Advent Table Talk - Seeking the Light

One of the delights of being part of a faith community and no longer being responsible for creating worship is to be able to participate fully. This months gathering at St Hugh's, though hit by the freezing weather, still saw a good number gather. Instead of a speaker Colin had arranged our time so that we ate, talked,  worshipped, chatted and ate, oh and washed up!!!


Each time we gather I find it creates the opportunity to speak to someone I've not had chance to start to get to know before. So a fascinating tapestry of peoples lives is forming and highlights how church communities are much more interesting than you might expect. The conversation and food was good. The worship meant we were able to reflect on our 'Seeking the light', 'What we were longing for' and 'What it might look like for things to change'  after all we are people of Hope. People freely shared in prayers their longings and then with a  prayer tree we added our luggage tags.


For me I hoped for a redistribution of wealth and for girls in Afghanistan to be allowed access to education. There was a very rich sharing of what people were hoping for. After our worship  all in a  setting of candle light we had puddings. I noticed someone else added anther tag to the tree so I couldn't resist. What have you written? asked the church warden Sue and the Vicar. 'A Tory govt to become a Labour one' laugher followed and it was good to know I could still be myself in a  new context. 

Colin had gone to a lot of trouble to create an atmosphere for our gathering and worship which spoke to me. It was the kind of thing I would have created drawing on resources I have used. But this time I could allow myself to get behind the words, prayers, song and actions in a way not always possible when you are the one creating it. So once more I am thankful that God has brought us to a new spiritual home. Even washing up at the end gives the opportunity to feel you are becoming part of a community and that is good.

Creator God
you desire that we
should tell you
how we feel
good, bad or indifferent.

You make that safe space
to be ourselves
to lower our mask
and just be.

We don't know
it all,
or have all the answers.
We do know
you intend life
to be lived in all its fulness
by all people.

We are sorry that
our worlds life style
means
that so many have so little
and we are trashing the planet
you gifted us.

So this Advent
come afresh to us in Jesus,
that we and all people
might live life
in a new creative way
that Your Kingdom might come
and Your will be done. Amen            (c) Mark Goodhand 13th December 2022







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