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 4:11

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

As we have been learning this week, love is to be understood in relation to who God is, his prior love for us, and the giving of his Son for the sins of the world. Now, however, John begins to speak about our response to such an outpouring of love. Constantine Campbell proposes that the phrase ‘since God so loved us’, is actually better translated as ‘since God loved us in this way’ or ‘in this manner’, and suggests that it’s not only that God loves us, but that the way God loves us is important to John.

The manner of God’s love toward us has been revealed here as a costly and sacrificial laying down of life for others, and so when John says that we ‘ought to love one another’, this is type of love he has in mind. If there was any doubt about this, then John makes it crystal clear in 3:16 when he says, ‘we know love by this, that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for one another’!

Advent Poem: Another Flame Defies the Darkness

Another flame defies the darkness
In a world where narratives of division and self-interest still echo;
Though wars rage, innocents mourn and people are displaced
Love’s light will never be extinguished.
Love declared by prophets and poets
Became flesh, to place eternity within our grasp
A love from which no earthly circumstance can separate us
A love beyond words, beyond time, beyond measure.
And even though hatred may still linger,
We will not walk in its shadow.
We embrace God’s call to love even those who would be our enemy
To declare a neighbour of those that some would call stranger.
For one day the darkness will be finally dispelled
And in its wake, love will forever prevail
And while we wait, our hope is renewed
By love’s enduring power and example.

| North Western Baptist Association

Advent Song: Like Jesus

Father Your kingdom we want to build 

Move us to follow Your perfect will

Tear down the walls Break every lie

Mature and renew us Unto new life

We want to love like Jesus

We want to love like He does

Consider the other

Welcome the stranger

Serve one another

Like Jesus

Lord teach us how To lay our lives down

Let the story of Jesus Among us be found

Here we now stand Arms open wide

Together as one United in Christ

They will know Him

They will see Him 

They will know Him by our love

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!