Daily ScriptureThe Collect for today, the last Sunday before Advent, from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer:‘Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord.’Daily ReflectionThe opening words of the Collect have given this Sunday the nickname of ‘Stir up Sunday’, traditionally the time to make the Christmas pudding. In spite of all the excellent supermarket alternatives there will no doubt still be some traditionalists (like me) stirring up a storm today.But of course it’s about rather more than dried fruit and brandy.It is not unbelievers but God’s faithful people who pray to be stirred up, rescued from apathy, energised, renewed. The gift of faith brings with it a call to action, allowing God to work in and through us. We pray that he will take our will, so that we may come to want what God wants, and be used in his service. To be blessed in this way is itself our ‘plenteous reward’. Revd Rosemary
Daily Scripture:‘Hear my teaching, O my people; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will pour forth mysteries from of old, such as we have heard and known, which our forebears have told us.We will not hide from their children; but will recount to generations to come, the praises of the Lord and his power, and the wonderful works he has done.’ (Psalm 78 1-4) Daily Reflection As I was reading the first few verses of this Psalm, I was reminded of the Crosby, Stills & Nash song “Teach Your Children Well”. One of the best ways of teaching our children is through storytelling - an ancient tradition passed down through the centuries. Stories told over and over again so that those listening are able to memorise and pass them on to the next generation. As a child I loved hearing the stories in the Bible, letting my imagination bring them to life and enabling me to recall and recount these stories to my own children. We all have a responsibility to teach our children well and perhaps through these dark days of winter we could start by snuggling up on the settee and reading a few Bible stories together. Lyn Hayes, ALM
Daily Scripture‘O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul is a thirst for you.’ (Psalm 63:1)Daily ReflectionRemember back to those lovely warm sunny days of the summer; when you were outside, working in the garden. You longed for a drink of water to quench your thirst. You went to the kitchen, got a glass, turned on the tap, filled it, and drank. And you felt better; not just because your thirst had been quenched, but because your whole body had been rehydrated. The water had taken away the dryness in your throat; but it had done more than that: the chemical balance of your whole body had been put right. Knowing God does the same for each of us. He satisfies us when we thirst for him; he affects our whole life. He is as easy to find as turning on a tap: pray; read the Bible; praise God – and you will be satisfied. “Your loving-kindness is better than life itself and so my lips shall praise you.” (Psalm 63:4) Revd David
Daily Scripture‘Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God's Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.’ (Ephesians 4:2b,3)Daily ReflectionIn the list of Saints’ days, today (or yesterday) belongs to St Hilda of Whitby. She is a healthy reminder to us that this is not the first age in which women have been powerful leaders. Back in the 600s, she founded the monastery – a mixed community – on the Yorkshire coast and it became significant enough to be chosen as the place for the great Synod of Whitby (664 ad). Hilda, who was abbess at several monasteries, played a key role in bringing together Christians of different cultures (Irish and Anglo-Saxon, monks and clerics, kings and queens) bitterly divided over the date for the vital feast of Easter. Hilda deserves to be honoured for being a peacemaker. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God”. David Harmsworth
