Advent of Acclamation

Grace and Peace

My prayer for you is that you have had a meaningful journey through Advent this far. A few things have stood out for me.

Firstly, that Jesus is the Lord of all. I saw a sign in the mall that said - "A merry Christmas to our Christian shoppers," how misguided. Here we have the world acknowledging that we are celebrating a religious festival. Christmas is so much more than that. It is the acknowledgement of Jesus coming into the world for the world, to love the world. Let's keep that in mind. Christ is for everyone.

I do pray that you have been considering your expectations and changed your anticipations as you have adored Christ and basked in the assurance of His love.

Secondly, the concept of the "here, but not yet," of Advent is growing in my soul. As the author of the Revelation says - " He that has ears let him here what the Spirit says to the Churches."The Kingdom is here for those who will accept it, it is not the arrival of the Kingdom that we await, but its fulfilment: It is the fullness of what God has done that we draw on, and we await the day that every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess, but until then we serve at the pleasure of our King. What a privilege.

The world is so much in need of a message of hope for all.We are that light that shines in the darkness and our hearts go out to those who have recently suffered greatly by the attack on the Hannukah celebration on Bondi Beach. This in the midst of violence and strife throughout the world, as people act in hate and intolerance of others. We all seek a world where justice prevails and peace is experienced by all. Let us fervently pray for peace, let us be peacemakers.

I ask you to pray for those who are suffering illness this Christmas and those who will be facing the first Christmas without their loved ones.may the light and love of Chrost shine forth and fill the world with love.

Advent greetings.

Rector