PAUSE TO PROTECT AND PREPARE
Lockdown.
Again.
Sort of, but not quite the same. Still, it’s a lockdown.
Or no - maybe that’s too negative.
A PAUSE. So I wrote the above reflection and posted it and it proved to hit the spot for many people!
A pause to protect, a pause to prepare, so that Christmas can happen better.
Because Christmas WILL happen - Emmanuel WILL come as he always does and as we alway remember on December 25th. Emmanuel: GOD WITH US, no matter what. God is with us.
What do you need to be ready for WHATEVER may lie ahead?
Like most people, you probably don’t know what lies ahead and you fear the worst. Actually, isn’t that true for most of us most of the time? We none of us knows what lies ahead even though we plan and prepare and presume that what we schedule and diarize will indeed happen. Eventually. Somehow.
Anthony Robbins, the American motivational speaker and author, (I know, a Marmite situation, love it or hate it...) said,
“People are shaped not by how things go when things are going well; people’s lives are shaped by the most difficult times. … This is your time for training, for practice, to prepare for what’s ahead…I guarantee you, winter will end, and when it does you will emerge that far ahead. You will have taken your life to a new level.”
How will your life be shaped in these difficult times?
Are you ready for what lies ahead?
How will you take your life, your walk with God, your spirituality, to a whole new level?
What will help you to prepare and to go deeper with God and be ready for Emmanuel at Christmas?
December 25th. Remembering the birth of Emmanuel, God with us.
Christmas.
Maybe not in the way we normally remember and celebrate.
Maybe there will need to be new creative ways, less commercialism, (there’s always hoping!) other ways to celebrate the Saviour’s coming. But it WILL happen (unless they change the calendar before then. Anything’s possible, right?!)
Perhaps this year, as lockdowns increase and uncertainty and fear surround us, it’s a good year to concentrate even more on the things of God.
To prepare for the coming of the Saviour.
To celebrate and remember Advent.
Not just the giddy opening of advent calendars filled with luscious chocolates (for the young) or gin or whisky (for the slightly older). But the burning of beautiful advent candles at home. The hanging of a Jesse tree and its ornaments and verses. Special daily readings, time to reflect. TIME TO PAUSE.
An Advent Retreat
for uncertain and unprecedented times -
An Individual Guided Retreat (online)
Where: your own special Sacred Space. This is online. No need to worry about social distancing, masks, or what to wear! Relax in your comfy chair with your favourite brew , in your pjs if you like, and experience the presence of God in an unhurried and special way.
When: Saturday November 28th 2020 – the day before Advent begins so that you are ready to step into Advent itself. (but you can do it at any time - read on…)
What: The Three Questions. Looking at three very specific questions asked by people in the months and weeks leading up to the birth of Jesus. They were living through uncertain and unprecedented times; they each had difficult personal situations; they each had their worries and concerns. Sound familiar?
There’ll be some input, some time for personal reflection, some led meditation/ Imaginative prayer times. And a downloadable journal for you to keep and write in.
Time:
9.30am -12.30 pm (GMTLondon)
Session One: The Question of Disappointment
Session Two: The Question of Inadequacy/self-esteem
Session Three: The Question of Control
There will be a 5 minute ‘comfort break’ between each session.
The sessions will be recorded and you’ll be able to watch them whenever you like, so if you aren’t able to join us on 28th November, or if you are living in a different time zone, you’ll still be able to benefit from this retreat .
The cost includes:
- three hours on retreat
- teaching and input
- forever access to the recordings
- a downloadable journal
- resources
- and a special free gift just for you.
- Three hours for you to spend extra special time with God, something you might not actually get around to on your own!
All this for just £20. All you need to provide is yourself, a pen and somewhere comfy to sit, and a cup of coffee or tea – or hot chocolate! YAY!
Come and join us on November 28th for just three hours that will probably change the way you celebrate Advent and then Christmas this year.
Click here to join the online ADVENT RETREAT.
Book now - while you think about it. There’s already a great group of people booked to do it. Come and join us?
PAUSE - to PREPARE.