Our thread

*Lettering of the beginning of chapter 2,St Matthews Gospel, Eric Gill*

This advent we take as our spine, or thread, through the days leading up to Christmas a prayer, by Ruth Burgess. Each week readings are given audibly and visually by various contributors according to the prayer's themes of light, power, joy and laughter and finally of love. These will likely be short, many without further comment. We suggest you start your meditation with this prayer and end with it too. Listen through pressing the play button or by clicking a link where offered.

Light of God
LEAD US

Power of God
HOLD US

Joy of God
HEAL US

Laughter of God
BLESS US

Love of God
CARESS US

Ruth Burgess, Hay and Stardust

Featured

Dec 24, 2014

Love: Sacred spaces

Dec 24, 2014

And all her journeyings was a caressing
Within her mind of secrets to be spoken.
The simple fact of birth soon overshadowed
The shadow of the angel.
The Visitation,Elizabeth Jennings

Dec 24, 2014

Dec 23, 2014

Love: So near

Dec 23, 2014

You who were darkness warmed my flesh
where out of darkness rose the seed...
I wither and you break from me;
yet though you dance in living light,
I am the earth, I am the root,
I am the stem that fed the fruit,
the link that joins you to the night.
Woman to child, Judith Wright

Dec 23, 2014

Dec 22, 2013

Love: In action

Dec 22, 2013

And this will be the longest task: to attend,
to open myself.
The Other, Ruth Fainlight

Dec 22, 2013

Dec 21, 2013

Love: Is here

Dec 21, 2013

All mankind will see God's salvation.
Luke 3:6

Dec 21, 2013

Dec 20, 2013

Love: Day-spring cheer

Dec 20, 2013

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Dec 20, 2013

Dec 19, 2013

Love: Yearning

Dec 19, 2013

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Psalm 42:1-2

Dec 19, 2013

Dec 18, 2013

Joy and Laughter: Anna

Dec 18, 2013

Could we but look more clearly and wisely
We might discover somewhere in the garden
A strange new flower and an unnamed star.
The World, Czeslaw Milosz

Dec 18, 2013

Dec 17, 2013

Joy and Laughter: Simeon

Dec 17, 2013

God of mystery, God of glory, we will laugh with you.
Candles and Conifers, Ruth Burgess

Dec 17, 2013

Dec 16, 2013

Joy and Laughter: The Shepherds

Dec 16, 2013

[Happiness] comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
It comes to the lover

Happiness, Jane Kenyon

Dec 16, 2013

Dec 15, 2013

Joy and Laughter: Elizabeth

Dec 15, 2013

I am born for the second time,
happiness of the world
came to me again.
My body effervesces.
Anna Swir

Dec 15, 2013