The church’s seasons and year are often shown through different colours. Frontals, vestments change colour according to where we are in each year. Advent, like Lent, is the colour purple. Purple is the colour of royalty (and of bishops!) but more importantly it is for the church the colour of penitence. So here in the second week of advent our readings start to focus on repentance, starting with the prophets this is a call to change.
What is it that this Advent we are willing to ask, brave enough to pray to change in us so that we might be ready? What are we prepared to put down, give up, make up, pivot to or away from to be as ready as possible for Christ (mas)? For each of us that will be something different. Is it a temptation that we need to be honest about? Is it a relationship that needs attention? Knowing what our weaknesses might be, holding them up to the light of God and examining them gently, carefully in prayer, can be the beginnings of this movement. As Paul notes this week it is a time of “encouragement” for us to a place of harmony. Like all good harmonies, it doesn’t mean that we will all sing the same note, or even start or end at the same time – but that when we do this examination of ourselves, that the resulting music with all others is one that brings blessing to the world.
As well as St Mary’s Christmas Fair this Saturday (11-2pm) we have as worship the following.
Services this Sunday – 7th December 2025
10:00am – Toy Service with the Rainbows, Brownies and Guides – St Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion with Band and Junior Church (Nativity rehearsal) – All Saints
6:30pm – Advent Candlelit Procession – St Marys
The Week Ahead
Mon 8th Dec
10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints
Tue 9th Dec
10:30am – M4T, St. Mary’s Parish Rooms
Wed 10th Dec
9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thu 11th Dec
10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
Fri 12th Dec
1:00pm-2pm – Christmas Concert – Veterans Band, St Mary’s
Sat 13th Dec
12:00pm-1:30pm – Saturday Lunches, St. Mary’s
Sun 14th Dec
8:00am – Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
10:30am – Advent service of the word, with Nativity rehearsal, All Saints
4:30pm – Nativity, All Saints
6:30pm – Generations, Avonmeads 10Pin Bowling
May you have a Joyful Advent.
Revd Lizzie
St Mary's, Fishponds 