Patrick Comerford
There is just a week to go to Christmas Day. Yesterday was the Third Sunday of Advent, and we are now in the last week of Advent.
Today [18 December 2017] is also the feast of Saint Flannan, the patron saint of the Diocese of Killlaloe. He gives his name to Saint Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, one of the three cathedrals where I am also the Precentor.
Throughout this season of Advent, I am spending a short time of prayer and reflection each morning, using the prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency, USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) and the Advent and Christmas Devotional Calendar from Lichfield Cathedral.
USPG, founded in 1701, is an Anglican mission agency supporting churches around the world in their mission to bring fullness of life to the communities they serve.
Under the title Pray with the World Church, the current prayer diary (22 October 2017 to 10 February 2018), offers prayers and reflections from the Anglican Communion.
This week, the Prayer Diary continues its Advent series, looking at how the Church is reaching out to mothers and babies. This week, it continues with reflections and prayers from Bangladesh.
The Prayer Diary yesterday included an article by Sister Gillian Rose, a former USPG mission partner, who oversees the USPG-supported Bollobphur Hospital, which is owned by the Church of Bangladesh.
The USPG Prayer Diary:
Monday 18 December 2017:
In this Advent season, in remembering the Nativity, pray for good health for mothers and babies in Bangladesh and around the world.
Lichfield Cathedral Advent and Christmas Devotional Calendar:
Today, the calendar is headed ‘O Adonai,’ referring to the second of the O Antiphons in the final week of Advent.
The calendar suggests lighting your Advent candle each day as you read the Bible and pray.
Today, the calendar suggests reading Luke 1: 5-25.
The reflection for today suggests:
Think of all you’ve got to do before Christmas. Take five minutes to sit and be calm and smile about the people and things bringing you real joy.
Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, the Church of Ireland, Holy Communion):
Jeremiah 23: 5-8; Psalm 72: 1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Matthew 1: 18-25.
The Collect of the Third Sunday of Advent:
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
The Advent Collect:
Almighty God,
Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light
now in the time of this mortal life
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow.
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