Welcome
Opening Prayer
Dear God please bring us peace
In this world full of darkness.
Show us how to hold this space
Ready for the first glimmer of light
And when that comes
May we be ready to fill that space with love
Amen
Reading
How the Light Comes For Christmas Eve
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. —Isaiah 9:2
I cannot tell you how the light comes.
What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining.
That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us.
That it loves searching out what is hidden,
what is lost, what is forgotten or in peril or in pain.
That it has a fondness for the body,
for finding its way toward flesh,
for tracing the edges of form,
for shining forth through the eye, the hand, the heart.
I cannot tell you how the light comes,
but that it does. That it will.
That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you,
though it may seem long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape you did not foresee.
And so may we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open and open more
and open still to the blessed light that comes.
Richardson, Jan. Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons Wanton Gospeller Press. Kindle Edition. p.52-53
For light
Light cannot see inside things.
That is what the dark is for: Minding the interior,
Nurturing the draw of growth
Through places where death
In its own way turns into life.
In the glare of neon times,
Let our eyes not be worn
By surfaces that shine
With hunger made attractive
.
That our thoughts may be true light,
Finding their way into words
Which have the weight of shadow
To hold the layers of truth.
That we never place our trust
In minds claimed by empty light,
Where one-sided certainties
Are driven by false desire.
When we look into the heart,
May our eyes have the kindness
And reverence of candlelight.
* That the searching of our minds
Be equal to the oblique
Crevices and corners where
The mystery continues to dwell,
Glimmering in fugitive light.
When we are confined inside
The dark house of suffering
That moonlight might find a window.
When we become so false and lost
That the severe noon-light
Would cast our shadow clear.
When we love, that dawn-light
Would lighten our feet
Upon the waters.
As we grow old, that twilight
Would illuminate treasure
In the fields of memory.
And when we come to search for God,
Let us first be robed in night,
Put on the mind of morning
To feel the rush of light
Spread slowly inside
The colour and stillness
Of a found world.
John O'Donohue, Benedictus: A Book Of Blessings. Transworld. Kindle Edition.Locations 444-470
John 1:1-10
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him
Henri Nouwen says ‘People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny the darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God,’
Introduction to Silence
Light seems important at the present time - we so need the light in our world at the moment. John Paul II points out how the external lights of Christmas remind us of the interior light of Jesus that gives meaning to our lives. He states
‘In becoming flesh, the Son of God was manifested as light. He is not just an external light in the history of the world, but a light within the human person, in his personal history. He became one of us, giving infinite meaning and immortality to our earthly existence’
Let our inner light shine for all to see. John 8:12 states ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
. We walk in the light and try to be light for others
Blessing
To come home to yourself
May all that is unforgiven in you,
Be released.
May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquillities.
May all that is unlived in you,
Blossom into a future,
Graced with love.
John O'Donohue, Benedictus: A Book Of Blessings, Transworld. Kindle Edition. Locations 1598
Thoughts to ponder:
John 1:5 ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
John 8:12 ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
Psalm 27 ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?’
1 Peter 2:9 ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’
Ecclesiastes 2:13 ‘I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness’
John 12:35 The Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they going."
Our next meeting will be 10.30am on Friday 22nd December at St Mary’s Church, Market Road, Plympton, PL7 1QW
www.QuietSpacesPlymouth.co.uk
Opening Prayer
Dear God please bring us peace
In this world full of darkness.
Show us how to hold this space
Ready for the first glimmer of light
And when that comes
May we be ready to fill that space with love
Amen
Reading
How the Light Comes For Christmas Eve
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. —Isaiah 9:2
I cannot tell you how the light comes.
What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining.
That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us.
That it loves searching out what is hidden,
what is lost, what is forgotten or in peril or in pain.
That it has a fondness for the body,
for finding its way toward flesh,
for tracing the edges of form,
for shining forth through the eye, the hand, the heart.
I cannot tell you how the light comes,
but that it does. That it will.
That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you,
though it may seem long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape you did not foresee.
And so may we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open and open more
and open still to the blessed light that comes.
Richardson, Jan. Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons Wanton Gospeller Press. Kindle Edition. p.52-53
For light
Light cannot see inside things.
That is what the dark is for: Minding the interior,
Nurturing the draw of growth
Through places where death
In its own way turns into life.
In the glare of neon times,
Let our eyes not be worn
By surfaces that shine
With hunger made attractive
.
That our thoughts may be true light,
Finding their way into words
Which have the weight of shadow
To hold the layers of truth.
That we never place our trust
In minds claimed by empty light,
Where one-sided certainties
Are driven by false desire.
When we look into the heart,
May our eyes have the kindness
And reverence of candlelight.
* That the searching of our minds
Be equal to the oblique
Crevices and corners where
The mystery continues to dwell,
Glimmering in fugitive light.
When we are confined inside
The dark house of suffering
That moonlight might find a window.
When we become so false and lost
That the severe noon-light
Would cast our shadow clear.
When we love, that dawn-light
Would lighten our feet
Upon the waters.
As we grow old, that twilight
Would illuminate treasure
In the fields of memory.
And when we come to search for God,
Let us first be robed in night,
Put on the mind of morning
To feel the rush of light
Spread slowly inside
The colour and stillness
Of a found world.
John O'Donohue, Benedictus: A Book Of Blessings. Transworld. Kindle Edition.Locations 444-470
John 1:1-10
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him
Henri Nouwen says ‘People who have come to know the joy of God do not deny the darkness, but they choose not to live in it. They claim that the light that shines in the darkness can be trusted more than the darkness itself and that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of darkness. They point each other to flashes of light here and there, and remind each other that they reveal the hidden but real presence of God,’
Introduction to Silence
Light seems important at the present time - we so need the light in our world at the moment. John Paul II points out how the external lights of Christmas remind us of the interior light of Jesus that gives meaning to our lives. He states
‘In becoming flesh, the Son of God was manifested as light. He is not just an external light in the history of the world, but a light within the human person, in his personal history. He became one of us, giving infinite meaning and immortality to our earthly existence’
Let our inner light shine for all to see. John 8:12 states ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
. We walk in the light and try to be light for others
Blessing
To come home to yourself
May all that is unforgiven in you,
Be released.
May your fears yield
Their deepest tranquillities.
May all that is unlived in you,
Blossom into a future,
Graced with love.
John O'Donohue, Benedictus: A Book Of Blessings, Transworld. Kindle Edition. Locations 1598
Thoughts to ponder:
John 1:5 ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’
John 8:12 ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
Psalm 27 ‘The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?’
1 Peter 2:9 ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’
Ecclesiastes 2:13 ‘I saw that wisdom is better than folly, just as light is better than darkness’
John 12:35 The Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Those who walk in the dark do not know where they going."
Our next meeting will be 10.30am on Friday 22nd December at St Mary’s Church, Market Road, Plympton, PL7 1QW
www.QuietSpacesPlymouth.co.uk
