{"id":12170,"date":"2022-12-06T11:22:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T11:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cmm.org.uk\/?p=12170"},"modified":"2022-12-06T11:22:51","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T11:22:51","slug":"advent-update-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cmm.org.uk\/index.php\/2022\/12\/06\/advent-update-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent Update 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear Friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advent is my favourite time of the year, with its expectancy, excitement and build up towards Christmas. I was almost the first one to put our lights up in our street. I\u2019d been waiting for eleven months! Despite the dreadful secularisation in the shops and media, I love the preparations for Christmas, and the many Carol services and musicals. This year it looks like The Inn Crowd<\/strong> and Three Wise Camels <\/strong>will be the CMM musicals most used, although you may tell me of more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time of the year will also be most difficult for some, and it’s important to help one another through this.  Maybe these three threads of Advent may help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advent is about the waiting and preparation<\/strong> – getting ready to welcome Jesus. This is not chronological, for Jesus has already come in time. But theological. The festivals and seasons are a great help and discipline, although it’s important to remember that in some sense Advent is for all time, as is Christmas lent, passion time, Easter and Pentecost. But as we wait for the Lord we can make space for him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advent is about the promise of his second coming<\/strong> – what we see now in our world is not what it always will be. Jesus promised, and the rest of the Bible confirms this, that he will come again, that every I will see him, and that for those of us trusting and waiting for him all will be well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advent is about the reality of his presence now<\/strong> – through Jesus we have a God who wants to come into every situation, into every heart, and he waits to be welcomed. Praying \u201cCome Holy Spirit\u201d in vital at all times, whether in private prayers, corporate worship, and in our daily lives at home school and work. Pray the prayer and wait and see how God responds!  May we all find time to recognise and make room for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hey! Come and join us over zoom for a sing-along of The Inn Crowd!<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Monday 12th December at 8:00 PM<\/strong> – contact Sophie at CMM for the zoom code: events@cmm.org.uk<\/a> or ring 01527 576440.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We have two great new YouTube videos:<\/p>\n