Pray : God forgive us when we see you as ‘our God’ as though we had exclusive rights to your comfort and your blessing. Forgive us when we look on others as not worthy of your care. Forgive us when our self   righteousness puffs us up with pride and makes us think that nothing can ever harm us, because you are on our side. Keep on confronting us with our need to let you be God, beyond our control, beyond our measure, beyond our understanding. And then, when we’ve given up even trying to fathom you out, give us a wee glimpse of your divine smile lighting up our darkness. Open our hearts to your love, to your purposes not just for the world, but for us too – so that we may be open to play  our part in preparing your way, shining something of the light of your love into our needy world. May we be bringers of your peace to a world full of conflict. In all our busyness in the run up to Christmas, help us not to lose sight of real significance of the season – Jesus! Hear us as together we pray as he taught saying Our Father…

Thought- “What’s the point?” That can quite often be the thought that comes to our minds when we consider all the things that we’re being buffeted with – from the huge world problems – climate, conflicts, energy security and recession – to the multitude of issues that we have to deal with in our personal lives – the steep rise in the cost of living, not least fuel bills and the cost of food, all on top of the everyday pressures that seem to get no easier – and inevitably, personal or family crises that we somehow have to try to cope with too. Most of us try to dig deep into our hidden strength but sometimes there is very little of that left and we just wonder “what next?” Our passages this morning remind us that there is a point and purpose. Both point to the breaking in of God’s love into a dark and needy world. John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, who would come to bring light in the darkness, hope, peace and love. It wasn’t that the people’s problems would simply disappear, they wouldn’t, but he came preparing the way for Jesus the Saviour and his love and salvation. But that is something we have a part in too. On a smaller scale, not tot he whole world, but to people we know, our neighbours, our community, perhaps people no one else can reach. We have a purpose in life over and above all the other duties and responsibilities that are ours – to help prepare the way, get people ready to meet with Jesus. And God promises us his help and encouragement to do our bit. Things may well be bleak,  humanly speaking, but there is a point to our lives, a real purpose. As we prepare for Christmas, let’s be open to God bringing us his peace, and equipping us to play our part in preparing the way for the Saviour.

Pray: God you loved the world so much that you sent your Son to be born in poverty and to die in agony. We pray for all those who know poverty today: poverty of mind, body or spirit; and for those who live daily with agony: agony of mind, body or spirit. Restore your children, O God, in mind, body and spirit. Before Jesus, came John to prepare the way. We pray for all people today who are messengers: messengers of hope, messengers of light, messengers of love. We pray too for those who, like John, bring messages that folk don’t want to hear: police officers bringing bad news, medical staff confirming worst fears, employers caught up in the demands of recession. God, whether our lives are filled with things we’re happy to hear or things we dreaded ever being told, may we know your presence through it all: healing bruised minds, bodies and spirits, bringing your own brand of hope, light and love. Keep on confronting us with the harsh demands of the gospel until we too become harbingers of light in all the dark corners of your world and our world. May we always stand out and stand up for hope, light and love. As the pace of activity increases in the run up to Christmas, in our busyness help us to remember our role as preparers of the way for Jesus. In our prayer walk this week we remember all the staff and students at Montrose Academy. SILENCE. Advent God, draw near to us and all for whom we have prayed, open our hearts and minds to your peace that passes all understanding, for Jesus’ sake, Amen.

Blessing - May the Lord bless you. Amen.