Advent Calendar – Day 5 – St George and St John, Newbury

Welcome to Advent… Day 5

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.

‘The Conception of John the Baptist, Orthodox Icon’

Music Suggestion

from Spotify

Shorter Version – for younger families
All the people waiting outside the temple for Zechariah wondered what was keeping him. When he finally came out he couldn’t speak, and had to use sign-language – they knew something special had happened.

Shortly after this time, Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth became pregnant – just as the angel had said. She was delighted and said ‘this is how God has bought me joy!”

Zechariah at the Temple
Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zechariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to end my sadness and bring me joy”, she said.

In this story HOPE becomes something more than a hint…

Poem – The Risk of Birth (Christmas, 1973) by Madeleine L’Engle
Excerpt…
This is no time for a child to be born,
With the earth betrayed by war & hate
And a comet slashing the sky to warn
That time runs out & the sun burns late…

You can find it here

Blessing for you and your family
Zechariah is rendered wordless because of something amazing. The poem reminds us that amazing things can sometimes happen in terrible times. Think about time’s that you have been amazed by something beyond your understanding.. Share those things together….

God of wonder and amazement, stir us with compassion and love.
And may the HOPE of God’s wonder be always with you. Amen

West Berks Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Day 5 – cooking oil

Advent Calendar – Day 5

St George the Martyr

St John the Evangelist

St Michael & All Angels