Hi Everyone,
It's Advent, lockdown is over (ish!) and a Covid vaccine is on the way. Hope springs eternal! Yet for so many people this season is immensely difficult and the good news comes too late for them as jobs are threatened, businesses collapse and loved ones are no longer with us.
Advent is a really apt season right now because it combines perfectly the sense of lament and hope. We lament that the world is not what it should be but we look forward, not only to Christmas but to the return of Jesus when all things will be made right. When we sing the famous Advent hymn, O Come O Come Emmanuel, we are not just entering into the Christmas story but our hearts cry out once more for Jesus to hasten his return. This isn't just a pie in the sky, wishing on a star kind of hope but this is a real hope in the God who is present with us, who is good, who loves the whole of his creation and who always keeps his promises.
However this Advent is for you, I offer to you this resource of daily reflection videos. A new video is released each day which is about 2 minutes long with a longer video each Sunday (approximately 8 mins). I encourage you to watch the first video in particular as it comes from Manchester.
It is not easy at the moment, but know that you are loved and held in prayer. If you are in particular need at this time, please let us know, we are listening and want to help if we can.
With love
Jess
It's Advent, lockdown is over (ish!) and a Covid vaccine is on the way. Hope springs eternal! Yet for so many people this season is immensely difficult and the good news comes too late for them as jobs are threatened, businesses collapse and loved ones are no longer with us.
Advent is a really apt season right now because it combines perfectly the sense of lament and hope. We lament that the world is not what it should be but we look forward, not only to Christmas but to the return of Jesus when all things will be made right. When we sing the famous Advent hymn, O Come O Come Emmanuel, we are not just entering into the Christmas story but our hearts cry out once more for Jesus to hasten his return. This isn't just a pie in the sky, wishing on a star kind of hope but this is a real hope in the God who is present with us, who is good, who loves the whole of his creation and who always keeps his promises.
However this Advent is for you, I offer to you this resource of daily reflection videos. A new video is released each day which is about 2 minutes long with a longer video each Sunday (approximately 8 mins). I encourage you to watch the first video in particular as it comes from Manchester.
It is not easy at the moment, but know that you are loved and held in prayer. If you are in particular need at this time, please let us know, we are listening and want to help if we can.
With love
Jess