Patrick Comerford
We are now in the second week of Advent. Later this evening [7 December 2016], I am taking part in the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols organised by the students of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Saint Matthias's Church, Ballybrack [7 p.m.].
At this service I have been invited to read an Advent reflection by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Rowan Williams.
Throughout this time of preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas, I am praying each morning and using for my reflections the prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency, USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel).
On Sunday, I wrote about an article in the USPG Prayer Diary that tells the distressing story of the abuse of 12-year-old Kavita, and how Delhi Brotherhood Society (DBS), which runs a helpline and community action programme to support women who face violence, came to her rescue.
USPG is also marking the time around the beginning of Advent, from 25 November to 10 December, as ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.’
The USPG Prayer Diary:
Wednesday 7 December 2016:
Pray for the protection of women everywhere. Pray that they may find the courage to stand up for justice, and may they find support as they do so.
Readings (Revised Common Lectionary, the Church of Ireland, Holy Communion):
Isaiah 40: 25-31; Psalm 103: 8-13; Matthew 11: 28-30.
The Collect of the Day:
Father in heaven,
who sent your Son to redeem the world
and will send him again to be our judge:
Give us grace so to imitate him
in the humility and purity of his first coming
that when he comes again,
we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.
Continued tomorrow
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