Welcome to our 2021 Advent Journey! This year we are making our way toward Christmas by exploring the four Advent themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love, but with a twist. This third week is not just about LOVE but Love(ing) Solidarity, but before you jump in to today’s reflection, just take a moment, breathe slowly, and pray the following prayer as truthfully and earnestly as you can.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
All your ways flow forth from love,
for you do not just act in love but are love itself.
We remember that from this love, Love incarnate came,
and calls us to reach up and outwards in love.
Amen
Daily Scripture: 1 John 4:7-8
Find the above scripture in your bible and read slowly – you might want to read it out loud. You can also find it here.
Reflection
God is love.
Stop.
Pause. Linger here.
God is love.
Spend some time this morning with these three simple words that speak of an incomprehensibly profound truth. Sit with this phrase as you would with a close friend – converse, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to explore places that require vulnerability, trust, and a willingness to speak and to listen.
God is love. God is love? God is love!
Advent Quotes
‘The statement “God is love” puts love on a whole different level with respect to understanding who God is. Love is so central to God’s character that it is predicated of him. He is love. And love therefore characterizes all of his activities. God’s creating, ruling, judging, revealing, instructing, blessing, disciplining, giving, rebuking, sustaining, and re-creating are all done in love. There is nothing God does that does not emanate from his loving nature.’
| Constantine Campbell
‘Most people, in cultures where Christianity has been a dominant religious influence, assume that they know roughly what the word “God” means. Whether or not they believe in God, whether or not they find God an attractive notion, they do have an idea of God, an idea that tends to centre on power … The Christian gospel, however, starts its understanding of God from a very different place. To read the biblical narratives is to encounter a God who is, first of all, love (1 John 4:8). Love involves a willingness to put oneself at risk, and God is in fact vulnerable in love, vulnerable men to great suffering.’
| William Placher
Advent Song: God is Love
There is a love
Knocking on your door
There is a God
Your heart dies for
There is reality
Beyond this ache
There is a truth
Beyond the break
God is love
Yea-eah, yea-eah
Yea-eah
Fall madly
Fall wildly
Fall desperately into love
Fall freely
Trust completely
In the God up above
Fall madly
Fall widly
Fall desperately into love
Fall freely
Trust completely
In the God up above
| Charles Wesley
Closing Benediction
Be people of love.
Let love live in your heart and share the love of Christ with all you meet.
Share love by loving those you see regularly.
Start by loving your community.
Share love by loving those you do not know.
Share love by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share love.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations,
share love, joy, peace, and hope with those you meet.
Amen.
| Liturgy Link
ZOOM REFLECTIONS
Zoom Reflections Monday – Thursday evenings at 9 – 9:20pm
Click here to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86970491613
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts and reflections and so please do leave a comment in the section at the bottom of this page. Much love to you all on this Advent journey!