Liturgy / Spirituality Spot

1st Sunday of Advent

30th November 2008

WE ARE celebrating the beginning of our new year, Year B,  in the liturgical life of the church.   We can open ourselves to be drawn into the movement through the season of Advent at a deep level in our lives. It’s like a river flowing along beneath all the day to day events and issues that absorb us and occupy our attention and our energy.   During Advent this year we will print each week the Opening Prayer of Mass for the following Sunday.   You might like to pray it during the week before we pray it together on Sunday. Or to choose a word or phrase from it that you could repeat to yourself as you move through the week, a bit like a mantra.   It is also possible to make use of the scripture references for the following Sunday which appear in the newsletter each week.

 Opening Prayer

 God of power and mercy,

open our hearts in welcome.

Remove the things that hinder us

from receiving Christ with joy,

so that we may share his wisdom

and become one with him

when he comes in glory,

for he lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.   (2nd Sunday in Advent)