Advent Calendar – Day 16 – St George and St John, Newbury

Welcome to Advent…Day 16
These short meditations can be done alone, with a partner, or with the whole family.
My suggestion is evening time; light a candle, play the music suggested below,
Have a little treat, it’s an Advent Calendar, after all!
(Maybe hide some chocolate around the house each day, or hang it from the ceiling?)
And read the material aloud together…
There’s quite a lot here. You dont need to do it all; either follow the story and the blessings, or simply enjoy the poems.
Make it a special moment, ten minutes of togetherness in this busy season.

Christmas Decoration. St John’s Pre-school.

Music Suggestion

from Spotify playlist ‘Advent Meditations’

Jesus is taken to the temple by Mary and Joseph
For younger families,
A few days after the birth, Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple to be presented to God, and to be blessed.
When they went into the temple they met two people who had been waiting and praying for many years – waiting for God to show them the Christ child. Their names were Anna and Simeon…

for older readers
The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born. They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the Lord, just as the Law of the Lord says, “Each first-born baby boy belongs to the Lord.” The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did. At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God’s Spirit came to him and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord.

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day.

A Poem – Good is the Flesh by Brian Wren

Good is the flesh that the Word has become,
good is the birthing, the milk in the breast,
good is the feeding, caressing and rest,
good is the body for knowing the world,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.

Good is the body for knowing the world,
sensing the sunlight, the tug of the ground,
feeling, perceiving, within and around,
good is the body, from cradle to grave,
Good is the flesh that the Word has become.
….

You can find the whole poem here

Reflection and Blessing for you and your loved ones
Mary and Joseph were parents now – not denying that! ANd so they began to do the simple things that start people on the long road of becoming parents. One of their first task was to present the baby at the temple – a historic ritual which connects their story to the stories of their own ancestors.

God of parents, guardians, carers and grandparents, help us all to care and support those entrusted to our care; to be compassionate, supportive and wise.
May the LOVE that guided Mary and Joseph to care for their child, be our inspiration – always. Amen

The Food Bank

West Berks Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Day 16 – mince pies

Please note – the Food Bank have requested that all food donations come to them by the 18th December.
The full list is on the link above.

Advent Calendar – Day 16

St George the Martyr

St John the Evangelist

St Michael & All Angels