The Archbishop of Canterbury's #FollowTheStar Advent reflections - Week one
We have a God who works today in our lives to make the future a reality and calls us to join in with him.
|
This week’s Advent #FollowTheStar reflection from Archbishop Justin Welby and Rev Isabelle Hamley
|
|
| It is good to prepare for Christmas, to remember the promises of God, his coming in Jesus, and celebrate by sharing love with family and friends. But there is so much more to look forward to! The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a time when all nations will be at peace, when there will be no more tears and pain, no weapons or division and justice will prevail. |
|
|
1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
3 Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
|
|
|
A group of Christians has been taking the words of Isaiah literally in recent years. In places where gun and knife crime are maiming and destroying communities, they have been collecting guns and knives, melting them, and turning them into garden tools, inspired by Micah and Isaiah’s vision of God’s people beating their ‘swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Christian waiting and looking forward is never just a passive thing. It is about allowing our hope for the future to change the world in which we live. It is about being open to the challenge of the Spirit, recognising where God is already at work so we can join in. We are not just imagining the future. We have a God who works today in our lives to make this future a reality and calls us to join in with him.
Archbishop Justin Welby and Rev Isabelle Hamley
|
|
| Bible readings are taken from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
]]-->
The Archbishop of Canterbury's #FollowTheStar Advent reflections - Week one
We have a God who works today in our lives to make the future a reality and calls us to join in with him.
|
This week’s Advent #FollowTheStar reflection from Archbishop Justin Welby and Rev Isabelle Hamley
|
|
| It is good to prepare for Christmas, to remember the promises of God, his coming in Jesus, and celebrate by sharing love with family and friends. But there is so much more to look forward to! The prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of a time when all nations will be at peace, when there will be no more tears and pain, no weapons or division and justice will prevail. |
|
|
1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
3 Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!
|
|
|
A group of Christians has been taking the words of Isaiah literally in recent years. In places where gun and knife crime are maiming and destroying communities, they have been collecting guns and knives, melting them, and turning them into garden tools, inspired by Micah and Isaiah’s vision of God’s people beating their ‘swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Christian waiting and looking forward is never just a passive thing. It is about allowing our hope for the future to change the world in which we live. It is about being open to the challenge of the Spirit, recognising where God is already at work so we can join in. We are not just imagining the future. We have a God who works today in our lives to make this future a reality and calls us to join in with him.
Archbishop Justin Welby and Rev Isabelle Hamley
|
|
| Bible readings are taken from The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
]]-->
Sun, 01 Dec 2019 06:30:00 +0000
https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/are-you-ready-to-join-our-followthestar-journey-this-christmas https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/are-you-ready-to-join-our-followthestar-journey-this-christmas
Are you ready to join our #FollowTheStar Journey this Christmas?
Our #FollowTheStar app is now available to download for free!
|
It's only one month until our #FollowTheStar Christmas reflections begin!
Starting on Christmas Day and finishing on Sunday 5 January, our reflections invite you to go on a journey of wonder and discovery, just like the wise men (or Magi) as they followed the star to discover Jesus.
|
|
We're also very excited to announce that we'll be releasing four special reflections written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby every Sunday in Advent.
|
|
| You'll receive these as emails each Sunday in Advent, but they will also be available on our website so you can share them with family and friends. |
|
|
Why not download our #FollowTheStar app available on Android and iOS and get access to audio versions of the reflections, as well as craft activities designed to help families explore the daily themes. |
|
|
There's still time to order your #FollowTheStar booklets which take you through the twelve daily reflections, starting on Christmas Day.
These are brand new reflections written by Rev Mina Munns and include a welcome from Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu. |
|
|
Make sure we've got the right information for you so we can stay in touch after Christmas.
|
|
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
]]-->
Are you ready to join our #FollowTheStar Journey this Christmas?
Our #FollowTheStar app is now available to download for free!
|
It's only one month until our #FollowTheStar Christmas reflections begin!
Starting on Christmas Day and finishing on Sunday 5 January, our reflections invite you to go on a journey of wonder and discovery, just like the wise men (or Magi) as they followed the star to discover Jesus.
|
|
We're also very excited to announce that we'll be releasing four special reflections written by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby every Sunday in Advent.
|
|
| You'll receive these as emails each Sunday in Advent, but they will also be available on our website so you can share them with family and friends. |
|
|
Why not download our #FollowTheStar app available on Android and iOS and get access to audio versions of the reflections, as well as craft activities designed to help families explore the daily themes. |
|
|
There's still time to order your #FollowTheStar booklets which take you through the twelve daily reflections, starting on Christmas Day.
These are brand new reflections written by Rev Mina Munns and include a welcome from Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu. |
|
|
Make sure we've got the right information for you so we can stay in touch after Christmas.
|
|
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
]]-->
Mon, 25 Nov 2019 17:00:00 +0000
https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/are-you-ready-to-join-our-followthestar-journey-this-christmas-1030419 https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/are-you-ready-to-join-our-followthestar-journey-this-christmas-1030419
Are you ready to join our #FollowTheStar Journey this Christmas?
You've previously signed up to receive our free Christmas reflections and we want to check you're still happy to receive them.
It's just over two months until our #FollowTheStar reflections begin!
Starting on Christmas Day and finishing on Sunday 5 January, our 12 Days of Christmas Wonder reflections invite you to go on a journey of wonder and discovery, just like the wise men (or Magi) as they followed the star to discover Jesus.
We're also lining up some special content to take you through the season of Advent which we'll be releasing details about soon. |
|
|
|
]]-->
Are you ready to join our #FollowTheStar Journey this Christmas?
You've previously signed up to receive our free Christmas reflections and we want to check you're still happy to receive them.
It's just over two months until our #FollowTheStar reflections begin!
Starting on Christmas Day and finishing on Sunday 5 January, our 12 Days of Christmas Wonder reflections invite you to go on a journey of wonder and discovery, just like the wise men (or Magi) as they followed the star to discover Jesus.
We're also lining up some special content to take you through the season of Advent which we'll be releasing details about soon. |
|
|
|
]]-->
Wed, 23 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000
>, a special invitation to join a Church of England pilot project!]]>
https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/a-special-invitation-to-join-a-church-of-england-pilot-project https://mailchi.mp/churchofengland/a-special-invitation-to-join-a-church-of-england-pilot-project
*|FNAME|*, a special invitation to join a Church of England pilot project!
Join our Connected Disciples pilot running in your area.
As you have signed-up for Church of England campaigns in the past, we would like to invite you to join a special pilot of the Archbishops’ Council that we are running in the Wandsworth Archdeaconry (what's that?).
We have worked with our partners to make a number of courses freely available for the pilot including The Bible Society, Church Army, the Bible Reading Fellowship and The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. There are resources on offer to help you in your understanding of the bible, faith in everyday life, parenting, evangelism and vocation.
Sometimes faith can feel like it is constrained to Sunday morning. Life is hectic, and it can be difficult to connect with God during the week. Why not link up with family and friends and use digital means to keep in touch day to day, using these resources to encourage one another in your everyday faith?
For more information and to sign-up go to www.churchofengland.org/connecteddisciples By joining the pilot and giving us your feedback, you will be helping us shape the project for the rest of the Church of England.
|
|
|
|
|
|
]]-->
<< Test First name >>, a special invitation to join a Church of England pilot project!
Join our Connected Disciples pilot running in your area.
As you have signed-up for Church of England campaigns in the past, we would like to invite you to join a special pilot of the Archbishops’ Council that we are running in the Wandsworth Archdeaconry (what's that?).
We have worked with our partners to make a number of courses freely available for the pilot including The Bible Society, Church Army, the Bible Reading Fellowship and The London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. There are resources on offer to help you in your understanding of the bible, faith in everyday life, parenting, evangelism and vocation.
Sometimes faith can feel like it is constrained to Sunday morning. Life is hectic, and it can be difficult to connect with God during the week. Why not link up with family and friends and use digital means to keep in touch day to day, using these resources to encourage one another in your everyday faith?
For more information and to sign-up go to www.churchofengland.org/connecteddisciples By joining the pilot and giving us your feedback, you will be helping us shape the project for the rest of the Church of England.
|
|
|
|
|
|
]]-->
Mon, 14 Oct 2019 18:00:00 +0000
