NOVEMBER 30TH

                          St. Michael's Cathedral, Bridgetown, Barbados
 

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of his Holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of Him”  Ps. 96:9

One of the aspects of worship that I miss most since COVID has modified our worship is, of course, singing. I regularly reflect on the Saturday Service in March when we received the news from the Archbishop that services were suspended. Since we are never able to predict the future, who knew that we would not be singing in the way that we did at that service for such a long time?

Well, of course God knew and He inspired us to worship in the beauty of holiness at that service and at all of the others since then, just in different ways, with different themes, technologies and the faith that will take us through this pandemic and beyond!

An Advent Prayer

"Lord Jesus, we wait for You in these times of wanting everything now. May we cultivate patience this Advent and take time to truly listen to your desire for our lives as we make our journey through this world. Teach us about ourselves that we may come to a deeper awareness of what is important in life. May we seek out quiet moments and spaces away from the rush of the crowds as we prepare our hearts to receive you once again.  Amen"

- Wayne Edwards

NOVEMBER 29TH - First Sunday in Advent

 

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.  Ps. 147:1-4

The first breath always seems to be the most unrewarded, the one unrecognized.

 Before all others, one must come first. The first cry. The first inhale, the first exhale.

In the beginning, God breathed into existence light and land. God breathed into the earth to create the first human, Adam. Before we shout in exultation, we inhale. This pause pushes us forward into the rest of our lives. Into grief and joy, into disobedience and into praise. Through these breaths, we can cry with the psalmist, "Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God." God who breathes life into the earth around us," covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth," also cares for Her people," [God] heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds." In this same breath, our Creator reminds us through the prophet Isaiah, to the people of Israel, "Why do you seek further beatings? Why do you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil." (Isa. 1:5-6) Have we strayed so far, now and before?

 At the beginning of this new liturgical year, we are reminded of the hope we are called to, the Word made flesh, Jesus the Christ, and the hope we are brought to new life with. As we light the first candle today, be it purple or blue, may we be filled with expectation, for the Light of the world is returning, our walk with creation is being renewed, and a covenant is being struck in the birth of a child carried in Mary's womb. May we walk with hope, with the prophets and people of ages past, and seek the coming of our Saviour, the New Adam. The first breath, the first step.

 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the sky pour down righteousness.

 Come, Lord Jesus, come soon.

-Kelsea Willis