1. Reflections for Advent 2017
Be Prepared! BE
PREPARED
Reflections for Advent 2017

2. Reader We gather in the name of the Father:
All Whose loving intervention in history
helped humanity to be prepared
for life in the Promised Land
he would give them –
and for the coming of the Messiah
who would bring challenge and justice and peace to the world.
Reader We gather in the name of the Father:
All Whose loving intervention in history
helped humanity to be prepared
for life in the Promised Land
he would give them –
and for the coming of the Messiah
who would bring challenge and justice
and peace to the world.

3. Reader We gather in the name of the Son:
All Who prepared his disciples
for his death and resurrection –
and who taught them
to look beyond earthly life
to his return in glory
and the fulfilment of the Kingdom.
Reader We gather in the name of the Son:
All Who prepared his disciples
for his death and resurrection –
and who taught them
to look beyond earthly life
to his return in glory
and the fulfilment of the Kingdom.

4. Reader We gather in the name of the Holy Spirit
All Who works in each of us –
helping us to prepare
for all that life might throw at us –
giving us wisdom, courage and resilience
so that our faith is deepened
and strengthened
as we feel the power of God in it all with us.
Reader We gather in the name of the Holy Spirit
All Who came upon the prophets of old
and taught them to look to the horizon
and to speak of the hope they saw there.
Who comes upon us
and teaches us to raise our sights
and to speak to those around us
of the hope that our faith brings.

5. So stay awake… what I say to you I say to all:
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Be on your guard, stay awake… he has told the doorkeeper
to stay awake…
So stay awake… what I say to you I say to all:
Stay awake!” (from Mark 13: 33-37)
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Be on your guard, stay awake… he has told the doorkeeper
to stay awake…
So stay awake… what I say to you I say to all:
Stay awake!” (from Mark 13: 33-37)

6. Isaiah writes, “A voice cries,
‘Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord’“ (from Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11)
Isaiah writes, “A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord’“ (from Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11)

7. St Peter writes. ‘Since everything is coming
to an end
like this, you should be living
holy and saintly lives
while you wait and long
for the Day of God to come’
St Peter writes. ‘Since everything is coming to an end like this, you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come’

8. Mark writes, “Look, I am going to send
my messenger before you;
he will prepare your way… A voice cries in the wilderness
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.’” (Mark 1: 1-8)
Mark writes, “Look, I am going to send
my messenger before you;
he will prepare your way… A voice cries in the wilderness
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.’” (Mark 1: 1-8)

9. In the Letter to the Thessalonians: ‘May the God of peace
make you perfect and holy;
and may you all be kept safe
and blameless,
spirit, soul and body,
or the coming
f our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24)
In the Letter to the Thessalonians:
‘May the God of peace
make you perfect and holy;
and may you all be kept safe
and blameless,
spirit, soul and body,
or the coming
f our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24)

10. John writes, Priests and Levites
came from Jerusalem
to ask John the Baptist
‘Who are you?’
John said,
‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:
a voice that cries in the wilderness:
Make a straight way for the Lord.’ (John 1: 6-8, 19-28)
John writes, Priests and Levites
came from Jerusalem
to ask John the Baptist
‘Who are you?’
John said,
‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:
a voice that cries in the wilderness:
Make a straight way for the Lord.’ (John 1: 6-8, 19-28)

11. The angel Gabriel was sent by God you have won God’s favour.
Luke writes,
The angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a virgin named Mary.
Gabriel said,
‘Do not be afraid
you have won God’s favour.
Listen!
You are to conceive
and bear a son.’
Luke writes,
The angel Gabriel was sent by God
to a virgin named Mary.
Gabriel said,
‘Do not be afraid
you have won God’s favour.
Listen!
You are to conceive
and bear a son.’

12. Mary said, ‘But how can this be?’

13. and the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.’
Gabriel said
‘The Holy Spirit
will come upon you…
and the child will be holy
and will be called Son of God.’
Gabriel said
‘The Holy Spirit
will come upon you…
and the child will be holy
and will be called Son of God.’

14. Mary said ‘Let what you have said be done to me.’ (Luke 1: 26-38)

15. and know all that has been and all that is to come.
God of eternity,
you are beyond time
and know all that has been
and all that is to come.
Your human children are bound by time
and uncertainty
about much that lies ahead.

16. Help us to deepen our prayer and spiritual life –
building up the fortitude and resilience we may need
to deal with some of the difficulties that could lie ahead.

17. Help us also to be prepared for the surprises that you have in store
so that we can greet them with joy
and welcome them as your gifts of love to us.
We ask in the name of the one you sent into the world –
Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

18. Reader And may God bless us this night and all nights
(or today and all days)
All The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Reader And until we meet again may God hold us
and those we love
in confident appreciation
that God is in it all with us,
and will prepare our hearts, minds and souls
for all that lies ahead.
All Amen.