Advent Calendar – Day 9 – St George and St John, Newbury

Welcome to Advent…Day 9
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

Mary, Elizabeth, and a Holy Revolution
Mary visits Elizabeth – Coptic Icon

A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted her cousin Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.

The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:

You’re so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!

A Poem – The Magnificat attributed to Mary

Mary is full of revolutionary zeal!
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His compassion is for those who are in awe of him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

The magnificat is recited every night at evening prayer.

Reflection and Blessing for you and your loved ones
Mary begins to see the potential of what this birth will mean for her, and for the world. What potential resides in you, and in those you love? (share together if you can!)

God help us to discover and treasure the gifts within us and those around us – gifts to bring blessings into the world.
May the PEACE that Mary discovered in uncertainty be with you too. Amen

The Food Bank

West Berks Foodbank Reverse Advent Calendar
Day 9 – tinned vegetables

Advent Calendar – Day 9

St George the Martyr

St John the Evangelist

St Michael & All Angels