‘Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.’ (John 1:3-5)
LIGHT YOUR CANDLE AS WE BEGIN
In the beginning, Lord
I was alone
Like the earth
before your Spirit moved over the waters.
I was formless and empty
and darkness filled the depths of my heart.
Then, it was as if you declared
‘Let there be Light’
and out of the darkness
I began to see hope
like a shimmering ray of love
breaking through the parting clouds
at the conclusion of the night.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone
but when I saw you in the light I was no longer afraid.
You held out your hand
and though I had a choice
I had no choice
because to refuse
was to embrace again the darkness.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone
now I am again a part
of your creation
loved, wanted, needed, family.
In the light of your presence
I hold out my heart that others
might glimpse through it your reflection
and be drawn from the darkness that I once embraced
into the light of your sunrise
the brightness of your face
Lord Jesus, Son of God, Saviour of the world
Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead
Lord Jesus, Light in this dark World, illuminate our hearts and minds
Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead
Hope
“He will also strengthen you to the end,
so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:8)
God of Hope, we seek you.
During this holy season of Advent,
help us to see you in all whom we encounter.
God of Hope, we seek you.
We seek you in the crude manger,
a child born to save the world.
May your hope be a comfort
to all who long for justice.
God of Hope, we seek you.
May your hope fill our hearts
and grace our lips so that we might
reflect your hope for all the world.
Amen.
Bellshill Central Church 