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Photo of Christingle candle
Lord, shine your light into the darkness
Advent in this hemisphere starts in the dark, leading up to the longest night on 21 December, the winter solstice, which lands this year on Sunday. An apt day to be holding our Christingle service. Facing up to the darkness in our lives and our world, spurs us on to watch for God’s light, the Adventus (the coming) of Christ in our daily life. I wonder where you have glimpsed the light of Christ during these Advent weeks. Maybe Jan Richardson’s words will help you:
I cannot tell you
how the light comes.
What I know
is that it is more ancient
than imagining.
That it travels
across an astounding expanse
to reach us.
That it loves
Searching out
What is hidden,
What is lost,
What is forgotten
Or in peril
Or in pain.
I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
But that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape
you did not foresee.
And so
may we this day
turn ourselves toward it.
An extract from “How the light comes” from Circle of Grace, Jan Richardson
Here are some prayers to guide us as we entrust our joys and cares to God’s light.
We are told in 1 John 1.5 that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. Imagine that God’s light shines in the heart of our prayers and illuminates different needs in the world around us. The light is unquenchable, inexhaustible; it shines in the darkness and the darkness can never overcome it.
O light of Christ, Come.
Let the light shine on people close to you – your family and close friends, those for whom you care deeply and whose needs you know. Pray that the light of God may shine on them, on their questions, confusions and hidden needs. On their health, their hopes, their values and beliefs. Pray for them now…
O light of Christ, Come.
Let the light shine now on any people or places that have been in the news this week and that have caught your attention and awakened your concern. …
Pray for those people or places in all the complexity that makes it so hard to sort out. Hold those situations open to God.
Pray in silence now…
O light of Christ, Come.
Let the light come into our churches. We try to follow Christ, but so often our love is intermittent, and we fail to demonstrate the life-changing compassion of Jesus. In your mind’s eye see the light of God filling our churches, chasing away dark corners, pouring light into every act of worship and every act of love. Pray for the light of Christ to fill the people around you with faith, hope and love.
O light of Christ, Come.
Gracious God, may we be open to your light this week. May we be people of light who reflect the light wherever we go. We know it’s a tall order, but you are a God of infinite grace. Let light shine in our darkness and show us a better way.
O light of Christ, Come.
Prayers adapted from John Pritchard, The Intercessions Resource Book
This message comes with heartfelt thanks to you all for your prayerful and loving presence in our church and wider community. May you know the light of Christ born afresh in your lives and all your gatherings and quiet moments this Christmas.
With love and deep gratitude,
Carolyn
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