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Prayer is an important part Christian life. It is through prayer and worship that we come closer to and deepen our relationship with God.
On this page you will find links to some online resources and information about current initiatives that are available.
The Advent Series – Sundays 29 November, 6, 13 and 20 December.
Advent is an important month in Christian year, it is a time when we remember with anticipation the birth of Jesus and wait with expectation for his second coming.
We are doing things differently this year because of Covid-19 and the changing circumstances surrounding it. We are offering a weekly opportunity to explore four themes important in Advent; Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
Each week via Zoom there will be a short film, produced by the Bible Project, exploring the biblical understanding of one of the words and afterwards an opportunity to have a discussion. Each session will begin at 2.30pm and last about an hour. If you are interested please email Mel mel.parkin@stwulframs.com and she will send you the zoom invitation.
Advent is a time of preparation. One of the traditions we associate with Advent is the Advent Wreath. The traditional Advent Wreath is usually a circular garland often created from evergreen branches.
For the last few years, at St Wulfram’s, we have had a gigantic wreath suspended from the ceiling and the children in Sunday Club have often helped to make this or created their own wreaths to take home and share with their families.
The garland symbolises the eternal nature of God – without beginning or end.
The Advent Wreath at St Wulfram’s usually has 5 candles. Three purple candles and one pink, with a white candle in the centre.
The first candle is lit on Advent Sunday and then a new one is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas.
Each of the four coloured candles represents people who prepared for the coming of Jesus.
The first candle, 29 November 2020, represents God’s People. This is the candle of hope.
The second candle, 6 December 2020, reminds people of the Old Testament Prophets who foretold the birth of the Messiah. This is the candle of peace.
The third candle, 13 December 2020, to be lit is the pink candle and this symbolises John the Baptist. This is the candle of love.
The fourth candle, 20 December 2020, reminds us of Mary. This is the candle of joy.
Finally, the centre candle is lit on Christmas Eve symbolising Jesus, the Light of the World.
Click the link here to view a simple Celtic version of an Advent Wreath that you could re-create at home on a plate, using the template and some tea-lights. Why not have a go at this or creating one similar to the wreath we have at St Wulfram’s.
We would love to see your pictures.
This year the Church of England Advent and Christmas theme is comfort and joy, something we all could use a little of at the moment! There will be weekly reflections throughout advent and daily reflections from Christmas Day. It is possible to receive these via the app or have them sent as an email to you. If you would like to sign up for this, please follow the link: www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/faith-action/living-out-our-faith/advent-and-christmas/comfort-and-joy
The reflections from Christmas day can also be bought as a hard copy booklet via this link https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/comfortandjoy
Other publications
If you would find it helpful to have a daily reflection during Advent here are some books that offer this:
Advent for Everyone a journey through Matthew by Tom Wright
Advent for Everyone a journey through Luke by Tom Wright
Advent for Everyone a journey with the Apostles by Tom Wright
Do Nothing Christmas is coming – an advent calendar with a difference by Stephen Cottrell
Let it Slow by Stephen Cottrell
Other books that do not provide daily reflections but are thought provoking and create the opportunity to reflect on the season of Advent are:
The Meaning is in the Waiting by Paula Gooder
Journey to the Manger by Paula Gooder
Walking backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell
However you decide to use this time of Advent, may it be a time of expectation as we wait for the return of Christ the King and preparation to receive again the Christ child.
A selection of prayers and meditations for private prayer before the Blessed Sacrement.
From the Introduction to the booklet:
During the coronavirus pandemic, not only have we not been able to receive Jesus in the Eucharist but we have also not been able to enter our churches to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, reserved as a perpetual Presence in our most sacred places.
This has been a cause of great sadness and distress for many of us. We are grateful that we are now able to pray in church again, if only privately, and most importantly before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, either exposed in a Monstrance or before the Tabernacle.
The Blessed Sacrament is a wonderful gift to the Church. When we are moving to a new place, we sometimes leave a token of affection for our loved ones as something to remember us by. Jesus, knowing that He would die on the Cross, gave us the Eucharist, not only as a token of His love, but as the very gift of Himself for our nourishment, a way of staying with us even after He ascended to heaven.
We thank the Lord for this, His wonderful gift. In the Blessed Sacrament, we have the presence of our Friend, our Brother, our King, our Lord, our God; the One who loves us unconditionally. Jesus gives us His totality; how do we choose to respond?
In this booklet you will find some prayers, scripture readings and meditations to help you to pray before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It is important to leave some time for silent prayer too, to listen to what God might be saying to you.
You might also want to spend some time in intercessory prayer; praying for those closest to you, for the Church and for your parish and your priest, for the world, for those who are suffering from coronavirus and all those who are sick, and for those who have died.
We ask that you follow all the health guidelines in place, both on your journey to church and when inside church.
Finally, we pray in unity with one another that:
O Sacrament most holy; O Sacrament divine:
All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.
Monday to Saturdays Morning Prayer is said at 9:00am. Night Prayer (Compline) is said on Saturday evenings at 8:00pm. Both of these services are broadcast on our Facebook page with a link here on our website too.
The text for these services can be found on the Church of England's website where they provide resources for services through the day to follow, either online or by downloading the apps. For more information please click here for more information.
Daily Hope is a free national phone line and is aimed particularly at the over 75s who don’t have access to the internet. It is available 24hrs a day on 0800 804 8044. Callers will be able to choose from a range of options, including daily prayer, a recording of the Church of England’s weekly national online service, and favourite hymns.