonderful devotion for the family, but it is also an appropriate devotion for those who live a single vocation—the blessing and the daily prayer does not have to be a group activity." “One person reads the Advent wreath blessing and a second person reads the accompanying passage from Sacred Scripture and the

reflection. A third person reads the concluding prayer."

The special Advent blessing is a wonderful way to start of the Advent season with a sense of meaning and purpose in anticipation of the many graces given during this liturgical season.

ADVENT WREATH PRAYERS

In addition to the initial blessing of the Advent wreath at the beginning of the season, there are also special Advent prayers to be said around the wreath as a candle is lit each week. Children in the family can also participate in this wonderful Christian tradition. Here is one prayer given for the First Sunday of Advent in the same book just mentioned, The

Essential Advent and Christmas Handbook:

Parent: Lord, you are the light of our world.

Children: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Parent: O gracious God of promise, we prepare

to worship together as we await the fulfillment of your wondrous plan. Help us to grow as we hear your Word and live in your love. Children: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

Parent: May the light of your love always shine

in our hearts. Children: Amen.

Hopefully this article helped you to understand the richness and graces to be enjoyed during the Advent season. Having and blessing the Advent wreath in your home, and using it to focus your prayer and mediation on welcoming Christ Himself into your heart, is a great way to prepare for the true meaning of Christmas.

made flesh in Christ.

I wish you a prayerful and faith centred Advent.

God Bless

Fr Eugene

A CHRISTMAS CRIB!

Every Christian house should

have a Christmas Crib, that

starts empty, and builds into the

Christmas story, so that on

Christmas Day, the baby Christ is

enthroned in the crib, as a

timely reminder of God’s for each

one of us.

Use it as a focus for your prayers

each day,

ADVENT WREATH

Each house should have an Advent Wreath

To focus on the weeks of Advent and to

help count down to the celebration of our

Salvation born in Bethlehem.

I will include in this booklet, how to construct an Advent

Wreath

ANNUAL COLLECTION OF

GOOD FOR CHRISTMAS

HAMPERS FOR THOSE

LESS FORTUNATE.

As in previous years, the

Society of St Vincent de Paul

will co-ordinating, collecting

and constructing hampers to be

delivered to bring a little cheer

to those who find Christmas a

struggle. From the FIRST

SUNDAY OF ADVENT we

will be appealing for items to

go in these hampers, Washing

up liquid, Floor / surface

cleaner, Toilet cleaner, Toilet

rolls, Kitchen rolls, Tins of

carrots / peas / beans etc.

Tinned tomatoes, Tins of

soups, Packet Soups, Packet

Sauces, Jars of Sauces, Pasta /

Rice, Tins of meat - ham -

corned beef etc, Tinned pies /

cooked meats, Tins of fish -

tuna / salmon, Tinned fruit,

Christmas puddings, Christmas

Crackers, Packets of Biscuits,

Mince pies (watch the sell-by

date), Crisps / savoury snacks,

Soft drinks (NO ALCOHOL),

Tea / Coffee, Sugar, Stuffing,

Milk (UHT or powdered), Fruit

Juice, Tinned puddings,

Breakfast Cereals, Instant

Mashed Potato, Jam, Small

Christmas Cake, Chocolate,

Sweets, Select ion Box,

unwrapped gifts of new gloves,

scarves, toys, toiletries,

anything you would like to find

in a hamper! The SVP give out

so many hampers each year and

they are always appreciated.

Any donations you have can be

placed on the altar. They will

be assembling the hampers after

the 3rd Sunday of Advent to

make sure they can be delivered

in time for Christmas. If you

know of someone who could benefit

from a hamper, please contact me

with their details including, how

many the hamper would be for,

how many adults / children - all

information given will be in the

strictest confidence. THANK

Y O U F O R Y O U R

GENEROSITY.

WHAT AM I EXPERIENCING IN

MY LIFE AS ADVENT BEGINS?

Many of us are in an ideal place to begin

Advent, but we don’t know it. It can be

tempting to think that, because we are

struggling these days, we can’t enter

into Advent without a big change in

wished ill on another?

13. Have I been faithful to

sacramental living (Holy Communion and Penance)?

14. Have I helped make my

parish community stronger and

holier? Have I contributed to

the support of the Church?

15. Have I done penance by abstaining and fasting on

obligatory days? Have I fasted before receiving communion?

16. Have I been mindful of the

poor? Do I accept God’s will

for me?

An Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry

for having offended you and I

detest all my sins, because I

dread the loss of heaven and

the pains of hell. But most of

all because I have offended you,

my God, who are all good and

deserving of all my love. I

firmly resolve with the help of

your grace, to confess my sins,

to do penance and to amend my

life. Amen.

OR

O my God, because you are so

good, I am very sorry that I

have sinned against you, and

with your help I will try not to

sin again. Amen.

THE ADVENT WREATH

TRADITION & MEANING

For many Christians, Advent wreaths are a favourite way to ce lebrate the month of December leading up to Christmas Day. Although Advent Wreaths are very popular, many are not aware of the rich meaning and symbolism embedded in this tradition. If we learn this meaning, we can appreciate it all the more!

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Advent candles readily demonstrate the strong contrast between darkness and light, which is an important biblical image. Jesus referred to himself as the "Light of the World" that dispels the darkness of sin: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Human history spanned long ages shrouded in the darkness of sin before our prophesied Saviour would finally make his appearance to free us from its dominion. As the Messiah's "Advent" (or "coming") draws nearer another candle is lit, with each candle dispelling the darkness a little more. Thus, the Advent wreath helps us to spiritually contemplate the great drama of salvation history that surrounds the birth of God Incarnate, who comes to redeem the human race and make all things new (Rev. 21:5). It also reminds us that, as Christians, we're meant to shine the light of Christ in this world. As Jesus tells us, You are the light of the world ... let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

SHAPE, NUMBER, AND COLOR

SHAPE: The circular shape of the wreath,

without beginning or end, symbolizes God's complete and unending love for us—a love that sent his Son into the world to redeem us from the curse of sin. It also represents eternal life which becomes ours through faith in Jesus Christ. NUMBER: The Advent Wreath traditionally

holds four candles which are lit, one at a time, on each of the four Sundays of the Advent season. Each candle represents 1,000 years. Added together, the four candles symbolize the 4,000 years that humanity waited for the world's Saviour—from Adam and Eve to Jesus, whose birth was foretold in the Old Testament.

Sacrament of Reconciliation often. We

Catholics are fortunate to have the

Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the

ordinary way for us to have our sins

forgiven. This sacrament is a powerful

help to get rid of our weaknesses, grow

in holiness, and lead a balanced and

virtuous life.

Examination of Conscience

1. Have God and the pursuit of sanctity in Christ been the goal

of my life? Have I denied my faith? Have I

placed my trust in false teachings or substitutes for God? Did I despair of God’s mercy?

2. Have I avoided the profane

use of God’s name in my

speech? Have I broken a solemn

vow or promise?

3. Have I honoured every

Sunday by avoiding unnecessary work, celebrating the Mass (also

holy days)? Was I inattentive at, or unnecessarily late for Mass, or did I leave early? Have I

neglected prayer for a long time?

4. Have I shown Christlike

respect to parents, spouse, and

family members, legitimate

authorities? Have I been

attentive to the religious

education and formation of my

children?

5. Have I cared for the bodily

health and safety of myself and all others? Did I abuse drugs or

alcohol? Have I supported in any way abortion, “mercy killing” or

suicide?

6. Was I impatient, angry,

envious, proud, jealous,

revengeful, or lazy? Have I

forgiven others?

7. Have I been just in my responsibilities to employer and

employees? Have I discriminated against others because of race or other reasons?

8. Have I been chaste in

thought and word? Have I used

sex only within marriage and

while open to procreating

life? Have I given myself sexual

gratification? Did I deliberately

look at impure TV, pictures,

reading?

9. Have I stolen anything from another, from my employer,

from government? If so, am I ready to repay it? Did I fulfil my

contracts? Did I rashly gamble, depriving my family of necessities?

10. Have I spoken ill of any

other person? Have I always

told the truth? Have I kept

secrets and confidences?

11. Have I permitted sexual

thoughts about someone to whom I am not married?

12. Have I desired what

belongs to other people? Have I

our mood or without distancing

ourselves from our real experience.

Nothing could be further from the

truth. Advent is about letting God

come to us. We do the letting and God

does the coming. And, the whole

mystery of our faith is that God is not

reluctant to come into an unusual

relationship (like Mary and Joseph’s)

or to be born in the poverty of a

makeshift stable. We are tempted to

prepare for Advent by cleaning

everything up first – by, in effect,

saving ourselves first. Our opening to

Advent is to realize we need saving and

to accept the saving love of our God.

So, what are we experiencing? That is the

first Advent question. If we chew that

question, then the Isaiah reading will

sound so good to our ears. Are we the

people “who walk in darkness” or have

“thick clouds” over us? Is the way

before us full of valleys and hills? Does

it seem like we are in a desert? Are

there wild beasts out there who are

ready to devour us? Have we been

guilty of some things we aren’t proud

of? Have we lost touch with who we

really want to be? Has our fidelity

become a bit shabby? Then, Isaiah

proclaims that our God is ready to

come and save us. And, none of the

things that I see as barriers even matter

to God.

Then, is Advent a passive season? No, we

have work to do, but it is different from

what we first think it is. It starts with

understanding what our preparation is.

If we haven’t prepared our hearts to be

open to asking for salvation, we’ll

never shout, beg, plead, “Come, Lord,

Jesus!” Our work is to become who we

are. Advent is a humble season, a

season of self-awareness. To say it

another way, before we decorate our

homes for Christmas, we have to clear

away some of the false masks we might

wear. These made up identities help us

be more “presentable” to others, and at

times they even fool us. When I look in

the mirror, which “me” do I see? There

is nothing wrong with putting our best

foot forward in public, and it is quite

understandable when we want others

to see our best selves. But, before our

own consciences and before God, we

want to be transparent and real. We

want to have no illusion. If there is

struggle in my life – and there has to be

some struggle in all our lives – then we

want to acknowledge that before our

God and to let that struggle be the door

into Advent’s graces.

How can we have hope and expect God

will come to us? The readings of Advent

open up a whole series of promises, full

of powerful images, that keep

reminding us that our God will come

to save us. They free our imaginations

to see and experience that coming with

drama and joy – a banquet with

“choice wines and rich, juicy food.”

They invite us to imagine when “a time

will come for singing.” They give us

the opportunity to hope beyond our

wildest hopes in the past – “the lion

will lie down with the lamb” and “they

will prepare for war no more.” They

open our hearts to imagine the love of

our God embracing us in the coming of

one like us, who knows our life and its

struggles and offers us the hope of the

Spirits presence with us every day, in

every moment.

What are the key first steps to enter into

Advent? We can all slow down. We can

all breathe more deeply. We can all

begin to trust that this will be a blessed

time. Then, when we let ourselves be

who we are, and hear the Scriptures,

we can begin to quietly pray, “Come,

Lord, Jesus.” We might expand that

prayer, in quiet moments of our days

ahead, “Come into my life. I trust you

don’t mind if it is still messy. I believe

you love me, because I need your love.

I don’t fear you can’t find the way to

my heart. Come and fill me with peace

and the love only you can give.” Some

of us will want to open our hands on

our laps or hold up our arms in the

privacy of our rooms and say out loud,

“Come, Lord, Jesus, come into this

house, into my family, into our

struggles. Come and heal us, and give

us joy again. Come and unite us and let

us experience, each in our own way, a

bit of the joy you are offering me now.”

And, before a single decoration goes

up, we have prepared for Christmas’

message with the foundation of faith,

with the mystery of Advent’s gift. God

wants to be with us. Advent is letting

God’s will be done in our hearts and in

our everyday lives.

ADVENT MASS

7.00pm TUESDAYS during

Advent.

SETTING THE SCENE FOR OUR

ADVENT ~ EVEN BEFORE IT

BEGINS

Getting in Touch with Myself One of the

best ways to prepare for the very

special season of Advent is to "get in

touch with ourselves." It may sound

odd, but one symptom of our

contemporary lives is that we can often

be quite "out of touch" with what is

going on in our very own hearts. We

are about to begin our Advent, right at

the time our Western culture begins

Christmas preparations. It is a busy

time, and our heads are filled with

details to remember. And, it is a time

of emotional complexity that is part of

this holiday season - with all of the

expectations and challenges of family

and relationships: who we want to be

with and who we struggle to be with.

So, our hearts are a bit tender, if not

completely defended from experiencing

anything deeply.

We are about to hear some very

powerful and stirring readings from

Isaiah, the Prophet. We will re-enter

the ancient tradition of a people

longing for the coming of a

Saviour. We may remember the days

of our childhood when we longed for

Christmas to come, because it was a

magical time of receiving gifts. As

adults, we have to ask ourselves:

"What is it I long for now?" The

answer won't come easily. The more

we walk around with that question,

and let it penetrate through the layers

of distraction and self-protection, the

more powerfully we will experience

Advent.

Salvation From We are about to read

and pray about the expectant hope of

I s rae l , a s expres sed th rough

Isaiah. The images we will be using

are about darkness and gloom - about

thick clouds covering the people - and

about hunger and thirst. They are

images that attempt to capture a sense

of what we feel when we are distant

from our God. There are many images

about war and conflict. They express

the powerlessness and anxiety we

experience when we feel vulnerable

and defenceless. Most of all, there are

images of a future day - a day that can

or actual sin. Actual sin is sin which

people commit. There are two kinds of

actual sin, mortal and venial. Mortal

sin is a deadly offense against God, so

horrible that it destroys the life of grace

in the soul. Three simultaneous

conditions must be fulfilled or a mortal

sin: 1) the act must be something very

serious; 2) the person must have

sufficient under-standing of what is

being done; 3) the person must have

sufficient freedom of the will.

Remember If you need help—

especially if you have been away for

some time—simply ask the priest and

he will help you by “walking” you

through the steps to make a good

confession. Before Confession Be truly

sorry for your sins. The essential act of

Penance, on the part of the penitent, is

contrition, a clear and decisive

rejection of the sin committed, together

with a resolution not to commit it

again, out of the love one has for God

and which is reborn with repentance.

The resolution to avoid commit-ting

these sins in the future (amendment) is

a sure sign that your sorrow is genuine

and authentic. This does not mean that

a promise never to fall again into sin is

necessary. A resolution to try to avoid

the near occasions of sin suffices for

true repentance. God’s grace in

cooperation with the intention to

rectify your life will give you the

strength to resist and overcome

temptation in the future. Examination

of Conscience Before going to

Confession you should make a review

of mortal and venial sins since your last

sacramental confession, and should

express sorrow for sins, hatred for sins

and a firm resolution not to sin again.

A helpful pattern for examination of

consc ience i s to rev iew the

Commandments of God and the

Precepts of the Church. During

Confession. After examining your

conscience and telling God of your

sorrow, go into the confessional. You

may kneel at the screen or sit to talk

face-to-face with the priest. Begin your

confession with the sign of the cross,

“In the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit. My last

confession was ____ weeks (months,

years) ago.” Say the sins that you

remember. Start with the one (s) that is

most difficult to say. (In order to make

a good confession the faithful must

confess all mortal sins, according to

kind and number.) After confessing all

the sins you remember since your last

good confession you may conclude by

saying, “I am sorry for these and all the

sins in my past life. ”Listen to the

words of the priest. He will assign you

some penance. Doing the penance will

diminish the temporal punishment due

to sins already forgiven. When invited,

express some prayer of sorrow or Act

of Contrition. At the End of

Confession Listen to the words of

absolution, the sacramental forgiveness

of the Church through the ordained

priest. As you listen to the words of

forgiveness you may make the sign of

the cross with the priest. If he closes by

saying, “Give thanks to the Lord for

He is good,” answer, “For His mercy

endures forever. ”After Confession

Give thanks to God for forgiving you

again. If you recall some serious sin

you forgot to tell, rest assured that it

has been forgiven with the others, but

be sure to confess it in your next

Confession. Do Your Assigned

Penance Resolve to return to the

2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter 1 cup brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 tablespoons water Sift together flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add almond extract. Add dry ingredients and mix until blended, dough will be crumbly. Add water to make dough workable. If too soft, shape into log, wrap in plastic and chill (as the dough has butter, if it chills too long it will

become rock hard and need to warm to soften).

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, grease cookie sheets. Flour mould well and tap to remove extra flour. Take a piece of dough and work it into the mould with your fingers. If the mould is deep enough, excess dough may be removed with a knife, cutting down the length of the mould. If the mould is quite shallow, just cut off any dough that mounds up too high. With your fingers lightly pull dough inward slightly from the design edges. Turn the mould over and bang one end on wax paper to release the cookie. Carefully transfer cookie to baking sheet with a metal spatula. Flour mould before shaping each cookie. Or, use a cookie stamp to make cookies. Bake for 12 minutes. ST NICHOLAS SOUP. A simple, healthy soup from Our Lady of the Resurrection Benedictine Monastery, Millbrook, near New York City

2 ounces butter or margarine 2 leeks or onions 4 medium-sized carrots 3 turnips 4 potatoes half a medium-sized head white cabbage 1 teaspoon salt or more, according to taste 4 quarts water (editor’s note: you may want to use less water)

croutons (see recipe below)

1/3 cup minced chervil, chopped Wash and peel the vegetables. Slice them into small pieces. Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add the vegetables and salt and stir a few times. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and let it rest for about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the water and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and allow the soup to cook slowly for about 30 to 40 minutes. Stir from time to time.

When the soup is done, blend all of it in a blender until it becomes creamy and even. Serve hot, adding some croutons to each bowl and sprinkling some chervil on top. 6–8 servings.

CROUTONS

6 tablespoons olive oil 2 garlic cloves, minced 6 slices French bread (or Italian, or any other of your choice), sliced in cubes dash each of dried thyme and dried parsley Pour the oil into a pot, add the garlic, bread cubes, and herbs. and saute them over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Stir and turn constantly. Remove the croutons and keep them in a lightly warm oven until you are ready to use them. Croutons are especially useful as garnish in thick, creamy soups.

SIMPLE GUIDE TO THE

SACRAMENT OF

RECONCILIATION.

The basic requirement for a good

confession is to have the intention of

returning to God like the “prodigal

son” and to acknowledge our sins with

the true sorrow before the priest. Sin in

My Life Modern society has lost a

sense of sin. As a Catholic follower of

Christ, I must make an effort to

recognize sin in my daily actions,

words and omissions. The Gospels

show how important is the forgive-ness

of our sins. Lives of saints prove that

the person who grows in holiness has a

stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins,

and a need for the Sacrament of

Reconciliation or Confession. The

Differences in Sins As a result of

Original Sin, human nature is

weakened. Baptism, by imparting the

life of Christ’s grace, takes away

Original Sin, and turns us back toward

God. The consequences of this

weakness and the inclination to evil

persist, and we often commit personal

only be called the Lord's - when all the

tears will be wiped away, when there

will be plenty to eat and drink, and

when there will be no more conflict

and no more war. God's salvation will

be made known. God's victory will be

complete. These are very precious days

for us to come into intimate contact

with our own need for salvation. It is a

time to make friends with our tears, our

darkness, our hunger and thirst. What

is missing? What eludes my

grasp? What name can I give to the

"restlessness" in my heart? What is the

emptiness I keep trying to "feed" with

food, with fantasy, with excitement,

with busyness? What is the conflict

that is "eating at me"? What is the

sinful, unloving, self-centred pattern for

which I haven't asked for forgiveness

and healing? Where do I need a peace

that the world cannot give?

Coming to know where I need a Saviour is

how I can prepare for Advent I am

preparing to listen to the promises,

listen to these rich texts announcing the

liberation I can truly long for. When

my heart is open, when my hands are

open, when my mouth is open and

ready to ask for freedom, healing and

peace, then I am ready to begin

Advent.

Come, Lord, Jesus. Come and Visit Your

People. We Await Your Coming; Come, O,

Lord.

Isaiah 35

The desert and the parched land will

exult; the steppe will rejoice and

bloom. They will bloom with abundant

flowers, and rejoice with joyful song.

The glory of Lebanon will be given to

them, the splendour of Carmel and

Sharon; They will see the glory of the

LORD, the splendour of our

God. Strengthen the hands that are

feeble, make firm the knees that are

weak, Say to those whose hearts are

frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is

your God, he comes with vindication;

With divine recompense he comes to

save you. Then will the eyes of the

blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be

cleared; then will the lame leap like a

stag, then the tongue of the dumb will

sing. Streams will burst forth in the

desert, and rivers in the steppe. The

burning sands will become pools, and

the thirsty ground, springs of water; the

abode where jackals lurk will be a

marsh for the reed and papyrus. A

highway will be there, called the holy

way; No one unclean may pass over it,

nor fools go astray on it. No lion will

be there, nor beast of prey go up to be

met upon it. It is for those with a

journey to make, and on it the

redeemed will walk. Those whom the

LORD has ransomed will return and

enter Zion singing, crowned with

everlasting joy; They will meet with joy

and gladness, sorrow and mourning

will flee.

PARISH ADVENT

PENITENTIAL MASS

7.00pm

WEDNESDAY 18th

DECEMBER ~ Holy Family

Church.

WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO

ENTER INTO ADVENT?

It happens every year, as predictably as

drawing up a shopping list, decorating

the tree and planning the Christmas

Dinner. Every year we think, “Now

THIS is the year when I really will

enter into Advent.” And there it stays.

Nothing happens. We know in our

hearts that Advent can be more than a

"pre-Christmas" season, more than

those four weeks of getting ready for

the Big Day on December 25th. We sit

in Church and hear the different

readings, the darkness and the promise

of hope.

We ponder in our hearts: Our lives are

full, our families are good, our homes

beautiful. We have everything, simply

everything we could want. But in the

quiet darkness, we are aware of

something stirring in our hearts, a

longing we can't name. Something that

no trip to the store, no decorations,

Christmas dishes or new ornaments

can fill. The longing might be risky,

even dangerous, so we push it away —

quickly — and busy ourselves again.

There is so much to do in these weeks.

The days are coming, says the LORD,

when I will fulfil the promise

I made to the house of Israel and

Judah.

Jeremiah 3

The stirring returns. What is this

promise for us? What does it mean for

us in our comfortable, complicated and

messy lives? We want to be better

people, and our lives are not perfect.

We don't want to delve into our

relationships at home because we don't

want to upset the way things are. We

are so often impatient with our

children, unreasonable with our

spouses and we might even admit,

disappointed in our lives. We echo the

d i s c i p l e s ' c o n f u s i o n a n d

disappointment after the crucifixion:

“We had thought it would be

different." But we have everything we

could want. What else is there?

The Lord GOD will wipe away

the tears from all faces;

The reproach of his people he will

remove

from the whole earth; for the Lord has

spoken.

On that day it will be said:

“Behold our God, to whom we looked

to save us!

This is the LORD for whom we

looked;

let us rejoice and be glad that he has

saved us!”

For the hand of the LORD will rest on

this mountain.

Isaiah 25

What if this Advent, we allow

ourselves to imagine a life that is

different? What if our hearts were at

peace and our lives more satisfying?

That longing in the most hidden

corners of our hearts is something holy,

a Holy Longing, a desire for a deeper

relationship with God.

We might squirm at that and stammer

all of the excuses we know: "Not now.

I'm really busy. I'm not a very holy

person. I'm going to get to a serious

relationship with God as soon as my

kids are gone... when I don't have to

care for my parents; when I get the

promotion at work; when we move to a

new house." There are dozens of ways

we can evade the issue, but still, that

longing is there for something more.

Advent is a time to recognize both our

holy longing and the healing love God

has for us, despite the many barriers we

put up between ourselves and God. We

can start simply and just rest at the

edge of our beds in the mornings, open

our hands and whisper, "Come, Lord

the gift of life that comes to us through

Jesus. We will sing, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant,” with a

much deeper meaning for us. When there

is more light than darkness, more freedom

than addiction, more hope than

discouragement, more peace than conflict,

we have much reason to rejoice at such a

gift. Putting the meaning back into

Christmas is reason enough to give Advent a new chance this year, in the midst of our

busy lives.

CELEBRATING ST NICHOLAS ~ SANTA

CLAUS.~ 6th December

Bisschopswijn (Dutch Bishops’ Wine) Traditional beverage for Dutch Sinterklaas Eve 1 litre red wine 1 lemon 1 orange 20 cloves 2 tablespoons sugar 1 cinnamon stick a pinch of mace and saffron (optional)

Wash and dry the lemon and orange. Insert 10 cloves into each. Put the wine, sugar, lemon, orange and cinnamon (and the mace and saffron tied in muslin, if you are using them) into a pan. Cover and bring slowly to the boil. Turn down the heat and allow the wine to simmer very gently for approximately. 1 hour. Remove the spices and the fruit. Heat the wine again, but do not let it boil. Serve in heat-resistant glasses. Bisschopswijn or mulled wine is a traditional drink on “Sinterklaasavond. Saint Nicholas Cocoa Mix

Ingredients:

8 cups (20 ounces) powdered milk 1 (16-ounce) package instant cocoa 1½ cups powdered sugar 10 ounces (2½ cups) powdered non-dairy creamer 8 ounces (4 cups) miniature marshmallows 6-8 ounces finely crushed peppermint candy Candy canes, optional Directions:

Combine powdered milk, cocoa, powdered sugar, creamer, marshmallows and peppermint candy; mix well. Store in an airtight container. Makes 5 quart jars of mix. For each serving, put ½ cup of mix in a regular-

size mug, fill with boiling water; mix well with candy cane. Enjoy!! Cocoa or hot chocolate is said to be St. Nicholas’ favourite This mix makes a nice St. Nicholas Day gift for friends and neighbours, as well as a good beverage for family celebration. For gifts, put the mix in wide-mouth quart jars, tie with ribbon and a recipe tag (print tags on card or cover stock).

Janina’s Piernik (Polish Honey Spice Cakes)

Imagine baking this piernik on a day when fasting and abstinence was the order of the day just as it had been for many days before, and for more to come. The tantalizing aroma of its baking was so tempting that it was indeed a punishment not even to be able to lick the spoon or the bowl! Grandmother was there! She sat fingering her rosary watching every move one might make.

5 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 cup honey ½ cup butter 2 eggs 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar ½ teaspoon cloves ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Melt one tablespoon sugar in large skillet and allow to caramelize. Pour in one fourth cup water, allow to boil. Add rest of sugar. When sugar has dissolved, add honey and spices. Allow to come to boil. Let cool. Sift flour. Put aside one cup with which to flour the board. Add to the caramelized sugar, butter, the eggs, flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Knead very well, adding more flour to make elastic dough. Refrigerate dough for thirty minutes. Roll out on floured board and make favourite cut outs. Bake at 350º for 15 minutes. Gluten-free Speculoos Cookies may be made in a mould, stamped with a cookie stamp, or rolled and cut-out with cookie cutters. They are gluten-free and egg-free.

3 cups Gluten-free flour 2 teaspoons xanthan gum ½ teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cloves 1 teaspoon allspice, optional

¼ teaspoon salt

“darkness,” for example. Darkness can

include any discouragement, disappointment, frustration and any limits

I’m experiencing. It might be struggles in my primary relationships or feelings of self-

doubt. It might be struggles at work, that tend to dominate my life and hurt my

family relationships. It might be repeated

struggles with temptations and sin that have become patterns in my life and embarrass

me, while I can’t foresee any hope of change.

Don’t Rush – First Things First: It is

important not to skip this first step. There might be Christmas decorations in the

shopping malls or Christmas parties to go to, but the first step we need to experience

is to slow down and begin at the beginning. If we are to have a deep religious

experience that allows us to celebrate the

Incarnation – in the past and its meaning for me today – then we have to first taste

the depth of our longing for a Saviour.

Until we feel our need for a Saviour, we

are at risk of missing gifts of the Season of

Advent altogether.

Step Two – Longing and Anticipation:

Once we experience our deep desire for Light and Hope, Liberty and Peace, we can

start to pray with deep longing and anticipation. Longing is an expression of

how much we want something.

Anticipation is an expression of how much we expect it to become a reality. Weeks 2

and 3 of Advent can become days of real faith, full of deep desire and powerful hope.

Of course, the prayers and readings of this period are all about offering us these graces.

The expression of promise and expectant

hope can feed our desires.

Letting It Become Personal: The second

part of Advent takes us into the story of Jesus’ coming to be our Saviour. This is not

the story of a generic god saving us. Jesus is

sent to be a human Saviour. God becomes one of us in Jesus. So, in our longing and

anticipation, we can begin to get to know him through his relatives who prepare the

way for his coming. We can see the

hesitation and questioning of Zachary and

Elizabeth, then Mary and Joseph. They all make great acts of faith to believe, to trust,

that the promises made would be fulfilled. We can use the background times of the

third week of Advent to let our faith become personal, as we express our faith,

our trust in Jesus’ coming to us this year.

“Lord, Jesus, I trust that you can bring your

Light into my life, that you can give me hope

as you free me and fill me with your peace.

Thank you for letting me prepare for your

coming this year. Come, Lord Jesus, come.”

The Final Days of Advent – Getting to the

Manger: So often the final days before Christmas become a blur of activity.

Hopefully, this year, we have gotten good

at using the background time each day to focus our reflection and conversation with

God the Father and with Jesus. Now that we come to the hectic days, we can choose

to stay focused right up to and including Christmas. One of the special ways to do

that is to not lose the manger. It is the

central piece of the story and it is loaded with meaning and message, consolation

and fruit for us. The richest of the Advent experiences are here – in letting ourselves

imagine the Holy Family of Joseph and Mary arriving in Bethlehem for the census,

having nowhere to stay. A special

transformation begins to happen the day before Christmas when we start to imagine

that stable where our Saviour was born. It is the deepening antidote to some of the

excesses of Christmas preparations – too

much drinking, too much glitz, celebrations which are quite a few degrees off centre. It

is there in the stable, in its humble feeding trough that I will find the fulfilment of my

longing and hope. In that poverty my Saviour, my Light and Peace, reveals to me

the Good News he came to bring. He came

into this world as he would leave it – humble and dependent upon God.

Christmas Joy: Christmas will be totally different, after this kind of deep Advent

journey. We can’t help but experience real

joy for having prepared to be renewed in

Jesus!" If we let ourselves feel what is

in our hearts, we know they are filled

with love. We can carry that

experience with us as we go through

even the busiest of our days. We may

not know exactly where to begin or

how to fill this longing in our hearts but

it is simple. God waits with infinite

love and with arms outstretched to

meet us. The words we say don't

matter. We can speak as if God is a

friend we have not seen in a long time,

but one with whom we can sit in a

comfortable silence.

It's just about taking the first step. Even

if we are fearful about this next step,

we can say to God what is in our

hearts. In this Advent season, it's time

to risk, to make the first step, to find

our way back home.

Loving God, I don't have the right

words. I'm not sure where to begin, but

I know you are the hope and promise

of the peace to come in my life. Be with

me this day. Let me look at my life and

my day today and open my heart

completely as I begin, "Come, Lord

Jesus."

PREPARING OUR CHILDREN

FOR ADVENT.

P r e p a r i n g O u r s e l v e s F i r s t

The first, and most important thing we

can do to prepare our children for

Advent is to prepare ourselves

first. After all, if we are impatient and

crabby - pressured by all the busyness

of this season - we won't be very good

at teaching our children anything about

quiet, expectant waiting. If they never

hear us talk about what we long for

from the Lord, how will they learn

about this kind of longing? And, if

they hear "the coming of Jesus" talked

about at church, and perhaps at school,

but never hear us talk about the

meaning of the coming of Jesus for us,

what kind of message will we be giving

them?

Of course, our children will be

watching us and listening to us - what

we say and do, and what we fail to say

and do. So, the first thing we can give

our children is our own commitment to

enter Advent as deeply as we can. We

want to clear our own spirits so that we

can be present to theirs. The graces we

receive can be the graces we share with

them.

Talking with Our Children

To talk with our children about our

own religious experience doesn't mean

we have to know all kinds of

"theology" to "teach them," nor does it

mean we have to "dumb it down" to

ridiculously simple terms. We don't

have to "burden" children with the

burdens we have to bear in our adult

relationship with God, and we don't

have to make their world more

unsettling and scary than it already

is. We just have to find the right time

and place to talk with them about our

faith.

We don't have to criticize everything in

our contemporary culture's preparation

for and celebration of Christmas. But,

what we tell them about Advent, will

help temper the materialism and

consumerism involved in the marketing

of Christmas to children.

The Message

We can tell our children about Isaiah,

the prophet. We can tell them that

God has wanted to be the one who

would lead and take care of his

people. But they rebelled against God,

and demanded kings, just like all the

peoples around them had. So, God let

them have kings. As it turned out,

there was one bad king after

another. And God sent prophets to the

people and the kings to remind them of

the agreement - the "covenant" - God

made with them: I'll be your God and

you be my people.

Now the way the people made

someone a king was to pour a bit of oil

on their head. The one who was

"anointed" this way with oil became

the king. Well, the prophets began to

tell the people that God would send

them "an anointed one" (the word they

use to say "anointed one" in Hebrew is

"Messiah.") In fact, they said that this

Messiah would be called "Emmanuel",

which in Hebrew means, "God is with

us."

So, the message of the prophets was

about a promise - that God would save

his people from all that they were

suffering. The prophets use such

wonderful images to tell the people that

they could expect and hope for a day

when "every tear would be wiped

away." It would be a day of great

peace - "the lion would lie down with

the lamb" and the people will beat their

spears into hooks to prune trees

with. And, the most unbelievable

promise of all: "death will be no

more."

We all know now that what God was

preparing his people for was the

coming of Jesus, the Christ (Christos in

Greek means "the anointed one.")

Then, of course, we can tell them about

Zachary and Elizabeth and about

Joseph and Mary. We can tell them

the story from Luke's gospel

first. What is so surprising about the

story is that he comes, not like a king,

bu t in g r ea t s im pl i c i ty and

poverty. Our God is truly with us, as a

little baby. He knows what is like to be

a child - everything.

We can tell this story to our children in

so many ways. We can let them tell us

what it means to them. Through all this

conversation, the message will come

through. During these weeks of

Advent, we want to look forward to

celebrating his coming to live our life

and to set us free - free from our sins

and free from death itself.

We want to open up Advent for them,

so that they can get ready for - look

forward to - Christmas in a different

way. We want to introduce them to

faith-filled meanings for light/darkness,

hunger/thirsts, and all the other images

of Isaiah. We want them to really

know the meaning of "the Christmas

story."

Advent Activities

It would be great to create a Nativity

"place" in our home. Before we just

put a nativity scene there, we can let it

be an empty space for a while. We can

prepare for setting it up, by putting

things in that place which represent the

l o n g i n g , t h e d e s i r e , t h e

emptiness. Perhaps that place can

begin with a basket. Children can

place notes in the basket that express

what they hope for, for each member in

the family, for their friends, for people

in the world. They can write special

prayers for loved ones who are sick, for

children in their school who are

difficult. We can keep telling the

children that it is into this special place

of our longing and faith that Jesus

comes. Then, when we set up the

Nativity scene in that place, it can

become a special place for the children.

filled with a grief that runs so very deep.

You blessed me with a loving relationship and now it is gone from my life. How can I

be faithful to that love and the memory of that love and my sorrow in this season of

"Rejoice!"?? Tears are so close to the surface all the time

and helpful friends who want to "keep me

busy" don't seem to really understand that I need to embrace my grief. I am afraid of

letting go of the sadness and losing the deep love connection I had.

Instead of entering into the Rejoice of Christmas, I long for the sorrow of Lent. I

beg you Lord, show me how the two are

connected. I ponder the name Emmanuel

and know that it means "God with us." With us. With me in this world, in

this sorrow. If I look beyond my pain, I know that you, too, suffered so much in

this world. I never understood so clearly

before that Emmanuel is what your nativity

is really about. You are in my world, in my pain.

Thank you, Lord, for the loved one you blessed my life with. Grant me now in my

grief, a peace. Give me a comfort that

might not make the tears go away, but that lets me feel your presence as you take up a

place deep in my heart with me.

Experiencing Advent Deeply, for Busy

People

The challenge of entering Advent, or of

entering into any religious experience, these days is that we are often very busy. We may

feel bad that we don’t have time, but it is true, we just don’t have time. The result is

that our experience of Advent is four Sunday Masses, which begin with lighting a

new candle in the Advent wreath and the

rest of it just passes around us, without any real effect.

A Proposal for a New Way to Experience

Advent This Year

If we can’t squeeze any more time out of our schedule to use the resources on this

site, including the daily prayer and the

reflections, then there are two things that

are critical for a new way to experience

Advent: desire and focus.

Desire: The powerful advantage of Advent

is that it offers us light in the midst of

darkness, hope in the midst of despair,

liberty in the midst of captivity, and peace

in the midst of war or conflict. The key to

a grace-filled Advent is to begin by

identifying where I am experiencing darkness, despair, captivity and war.

Recognizing our own unique version of these struggles is the first grace of Advent.

We can’t say “Come, Lord Jesus” with any real meaning unless we have a felt

experience of what it is we need. Once we

experience our need, then the desire can formulate in our heart to ask for what we

need.

Focus: How do we do this first step, if we

don’t have time? We do it by focusing our

attention whenever we can, especially during the “background” times of our day.

These are the in between times – in the shower, getting dressed, walking down

stairs, getting coffee, driving to work, walking down the hall, doing laundry,

shopping, walking to the bathroom,

preparing a meal, walking from one meeting to another, heading home from

work, getting ready for bed. In these very brief times, there is something in our minds.

Sometimes, we are “day dreaming” or our minds are wandering. At other times, we

are thinking about what we have to do, or

we are full of anxiety about something coming up, or perhaps we are “replaying” a

memory or imagining a future conversation. Whatever is going on in our

minds and hearts during those

“background” times can easily be refocused. It takes a little practice and some

discipline, but it works.

The First Week of Advent: Our days of the

first week of Advent can be transformed if

we decide – consciously choose, with a deep desire – to use the background times

of each day to explore where I am in spiritual need. We can use the images of

Advent to help ourselves explore

I can begin Advent today and make this

season deeper by making room in my heart for you. I can take just a moment before I

get out of bed in the morning and feel the empty place in my life I so often fill with

my busy-ness. It is there I need you the most. Come, Lord Jesus. Come into that

dark and lonely spot in my heart. You

know what my needs are more than I do. Let me feel your love. If I only carry that

thought with me each day, it will prepare me for Christmas.

Thank you, Jesus. It's not too late. You are waiting to enter my life today, where ever I

let you in. Help me to open my heart in

these remaining days.

Shopping during Advent Dear God, as I look through my gift

shopping list, I hold up to you each person

listed on it. Slowly, one by one, I ask that the fire of your abundant love burn within

each of them. I pray that the gift I find for each person will bring joy into that life.

But, help me to keep a balance this season,

Lord. Let me keep my buying in perspective, not to spend more than I need

to or can afford. Let me not give in to the pressures of this world and not equate love

with money spent. Let me always remember the many, many people who

have so much less in material things. Help

me to buy wisely, so that my choices will not burden those in other countries who are

so deeply affected by this country's economy.

And finally, loving God, help me to find time in the frantic moments of each day to

become centred on you. Walking through

a store, riding on the bus, hurrying down a street: let each of these times be moments

when I can remember your incredible love f o r m e a n d r e j o i c e i n i t .

Praying with my spouse in bed on a

December morning.

In the cold, dark early mornings of December, it can be difficult to leave the

warmth of our beds. This might be a good

time to "risk" a new tradition - leaning over

toward our spouse with a loving embrace and beginning our day with a prayer.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for the gift of this person in my life. You know how

much I rely on him/her, and need him/her.

Every Advent season, it is so easy to get

caught up in the frantic pace of holiday life. Help me to love my spouse more

unselfishly and to give without wondering what I get back. May this marriage you

have called us into, be a way to glorify you in our lives, in every moment of this

day. Bless our family and keep them all

safe today. I ask this humbly and gratefully.

Advent as I Consider the World Situation

God of comfort, these times seem so uncertain, so scary. The world seems

darker than it has in the past and I am less

sure of myself. Maybe that's a good thing; maybe now I am turning to you with a

realization that I need you so much more and that my life is not in my own

control. Let me not forget all of those around the world who are frightened at this

moment. Help those who are victims of

terrorism and war. Be with those who have lost so much in the past year. Hold us all in

your loving arms and let us be comforted by the strength and peace you want to

much to offer us through the birth of your son, Jesus. Thank you for the many gifts

you offer us.

Preparing for Christmas after the loss of a

Loved One Such a loss! Such a keen and tearing

pain. Even when I am in a crowded room, there is a loneliness I never knew

existed. Comforting God, I have turned to

you so many times for solace, and I come again. While the world is bright and

sparkling, my heart feels leaden and has an emptiness that cannot be filled.

Lord, how can I enter into this season of joy? In my head I celebrate your birth into

this world, but in my everyday life, I am

We can involve children in preparing

food for others. If there is a pre-

Christmas party with friends or family,

or even a "pot-luck" event we have to

go to, we can involve the children in

p repa r ing som eth ing fo r the

party. And, for Christmas dinner itself,

we can tutor the children in making

food for others to be happy and full and

grateful. We can show them recipes

they can make, and let them "in" on the

big plans for the whole thing.

We can make plans to visit someone

who is homebound or in a nursing

home at this time. We can prepare our

children for how to go there, how to be

there, how to be grateful for the

experience.

We can take an Advent or Christmas

song, and copy it for our family reading

- perhaps a prayer to be read, over and

over. We can talk about what the

words mean.

With older children, we might find a

time to prepare food for a meal

program for the homeless or go there to

help serve and meet the families

there. We may even be able to get

them to tell the younger children about

the experience, and why it fits so well

with preparing for Christmas.

And, as we make these special family

traditions during Advent, we will come

up with others, that fit our family well.

DINNER PRAYERS FOR THE

FIRST PART OF ADVENT ~ until

16th December

The First Part of Advent has a special

feel to it. Unlike the rest of the

Liturgical year, the readings don't focus

as much on the Gospels as they do the

first readings. Those readings, many

from Isaiah, talk of people who walk in

darkness and of the light that shines; of

hope in the gloom and of a God who

loves us and wants to walk with us.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere,

the wintry light matches the readings.

The days are short and the kitchen

windows reveal the darkness outside by

dinner time. How perfect that a symbol

of the season is the Advent wreath,

with its four candles for the four weeks.

We watch as the increasing number of

glowing candles on the wreath reflect

the growing light among us.

These are prayers for those dinner

times, when the words don't always

come, when we are too busy to create

something ourselves and even the

beloved traditional words don't seem to

fit the occasion.

Special Note: This is also the time to be

creative, not guilty. If we don't often

gather as a family because dinner time

is hectic with activities, create a new

tradition and make it a before-bedtime

ritual to light a candle and say a few

prayers reflecting on the day that has

ended. Or if morning works better, start

the day with Advent prayers holding in

our hearts our hopes for the day ahead

and lighting the Advent candle over

breakfast.

If I am alone in my home,

I can create my own ritual, knowing

that I am joining with Christians

around the world in this sacred season.

There is not a single right way to do

any of these prayers and rituals — the

point is to have some brief period in the

day to focus our intentions on Advent,

to feel the hopes and promises of our

God for us and for this day. These

prayers are a starting point. Feel free to

re-write or adapt them so they work

best in your situation.

For Families:

Oh, Lord, be with us now as we gather

around this wreath. As we light these

candles, may this time together open

our eyes to see your love in our lives

and in the love we share for each other.

Help us to be grateful for all of the

ways you shine a light in the darkness

of our hearts. Let us feel that love from

you and be grateful for it. Open our

hearts to those who have so much less

than we do; those whose lives are so

full of pain that they cannot see the

light of your love. Show us how to

carry that light to other people. Amen. Pick one question to talk about with each

other at this time.

• How did I bring light into

someone's life today?

• What person or people do I think

needs a special light in their lives?

How could I bring that to them?

• Name a light someone brought

into my life today.

For a couple:

O, Lord, you know the stirrings in our

souls this Advent season. You are the

source of the longing you have placed

in each of our hearts. Help us to

respond to that grace and open our

hearts to each other with the light of

your love. Share your patient love with

us so that we may bring that gift to

each other and cherish each other in a

special way this night. Please keep our

hearts open to those in our lives and in

this world who need, as we do, to be

healed by your loving light. Send us to

carry that light into the world and open

our eyes to those in our midst who

need your healing touch this night.

Amen. Pick one question to talk about with each

other at this time.

• How did I respond to the grace of

God's love today? Where did I

shine a light?

• What person or people do I think

needs a special light in their lives?

How could I bring that to them?

• Name a light someone brought

into my life today.

For a single person:

Oh God of my heart, thank you for this

day. As I light this candle I am grateful

for all of the people in my life who

bring show me your love. Help me to

bless my family and friends with

patience and kindness this season. May

I be a light in the darkness for them.

Help me to open my eyes to all of those

around me whose needs are so much

greater than my own. Give me the

courage and strength to respond to

their needs as I can. Amen. Pick one question to reflect on:

• How did I respond to the grace of

God's love today? Where did I

shine a light?

• What person or people do I think

needs a special light in their lives?

How could I bring that to them?

• Name a light someone brought

into my life today.

For a widowed person:

Oh comforting saviour, you know my

pain and loneliness better than anyone.

You know of the isolation in my heart

and how little I feel like caring about

Advent and Christmas this year. Help

to give me your generous heart so that I

can share my love with others this year.

to call out, "Come, Lord Jesus."

Working in the Kitchen During Advent

What joy this brings me, Lord. Thank you for guiding me into the kitchen for some

time of silence with you. The room fills with wonderful smells and I share tastes

and samples with my family as they make

extra trips through the kitchen on days like this. Thank you for each and every one of

these special people in my family. They are like the ingredients of my own life, adding

spice and heat and wonderful flavour and melding together into a unique dish

designed to glorify you.

You know, God, cooking is quite a bit like my life. It's messy, I get careless and

sometimes things don't turn out as I had planned. But in the mess of my life, that's

where I can turn to you. Help me when I have to deal with being so imperfect. Bless

me with humility when I grapple with my

own poverty. Let me feel how deeply you love me, even when all I have to offer is

scorched and humble. Be with me Lord, in this kitchen

today. Help me to take the time in this intimate silence with you, to pray for each

person who will eat this food. Allow me to

remember all of those around the world who have so little food, and bless those

who share what little they have.

Wrapping gifts

Dear Lord, I am tired. I sit here surrounded by ribbons and paper, gifts and tags and I

struggle to feel the spirit of giving. I can barely remember which gift is for whom

and at moments it all seems so far from

your birth. Help me to take this moment to think of the many gifts you have given to

me, the many ways your grace has blessed my life. Help me to remember that each

gift is a tiny mirror of the generosity I see so clearly in your life and of the many ways

you shower me with such lavish and

undeserved love. Let me sit here for just a moment and feel that joy in my

heart. Thank you. Thank you.

Praying Through Exhaustion Oh Lord, I am so tired. It seems like the

lists of to-do's get longer each day, the frenzy in my home each night gets

wilder. It seems like the holidays have

barely started and already I am behind. Help me, dear Jesus. Let me feel your

loving arms wrap me tightly in the warm embrace of your endless love. Teach me to

make choices about my time, to remember what is important this season and to say

"NO" whenever my Yes would take me

away from your peace. Fill me with patience, love and a sense of humor.

Remind me of your deep love for me and let the fire of that love be something I can

share with everyone around me.

Halfway through Advent - have I missed

it? Dear Jesus,

It's halfway through Advent and I'm not sure what happened. I really wanted to

make this a reflective and calm season,

preparing for your birth and pondering how you came into this world in such a

stunningly humble way. But it's so busy and I'm distracted and sometimes even short-

tempered with those I love the most. Where are you in THAT?

I am discouraged and wish I could start

over. But as I sit here in the rare moment of silence, I contemplate your birth. In a bed

of straw, with the smell of manure everywhere. It's a mess in that stable ... and

come to think of it, my life is a little messy, too. I suddenly see that it is not just into the

mess of the stable but into my mess that

you enter the world. You came into a humble place and that humility is often

where I live my life - feeling guilty or distracted and wishing I were a better

person. But if I stop thinking of myself and focus on you, I realize that there you are,

waiting to love me, even though I have so

many unfulfilled good intentions about prayer, so many desires of how to change

this fleeting Advent season.

Christmas. The gospels are taken from

the infancy narratives of Matthew and

Luke. Each of these days, the first

reading is taken from the Hebrew

scriptures, and chosen to match the

gospel. In many cases we can imagine

Matthew or Luke having the first

reading open on their desks while they

wrote the gospel. So, we can read the

gospel first and then read the first

reading. The sense of anticipation and

fulfilment builds as we read the story of

the preparation for Jesus' first coming

into this world for us.

PRAYERS FOR ADVENT OCCASIONS!

Watching the Sunrise During Dark,

Mornings of Advent

Thank you. What a gift this morning from you as I watched the blazing sunrise

through a cloudy winter sky. It is hard getting up these dark mornings, Lord, and

yet you gift me with a sight that I miss at

other times of year, when the weather is warmer and the sun rises before I get up. I

stared out the window at the red and purple light, gloriously framed by the gold of the

rising sun. "Be still, and know that I am God" was the only thing that came to me. I

watched in silence, filled with a sense of

y o u r p r e s e n c e i n m y l i f e .

I am filled with gratitude this day for such a treasure and could feel it and see it as a gift

from you. Thank you for your love. Today, let me carry a sense of how much you love

me to send me such a gift. Let that

awareness of your love change the way I treat others today. Let me be more reverent

in the irritations of the day. I ask your help to move through my errands and holiday

preparations today with peace and a sense of your sunrise in my heart. Your glory fills

my spirit and I want only to give thanks

with my life this day.

Preparing for Visitors to My Home

They are coming! Oh, dear Lord, like the Wisemen wandering toward the stable,

visitors are heading to my house. I am so excited about this visit. But I can get so

side-tracked about how my house looks, or

the food that I serve. I can only keep this p r a y e r f u l w i t h y o u r h e l p .

Help me to stay humble this Advent and

Christmas season. You invite us into the humility of the stable where you were

born. Help me to remember that humble-

ness and the simple joy of your birth. Let me stay focused on my guests, not on

myself and my worries about my house. Guide me in rejoicing in who these people

are and in loving them freely.

Praying Over My To-Do List

I sit here with my list, Lord, and I know I need help finding a balance. I am so

looking forward to Christmas Day, with the family here, the company, the wonderful

celebration. But, Lord, there is SO much to

do! When will it all get done? How will I maintain any semblance of inner peace in

this "peaceful" season? I think, Lord, that I need some balance in

my life. I feel so torn between wanting to cook and fill my house with wonderful

welcoming smells, and wanting to finish

decorating the house. I have shopping to do, the house to clean and cards to write

and mail. When? How? Help me, guide me, Lord. Help me to set

priorities around doing those things that will bring me closer to you. Maybe my

house really is clean enough, or maybe I

can ask my family for help. Can the cards wait until a quiet afternoon after

Christmas? Can my house decorations be simpler? Is there more than a little ego

involved when I want so desperately to have my house "magazine perfect" for the

holidays?

Help me rediscover the joy of simplicity, Lord. Help me to remember what I am

celebrating. Help me to find it in my heart

Give me the healing that I need and the

courage to continue to live out your

plan for me. Most of all, Lord, let me

not become self-absorbed with my own

loss. Help me to look beyond my own

pain to see the others in this life who

are struggling more than I am. Give me

your love that I might carry that light

to others in this world, and to be

comforted as I comfort others. Amen. Pick one question to reflect on:

• Where in my own pain, did I feel

God's love today?

• Where is God inviting me to reach

out to others? Who in my life

needs a special light in their lives?

How could I bring that to them?

Name a light someone brought into my

life today.

DINNER PRAYERS FOR THE

SECOND PART OF ADVENT ~

17th ~ 24th December.

In the second part of Advent, the last

eight days, from December 17 through

Christmas Eve, our main attention

shifts away from the first readings,

although the Old Testament promises

of God continue to be a part of each

day. But now the readings return to the

primary focus being on the Gospel, told

by Matthew and Luke. It is Jesus'

family story, and we are introduced to

his mother, Mary, his cousins

Elizabeth and Zechariah and their

baby, John. We read of Joseph and

Mary and of the birth of Jesus in

Bethlehem. If we find that we didn't

create the daily time for Advent prayer

we had intended to, these eight days

are the perfect place to begin. All it

takes is a few minutes over dinner or

breakfast, one lit candle or four - or

none - and a moment to hold up to

God the desire in our hearts.

It's good to remember that there is not

a single right way to do any of these

prayers and rituals — the point is to

have some brief period in the day to

focus our intentions on Advent, to feel

the hopes and promises of our God for

us and for this day. These prayers are a

starting point. Feel free to re-write or

adapt them so they work best in your

situation.

When it's hard to slow down:

Loving God, the days are drawing

close to the birth of your son. There is a

lot we still need to "do" but help us to

simply "be" and to slow down and

savor these days. You know the

anticipation we feel. Help us to deepen

that sense and to allow it to build in

our hearts. We are grateful for this

great gift of your son in our lives.

Continue to offer us the gentle nudge of

your grace so we cherish that gratitude

in the busy-ness of our days, and let it

move us to be more generous to those

around us. Reflect:

• Did I find an Advent moment in

my day today?

• What do I want to slow down and

savour in these days?

Praying for my Family:

Jesus,

Our family is not as "ideal" as I want it

to be. There is arguing and silence.

Money, jobs and small differences

between us add tension to our lives. I

want to live more simply but I keep

getting side-tracked, not just by

shopping and decorating, but by envy

and petty annoyances.

Jesus, let me turn and really see you

and Mary and Joseph. Let me

remember your ancestors as Matthew

tells the story. There are kings, but not

very perfect. There are women, but

each of them "odd" in some way: a

foreigner, a prostitute, a pregnant,

unmarried mother. Yet this is your

family, a sacred heritage.

Help me to love my family more freely,

to find the generosity to unlock my

heart and stop judging and to embrace

and love to their imperfections, just as

you hold my mine so closely. May the

candles we light tonight, help us to

remember to be the light in each other's

lives. Reflect:

•With whom can I be more patient,

more forgiving, more affirming, more

loving?

Prayer of Awareness in this Day:

Jesus, your cousin Zechariah did not

speak for many months but when his

son John, was born, he spoke words of

praise and thanksgiving as he finally

came to trust that nothing is impossible

for you. Help us to carry that kind of

trust and gratitude in our hearts today.

We are invited to be instruments in

God's plan. Help us to hear that

invitation you offer us daily, and to

accept it with trust and gratitude. Help

us to open our eyes and ears to those

people you bring into our lives today.

May the deep and lavish love you

show us open our hearts to recognize

those people who need our care the

most. Reflect:

•How are you opening me to trust you

more deeply?

•For what grace in my day today can I

give you thanks?

Praying for Courage and Strength:

Oh, Jesus, what courage it must have

taken Mary and Joseph to make that

trip to Bethlehem. She was so near her

time of delivering, and she left her

family and travelled with Joseph for

the census. With no place to sleep, they

both must have felt some fear.

Yet over and again you offered

reassurance: Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Joseph, do not be afraid to take Mary

into your home. Do not be afraid,

Zechariah. And to the shepherds, Do

not be afraid. I bring you good news of

great joy.

The story of your nativity is filled with

comfort and courage, for them and for

us. Give us the strength we need and

help us to see those around us who are

in fear and need our support on this

day. Reflect:

Who did I meet today who needs

courage and support from me?

ONE PRAYER A DAY IN ADVENT

~ If time doesn’t permit anything else

~ at least use these prayers each day

in Advent.

The First Week of Advent

Sunday ~ 1st December

Lord God,

only you can see into my heart and

know that under all the busy-ness of

my life, there is a deep longing

to make this Advent one that

welcomes you more deeply into my

own life. My heart desires the

warmth of your love and my mind

searches for your Light in the midst of

has filled my life and made me long

for a closer relationship with you.

My life gets so busy that I forget to

focus. Thank you for guidance.

Thank you for the quiet moments

when I have felt your love. Nothing

will be impossible with God.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Fourth Week of Advent

Sunday ~ 22nd December

Oh, Emmanuel, "God-with-Us,"

You have touched me; you are God-

with-Me. Thank you for these weeks

of prayer. In the spirit of the season

my waiting, my patience, feels sacred.

Refine and purify my heart with the

hottest flame of your love. Give me

the courage of your prophets and let

me do what is right even when others

don't understand. Bless my heart with

generosity and make me ready to

receive you.

Come, Lord Jesus! Come!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Fourth Week of Advent

Monday ~ 23rd December

Oh, God-With-Us,

For so long you have promised

forgiveness, peace, salvation.

Now in my heart, I am filled with joy

because of your coming. Thank you

for your promises and for the way I

can trust in you. I feel a new freedom

in my life and a courage I have not

known before. I know you came to

save me and bring new life and I am

so grateful to you. Let me show my

thankfulness with my life. You have

brought me through the darkness

and into the light of your saving

grace.

Guide my feet on the way of peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

THE TWO PARTS OF ADVENT

Part 1: up until December 16

While most liturgical seasons have the

gospel as their main

focus, during the

first weeks of

Advent, the Church

gives us daily

readings from the prophet Isaiah. With

the eyes of faith, these foretell the

coming of the Messiah. Rather than a

continuous gospel narrative familiar to

us for most of the year, this part of

Advent offers a wide variety of gospel

readings that support the first reading

of the day. After almost two weeks of

Isaiah readings, we hear the foretelling

of a Messiah from other prophets from

the Hebrew scriptures - in Sirach,

Numbers, Zephaniah and returning to

Isaiah. With each passing week, the

prophets speak more clearly of the

coming of a Saviour. So, in reading the

first reading, for the first part of

Advent, we listen to the anticipation,

expectation, hope and promise. In

listening to the second reading, we

listen for the fulfilment or connection

with the gospel.

Part 2: December 17 - 24

In these last eight days before

Christmas, the

r e l a t i o n s h i p

b e t w e e n t h e

r e a d i n g s

changes. Now the

gospel brings us to our celebration of

Renew my spirit and free my soul.

Please, open my heart which you have

bathed in the longing of Advent. I am

awe-struck as your glory fills the

earth and I want to follow you in

caring for other.

Grant me the grace to see how you

shine your light on the poor who have

such a special place in your heart.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Third Week of Advent

Wednesday ~ 18th December

Oh, Jesus who descended from Jesse,

you are a sign of God's love.

I feel hopeful and expectant,

filled with a rebirth of joy and love.

I depend you so much. You are a rock

for my belief and a sign of God's love.

Fill me with your praise! I want to

sing your glory, filled with joy

for the message of hope you send.

I don't always understand when you

are acting on my behalf. Thank you

for the message of hope you send me.

Give me true faith and love as I

celebrate the mystery of how you

came to be with us.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Third Week of Advent

Thursday ~ 19th December

Oh, Jesus, you hold the key that will

unlock my constricted heart. It gives

me great hope that Mary said yes to

you and your plan. She was filled

with the Spirit and put aside her own

doubts. I know you are ready to

answer my prayers, ease my doubts

and calm my fears. Sometimes I don't

hear your messengers because they

aren't what I expect. They aren't

wearing wings or halos but are the

people standing in front of me. How

many times have I not listened?

How often have I balked at your

messages and your messengers? Fill

me with the light of your Spirit and

enter, in all your glory into my life.

Let me rejoice!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Third Week of Advent

Friday ~ 20th December

Loving God,

It is growing in my heart: An

awareness and gratitude of your

constant love for me; Like the sun

rising in the East to warm and

comfort my life and to bring new

growth. Thank you for these weeks of

prayer. In the spirit of the season my

waiting, my patience, feels sacred.

Bless my heart with generosity and

make me ready to receive you.

Come, Lord Jesus! Come!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel!

The Third Week of Advent

Saturday ~ 21st December

Oh, King of us all.

I find myself standing before your

strength and splendour watching,

waiting and filled with total joy. You

have lifted my mind in hope. Now

help me to open my life to the coming

of the Spirit. I want to be like Mary,

your mother. Her wonderful courage

and strength inspire me to do the

same. She simply said Yes and the

impossible was done. Thank you for

this Advent journey. The anticipation

the darkness. Help me to be a peacemaker this Advent and to give special love to those who disagree with me. Give me the strength and courage to forgive those who have hurt me. Help me to free my heart from the prison of my anger and hurt.

The First Week of Advent

Monday ~ 2nd December

Loving God,

I sense that all is your creation

and everything, and all of us,

are being drawn back toward your

loving heart. Help me to be a person

of peace, To speak about it in an

uneasy world, And to live it among

the people you have put into my life

every day. Light in me a desire to

prepare for your coming to stand in

the darkness, waiting, eager and filled

with joy.

The First Week of Advent

Tuesday ~ 3rd December

God of forgiveness,

I turn to you in my great weakness

and beg for your help. Let me feel the

joy growing in my heart as I

anticipate your coming. I hear the

message of the prophets of old and

know that the Messiah will bring new

life and new ways of living. From the

humbleness of my life, help me to

grow and bloom and hear the words

that will change the world.

The First Week of Advent

Wednesday ~ 4th December

Lord of all,

you are a God of plenty, a Lord who

provides for us in our need. As I begin

these early days of Advent help me to

believe that you know what I need.

Give me the courage to listen to your

voice and the freedom to open my

heart to the graces you are

offering me to place my trust in you.

The First Week of Advent

Thursday ~ 5th December

God of strength and protection,

I turn to you because I need help.

I long to be free enough to trust that I

can lean on you. But I become afraid.

Help me to trust in you, Lord. Your

strength and power are a gentle place

of protection. Be a safe refuge when I

am being trampled. I long for your

help, your protecting care. Help to

deliver me from the cold loneliness of

these dark nights.

The First Week of Advent

Friday ~ 6th December

Jesus, protector,

I long for your coming. The promise

of new light is there if only I can

believe. Protect me from dangers

and lead me through the gloom and

darkness to the joy I so long to find in

you. Lift me from my lowly sins

and give me the promise of salvation

with no more shame, only the light

and saving grace of your love. Let the

ancient dream be fulfilled in you and

peace come to this life and world.

The First Week of Advent

Solemnity of the Immaculate

Conception (Transferred from 8th Dec.)

Saturday ~ 7th December

God of us all,

Thank you for the gift of Mary in my

life. I rely on her to intercede for me

with her son, and to guide me,

especially in my family. Help me to

learn the grace of humility, and give

me the courage to say "yes" to you without always knowing where it will lead. Release me from the fears that grip me, the pride and stubbornness that keep me from you and others. Let me turn to Mary, so human, for an example of how I might live my own life more freely, more loving and more aware of you.

The Second Week of Advent

Sunday ~ 8th December

Dear Lord,

Through the darkness, I look for your

wisdom. I want my heart to be open

to you. But sometimes in these days,

it seems that so many things come

between us. Help me to be awake and

aware of the radiance you bring to my

life. Help me to be grateful each day

for the blessings of family and friends.

Let me be a peacemaker in my own

life, and in the world. Let me pray

especially for this difficult world

and those who are so in need of an

end to violence. My heart begs for

this as my Advent prayer today.

The Second Week of Advent

Monday ~ 9th December

God of Strength,

I need your courage. You offer to

make firm the knees that are weak.

Only you know how frightened I so

often am. And you do offer me

strength. There is the promise of your

Son's coming and knowing that you

will save me. I can't do this on my

own no matter how often I think I

can. Give me the humility to ask for

your help and open heart to accept

your healing and love in my life.

The Second Week of Advent

Tuesday ~ 10th December

Almighty God,

I hear it over and over: you are

coming to me. I feel my heart stir in

anticipation, and I sense that you are

inviting me to enter more deeply

into the mystery of your birth.

Help me to feel renewed patience

settle in my heart, and to lift my face

in joy. I have been like a lost lamb,

but I hear your voice calling me

and I feel how deeply you want me to

return. Somehow I know that you

rejoice in my desire to find you.

Help me not to be afraid to say out

loud, to believe: Here is God, coming

into my life.

The Second Week of Advent

Wednesday ~ 11th December

Jesus, I can see your special love

of those who are so often invisible in

this world. You sent your mother to

give hope to the poor. Open my heart

to fill with compassion for those who

are hungry and without dignity.

Grant me the ability to live simply

and to see you in the faces of those

around me. In the darkness of these

Advent nights let me be guided by the

light of your word. Give me the

humility to be led by you and the

wisdom to learn from you. I am

grateful for the Saviour who awaits

us, and eagerly await the time of

rejoicing. Let me look forward in

hope and turn to you with great trust,

knowing you will guide my steps

along the unknown path of this day.

The Second Week of Advent

Thursday ~ 12th December

Lord, like a loving parent,

you offer me your comforting hand

and tell me not to be afraid. Help me

to wait for your coming with patience

and to listen to what you ask of me.

I want so much to be one of "your

people" and to live my life in you.

Thank you for the way you bless my

life. Thank you for listening to my

prayers and for planting deep in my

heart the knowledge that with you,

nothing is impossible.

The Second Week of Advent

Friday ~ 13th December

Jesus,

in the darkness of these Advent nights

let me be guided by the light of your

word. Give me the humility to be led

by you and the wisdom to learn from

you. I feel your light in my life and in

the world. I am grateful for the

Saviour who awaits us, and eagerly

await the time of rejoicing. Let me

look forward in hope and turn to you

with great trust, knowing you will

guide my steps along the unknown

path of this day.

The Second Week of Advent

Saturday ~ 14th December

Jesus,

in the darkness of these Advent nights

let me be guided by the light of your

word. Give me the humility to be led

by you and the wisdom to learn from

you. I feel your light in my life

and in the world. I am grateful for the

Saviour who awaits us, and eagerly

await the time of rejoicing. Let me

look forward in hope and turn to you

with great trust, knowing you will

guide my steps along the unknown

path of this day.

The Third Week of Advent

Sunday ~ 15th December

I lift my heart up to you, Lord,

to thank you for the blessings

you shower on me each day. You are

the 'joy of my soul.' I know that in

your great love, I am held and

protected by you. I pray and listen to

the good news you send; I ask and

feel the healing. I am freed by you

from the things in this world that let

me hide from you. I rejoice, I rejoice,

down to my soul. Help me to prepare

my heart to be open and able to

receive your immense love.

The Third Week of Advent

Monday ~ 16th December

Oh, God of wisdom,

I want to praise you and give you my

life. Like a loving parent, you bless

me. You have watched over me,

knowing my history and the path that

led me to you. Thank you for the

peace you promise peace in my life.

I ask that I be always aware of the

strength of your great power. May it

never leave me. So many people

before me in so many generations,

have served you so humbly,

answering your call. Please give me

the wisdom and courage to be your

humble servant.

The Third Week of Advent

Tuesday ~ 17th December

Oh, Adonai, dearest Lord,

Compassionate God of justice,

so many areas of my life seem

imprisoned but you promise me real

freedom and peace in my life.