Matter matters' so the founder of the Iona Community succinctly put it. Matter whether hill, valley or sheep or matter as heart and lungs, bones and face, mind and emotions matter. Presence endures.

Press play to hear opening prayer and closing blessing. Click here for introduction to this Advent series.

Some ideas for a daily Advent reflection to use with children

Click on this link to download and print out a Jesse tree.

We have collected readings for the stories from various children's bibles, symbols to cut out and colour in and ideas for prayers and questions. Click here and print out

Below are links to the same stories from the CEV bible.

Sunday 2nd:       Isaiah 11   Jesse tree
Monday 3rd: Creation     Genesis 1      Stars and planets
Tuesday 4th: Adam and Eve Genesis 2             Fruit tree
Wednesday 5th: Noah and family   Genesis 6-9      Ark/animals/rainbow
Thursday 6th:    Abram and Sara Genesis 12   Tent
Friday 7th:    Jacob         Genesis 28   Ladder
Saturday 8th: Joseph         Genesis 37   Coat

New Testament/Christmas narrative begins with Matthew 1: 1-16 then Luke 1:5-38

Opening prayer

Bless to me, O God, The earth beneath my foot,
Bless to me, O God, The path whereon I go.

Meditation

Religion knows better than philosophy.
Religion knows that Jesus was never Jesus
till he was born from a womb, and ate soup and bread
and grew up, and became, in the wonder of creation, Jesus,
with a body and with needs, and a lovely spirit.

D.H.Lawrence

Questions

Is there anything I am excluding or not owning from my story?
As I sit what do I imagine Jesus saying about me and my story that matters to Him?
If I am with my family and/or friends, what do they say that of my story matters to them?

Closing Blessing

Be a bright flame before me,
Be a guiding star above me,
Be a smooth path below me,
And be a kindly shepherd behind me,
To-day, to-night, and for ever.

Garmina Gadelica