We are here to help people love and worship God. We aim to be, and encourage others to become, committed and active disciples of Jesus,
who love God and worship him, who know the power of the Holy Spirit and who show God’s love in every part of their lives.
Almighty God,
as your kingdom dawns,
turn us from the darkness of sin to the
light of holiness,
that we may be ready to meet you
in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
This prayer is the alternative Collect for Advent Sunday. Advent is the beginning of the Church’s year, a time to prepare for the celebration of Christmas. The theme of Advent is the coming of Christ - both His birth in Bethlehem Two thousand years ago, and His promised return as Lord and King and Judge, no one knows when.
Advent is a time of hope; the promised return of Christ is not a threat but a promise. A promise of true justice and healing to embrace the world and all of its people.
Advent is a yearly reminder that we are called to live in the light of Christ and to let that light transform us. We are called to holiness, not to cultivate a ‘holier than thou’ attitude, but true holiness.
To be holy is to be called to be different, to be so filled with the light of Christ that His light shines out into the world that Christ loves. True holiness is not to be occupied with ourselves and how others see us. It is to forget self in looking to God and then looking at others; not in judgement or condemnation, but to see them in the truth of who they are: made in God’s image and made for God’s glory.
The prayer reminds us of Jesus parables in which He called on His hearers, both then and now, to be ready. No one knows the day when Christ will return - not even Christ , but only the Father. We are not to occupy our minds with speculation - the future is safe because it is in God’s hands! Because we do not and cannot know when Christ will return, He calls us to be ready at all times.
Every moment of life is an opportunity to turn to Christ, to follow Him, to see Him in the other and to serve Him in the neighbour - every neighbour.
The Church prays for Christ’s return as Lord and king and Judge, because Christ will bring healing to the broken and fallen creation; to the nations and peoples of the world; to each one of us. In the promise of the second Advent of Christ we hear God’s promise that all will be healed, ourselves included.
God bless you this Advent season.
St Mary's Church, Priory Road, Ecclesfield, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S35 9XZ, United Kingdom
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The Parochial Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish St Marys Ecclesfield - Charity Commission Reg. No. 1144309
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