Advent Calendar – Day 8 – St George and St John, Newbury

Welcome to Advent…Day 8
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.

‘Joseph the Worker’ Photo by Michael O’Sullivan

Music Suggestion

from Spotify

A man called Joseph
Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David’s family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God’s Holy Spirit.

Joseph was a good man and confused that Mary was pregnant and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.

While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, do not be afraid the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, “A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”

After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord’s angel had told him to do.

A Poem – Too Much To Ask by Luci Shaw
Excerpt…

… and it seems much
too much to ask me
to be part of the
different thing-
God’s shocking, unorthodox,
unheard of Thing
to further heaven’s hopes
and summon God’s glory.

The full poem can be found here

Reflection and Blessing for you and your loved ones
Joseph often gets overlooked in the nativity, yet his decision to commit to an uncertain future and to feel the call of love is an inspiration to us all. You may like to share with each other times that you felt peace in uncertainty, (or times you have not), both are valid!

We pray for people facing big decisions in their lives.
May the PEACE that Joseph discovered be always with you. Amen

The Food Bank

West Berks Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Day 8 – toilet rolls

Advent Calendar – Day 8

St George the Martyr

St John the Evangelist

St Michael & All Angels