An online retreat for Advent
with Canon John Udris and Avril Baigent
In the run up to Christmas, it’s so hard to make time for God. This year we are offering an online retreat on Monday evenings through Advent so that everyone can have that opportunity. Join us as we explore the lives of some key Advent saints, helping us to shift our gaze heavenwards, and exploring God’s promises and providence.
With plenty of time for prayer and contemplation, seize the opportunity to switch off from all the pressures on us and just ‘be’.
Watch our trailer here:
Find more resources for Advent here: https://pastoralministryoffice.org/home-copy/growing-in-faith/parish-resources/advent-resources/
Monday 29th November – Stars of Advent I
Blessed John Ruysbroek: A God-seeing life
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnessesLet us lay aside every weightLet us run with endurance the race before usLet us keep our eyes fixed on JesusThe pioneer and perfecter of our faithWho is seated at the right hand of God’s throne.(Hebrews 12.1-2)
Monday 6th December – Stars of Advent II
St Nicholas: Generosity, the Divine DNA
“The giver of every good and perfect gift has called upon us to mimic His giving, by grace, through faith, and this is not of ourselves.”
St Nicholas
Watch week 2 here. As usual, there are five minutes of reflective music and scripture to start. The session starts around the 9 minute mark.
The Starlight Night
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies!
O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!
The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there!
Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves’-eyes!
The grey lawns cold where gold, where quickgold lies!
Wind-beat whitebeam! airy abeles set on a flare!
Flake-doves sent floating forth at a farmyard scare!
Ah well! it is all a purchase, all is a prize.
Buy then! bid then! — What? — Prayer, patience, alms, vows.
Look, look: a May-mess, like on orchard boughs!
Look! March-bloom, like on mealed-with-yellow sallows!
These are indeed the barn; withindoors house
The shocks. This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse
Christ home, Christ and his mother and all his hallows.
Fr John also recommended Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness, by Meg Hunter-Kilmer.
Monday 13th December – Stars of Advent III
St Lucy: Punching holes in the darkness