Week 6 - Reflections and Prayers

Reflection

Each year growing up we have all seen Christmas Pageants – as the roles were handed out, many of us wanted to have the more prominent roles like Mary, Joseph, and Angel Gabriel.  But there were only 1 of each of them!  So the lesser roles like the Shepherds were filled by many of us, as there was no limit to how many of them there could be.  

We did not really understand the impact of the roles and may have felt less important, but God chose the Shepherds to receive the message of Great News and sent them out to visit the new Baby.

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Although terrified the Shepherds listened to the Angel and did as they were asked to do and went into town.

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Imagine the reaction from those people in the town that night as they watched this scraggly group of people come walking down Main Street, searching for the place where Jesus was born. 

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By choosing the Shepherds God reminds us that everyone is important, and we should open our ears and our hearts to all who we come in contact with and remember that one of them may have a message of Good News for us too.

Consider sharing on our  Facebook Page the shepherds in your life, or a time where you received Good News.

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some music to enjoy

While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

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Prayer for the sixth week of Advent

Lord God, we give you thanks for the Good News of Jesus’ birth.  As the Shepherds but their fear aside and went in search of the Baby Jesus, help us to open our hearts and our minds to welcome all people we meet with dignity and respect.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen

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Something TO DO

Many of us put candy canes on the Christmas tree these serve a symbol of the shepherd’s crook.

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If you don’t have candy canes, consider making the crooks from pipe cleaners entwining them together.

Do you have a nativity set (Creche)?  If so think about God’s message to us as you put the shepherds in to the scene.

As you place the crooks on the tree, or put the shepherds in the nativity scene this year think about all the people that have crossed your path during the Advent season, and consider did you take the time to listen to them. 

Consider all those who may not be as blessed as we are and for each time you hear about the Shepherds or see a picture of them put a coin in the Advent Jar.

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Scripture - Luke 2:8-15

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

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When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 

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Think of times when you may have felt lowly or outcast.  How did it make you feel?

Reading this passage from Luke, does it give you hope?  How could you pass this hope on to others?

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