Advent Calendar – Day 22 – St George and St John, Newbury

Welcome to Advent…Day 22
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.

Music Suggestion

from Spotify playlist ‘Advent Meditations’

Joseph and Jesus, Icon

The Return from Egypt
For younger families,
King Herod eventually died. And when he did God’s Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream to say, “wake up, take Mary and Jesus back to Israel, it’s all safe now.”

So they did just that. They woke and travelled back to Israel. When he heard, though, that Herod’s son had replaced him as king in Judea, Joseph was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, they settled in the village of Nazareth.

Jesus grew up from a baby to a young person – like you; and then grew into a man who taught and loved, laughed and wept, lived and died for the most powerful dream. He changed the course of human history and the course of people’s lives.

His story is still being told – in the bible, in churches, in nature, in art and music and in our lives.

For older readers
After King Herod died, God’s Angel appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt: “Up, take the child and his mother and return to Israel. All those out to murder the child are dead.”

Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother, and re-entered Israel. When he heard, though, that Archelaus had succeeded his father, Herod, as king in Judea, he was afraid to go there. But then Joseph was directed in a dream to go to the hills of Galilee. On arrival, he settled in the village of Nazareth. This move was a fulfillment of the prophetic words, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

A Poem – A poem for Christmas by Joseph Brodsky

an excerpt…
Imagine striking a match that night in the cave:
use the cracks in the floor to feel the cold.
Use crockery in order to feel the hunger.
And to feel the desert – but the desert is everywhere.
Imagine striking a match in that midnight cave,
the fire, the farm beasts in outline, the farm tools and stuff;
and imagine, as you towel your face in the towel’s folds,
the bundled up Infant. And Mary and Joseph…

You can the full poem here.

Reflection and Blessing for you and your loved ones
Dreams, Dreams, Dreams! There are so many dreams in the Nativity story, Joseph seems to be the big dreamer, and the angels choose to use dreams to communicate on many occasions.

Many people believe that dreams are ways that the subconcious parts of our brain can process thoughts and communicate ideas.

I wonder if you’ve had a dream which changed your life? (maybe you can share these with each other).

I wonder if you feel dreams are less – or more – spiritual than an angel turning up? How might God communicate with you?

Holy God, Joseph listened to his dreams and to the voice of God in his inner depths, help us to find the divine presence in the depths of our humanity, our minds and bodies.
May the JOY of the shepherds keep our hearts open to love. Amen

The Food Bank

West Berks Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Day 22 – christmas crackers

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 22

St George the Martyr

St John the Evangelist

St Michael & All Angels