Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou

In this Advent season, and as we come towards the end of another calendar year, I am hearing so many people commenting about what a strange and challenging year it has been, and what a disruptive time we are living in as COVID-19 continues to affect everyone. Many are saying that Christmas is going to be different, and they are wary of gatherings and of travelling.

I hope that the following prayer will help us to pause, pray and reflect. Whatever life brings us, our challenge is to reflect and find the presence of God in whatever the event is or whoever the person is.

God in the return to a simplified Christmas;  God in the advent  of extravagant joy:

may we, who are so accustomed to connecting happiness with an accumulation of things,

receive the gift of valuing the connections we already have.  

May a stripped down celebration and a slower pace to the holiday reveal the treasure that was ours all along.

And may we find in the strangeness of this year’s Christmas the wonder that was present in its first incarnation. 

Amen.

From Corrymeela Community in Ireland

I thank you all for the work of this year, for your supportive prayer and for all that you do in parishes, schools and colleges, or whatever your work may be throughout the diocese. I assure you of my prayers of gratitude for all you have done throughout 2021 and continue to do. I pray in the final words of the above prayer that you may find “the wonder that was present in its first incarnation.”  I remember reading many years ago words of G K Chesterton; “There are plenty of things to wonder at in this world, what is lacking is wonderment”.

Despite COVID-19 and the many challenges it has put before us, despite vaccine certificates, contact tracing, scanning in, face masks, social distancing, double vaxing and booster shots I do hope that this Christmas is filled with wonder. Jesus Christ is present in our world, will always be present. We give thanks.

May a stripped down celebration and a slower pace to the holiday reveal the treasure that was ours all along. And may we find in the strangeness of this year’s Christmas the wonder that was present in its first incarnation.    

With abundant blessings for a  Meri Kirihimete

Nāku noa. Nā

+John

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