Today Again

Today

Today

All for you

An Advent Prayer

This short video uses an extract from the music of Margaret Rizza.

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Let the video buffer first. You do so by pressing play. When it kicks in, press pause (the screen or play button again). Once the red line has scrolled from left to right, the video will play seamlessly

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Looking

During Advent we look back,
We look forward,

And most importantly
We look deeply
into this
present moment -
the gift
and mystery
of here
and
now
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Smiling as Practice

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Light Up like a Star with a genuine Smile.

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Make it part of your spiritual practice this Advent and always... Smile from your real Self, your heartfelt Soul. Let your effulgence set others ablaze...

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Marcus Borg says that practice means paying attention to the reality of God and our relationship with God. Anybody whose ever been in a relationship of love (or has fallen in love) - even remotely so, knows that smiling and a smile is part of love's sweet deal (regardless of how you resist, pretend or protest)... Practice smiling with all of your Self - not just your mouth (as gorgeous as it may be). Your inner brilliance, your soft kindness and beauty will be the blessing others need...

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Advent Two - Friendship

A Liturgy around the Advent Wreath

The Second Sunday in Advent

The altar party and person(s) asked to light the candle(s) gather(s) quietly around the Advent Wreath. A moment of silence is observed to allow our souls and restless selves to settle. Then lovingly, from our hearts, this contemporary chorus is sung. The wreath is incensed

Gathering

You’re my Friend and you are
my Brother even though you are
a King. I love you more than any other,
so much more than anything

You alone are my strength,
my shield, to you alone
may my spirit yield

You alone are my heart’s
desire and I long to worship you

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Remembering

Leader From ancient times our spiritual

foreparents longed for the arrival of Child

All A Holy One to show us Love’s Way

Leader So open your hearts and do not delay

All For the Friend of our Soul
is here as we pray

Leader Come to us Lord, in whichever
form you choose

All I give you my heart, for you
to love and use

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Lighting

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We sing the first two verse of the traditional Advent
Antiphons during which time the Second Candle of
Advent is lit. (H A&M New Standard 26)

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel
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O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell thy people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
shall come to thee, O Israel

The Liturgy around the Wreath is concluded by the
Prayer below, said by the Presider
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Jesus,
Friend of my Soul
You are the One
that makes me
Whole

Come to me, Lord, in whichever form you choose.
I give you my heart, for you to love and use


The first part of the prayer above is simple,
and is designed to be repeated for as long or as little as you like.
This form of repetitive praying is called a mantra.
It is also used in Taize chants
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Weekday Practices

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•Pray this prayer during the week.
In the space above, you may want to write or draw
your own prayer, thought or word. Pray as you can…

•During the week, light a candle for friendships –
friendships that bring you closer to heaven and friendships
that you find particularly hard. Light a candle for them…
Be gentle with yourself…

• Also, during the week, light up
like a star with a genuine smile –
from your Self and Soul - and wish people well…

I think one of Jesus’ deepest longings is for us to learn –
really learn the lessons of friendship.
Jesus who said, I call you my friends (see John 15:15)
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Our Spiritual Foreparents
had a Friendship with God


• Abraham was called a friend of God (Is 41:8)


• Moses spoke to God as one would to a friend (Exodus 33:11)


• Job's house - at one point - was blessed by the intimate friendship of God (Job 29:4)

You can’t be a friend of God without also being a friend to your brother or sister made in the image of God… This is the hard work of adult spirituality – a commitment to which we must make our whole lives long…
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Desires and Longings

The Church has made Desire and Longing Dirty Words

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The 13th century Sufi mystic and poet, Jelaluddin Rumi says that sometimes, we must want the deep friendship out loud. In other words, articulate (in the unique ways as only we can) our soul's deepest longings and desires. Speak them out loud (using words and no words - as only we can)... Want and live and love your own life, your own love, your own deepest truths... Get to know your true Self and you will know God. Mystics of all traditions have been saying and living this.

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The Church and its sad history and over-obsession with guilt - and making us feel guilty - overlooks many times something really crucial.

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But you must not overlook this this Advent: Our deepest longings and desires - our passions (beyond ego) - what energizes us (and others around us) 99.9 per cent of the time is also what God desires for us... Why else would you feel so deeply drawn to or passionate about something? Something you are not only willing to die for - but truly live your life for.

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May you come to know

these deepest longings

and desires this Advent.

It is God's enduring gift to you,

Just as much as a baby

born in Bethlehem was...

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Come to know
these deepest longings
and desires this Advent
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Ask yourself:

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What truly energizes me?

What makes every fibre of my being come alive

and smile - smile not just with my face but with my soul?

What fills me with such passion - in such a way - that it not only benefits me

but also those around me? Not only blesses me, but blesses those around me?

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These may be

great things

or small things -

But whatever they are,

they will authentically

be your things

Given to you

and to those

around

you

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I pray this Advent

that you may

be guided by this

Inner Star...

Putting one foot

in front of the other,

this will Journey

you very

far

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Within Reach

Photo Googled and Photoshopped

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Even though I may not

always understand,

You are there

like a Star,

in the pit

and palm of

my hand

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Come to me, Lord, in whichever form you choose...

I give you my heart, for you to love and use

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