Adventure

Adventure (n) – an unusual and exciting experience.

The anticipation was unbearable; as a child I never understood why Christmas featured so much in the weeks that led up to the Great Day. The build-up accompanied by the daily opening of yet another window on the Advent Calendar, along with regular reminders that time to buy presents was rapidly diminishing, only added to almost uncontrollable excitement. Throw into this mix the worry that I’d perhaps not been good enough to warrant my wish list to be granted by Father Christmas and I’m surprised I wasn’t a nervous wreck come Christmas Day.

However, in later life I’ve come to appreciate this season of preparation. I value time to reflect, and I find I’m able to engage in these weeks with a better understanding of the adventure of Advent. 

This Advent at St Peter’s we’re exploring the season through the stories of Abraham and Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary. For each of them, faith was nothing less than an extraordinary adventure - an encounter with God’s transforming work to bring justice and peace. And we, too, are called into that story, working in our own way to see God’s Kingdom become ever more visible in the world today.

By the grace of God, and in our prayers and our actions, let’s make this season of Advent the adventure it’s meant to be.

God of the journey, 

in this season of adventure 

may we know your transforming work 

that makes the wilderness blossom,

restores wholeness to lives that are broken, 

and enables fearful hearts to grow strong in faith. 

So that when Jesus comes 

we know him as Lord and Saviour of all. Amen.