Wednesday 28 November 2012

Celebrations ...

The alternative worship service (WOW) at Saint Nicholas' was one year old today!
 That, of course, required a cake!  And candles!




 We also indulged in some biscuits and cheese with cherry tomatoes.
 As we're on the edge of Advent the craft activity tonight was to make Advent Candles ... the original model was one that had been given to me with all the titles and names of Jesus covering the twenty five days.  Our candles were a little smaller and the pens quite plump so it wasn't easy to cram the names into the tiny space.
 Indeed, even keeping the lines straight proved to be quite a challenge!  The leaflet had a template to make things a fraction easier.  Most people opted to put the list of titles and names onto their leaflet but one very creative member wrote with very small neat letters on the candle itself.
The names we used are:

Lord
Saviour
Messiah
The Vine
The Way
The Truth
The Life
Emmanuel
Redeemer
The Rock
The Word
Son of God
Counsellor 
Lamb of God
High Priest
Anointed One
Living Water
Morning Star
King of kings
Lord of lords
Lion of Judah
Good Shepherd
Prince of Peace
The Resurrection
Jesus

 The other item on tonight's WOW was Saint Nicholas.  Next week we're having a major day when  our own Bishop Alan will attend for the lunchtime Eucharist and when there'll be opportunities to learn more about Nicholas and the places associated with him.
The lines on the right in the picture above are part of the template for the twenty five days.
Then, each day during Advent a little portion of the candle is burned and we take time to reflect on the meaning of that particular aspect of Jesus' life and ministry. They give a chance for some quiet reflection in the midst of a busy season.
They're easy to make ... why not have a go!
I'd been given this prayer in Bari during the summer ...

Almighty God, who in your love gave to your servant, Nicholas of Myra, a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea:
Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. 

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