Vintage adventure @ home Light Rev Canon Erica Roberts City Chaplain for Older People Southampton [email protected] 07535 164014 highfield.church www.caraway.uk.com With our best wishes Dear Vintage Friends, Happy New Year! I suspect that many of us will be pleased to leave 2020 behind, but before we do that, perhaps like me you’ve found it helpful to look back and give thanks for some of those moments where we’ve seen God’s grace in action, where we’ve experienced the kindness of others and where we have known God’s goodness and faithfulness in our own lives. Somehow just expressing gratitude for the small things can lift our spirits. As I write this, I’m aware that these next few months are going to be hard for many of us, from young to old, from those who are alone to those living in large families juggling work and home-schooling; and yet, although it may feel as though we’re living in dark times, not only do we have the hope of the vaccination, but we have the hope and reassurance of Jesus, who came to be the light of the world, to shine in the darkness, and to be the light that comforts, guides and saves us. As we you read through the contents of this month’s Vintage Adventure @ Home, you’ll see that we have focussed on the theme of trusting God to light up the way ahead as we look forward into 2021. We’ve also thought about the story of Simeon and Anna, that is both included in the Worship Booklet and in a separate reflection about the widow Anna. Despite being a young baby, both of these wise, prayerful, older people recognised Jesus as the Son of God, as the light of salvation and as someone who had come to express God’s love for the whole of humanity, both Gentiles and Jews. We really hope you enjoy spending time with the contents of the pack; so, do make that cuppa, perhaps light a candle as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world, sit back and stay with whatever jumps out at you. God might speak to you through the worship and reflections, but equally you may become aware of His presence as you do the wordsearch or colouring! Let me leave you with the prophecy about Jesus as a new light dawning, from Isaiah 9: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” May you all know God’s light guiding you through this year as we wait patiently to gather together again! In the meantime, do contact us if you’d like to receive a phone call or any practical help (contact details on separate card) Happy 2021 From Erica and the Vintage Team WORSHIP Light – Today and forever Christmas is gone and tidied away, but Jesus is not, as He never changes and has promised to be with us always by the Holy Spirit Opening Prayer We thank you that Your love never changes. We thank you that your light cannot ever go out. We thank You that You are the eternal God and yet you humble Yourself to live with us, Immanuel. Jesus, we pray that You will meet with us in a special way even now and show to us Your eternal Light. We pray that you will open our eyes and let that light flood us where we are now. Amen Reading Luke 2:25 – 32 So, when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God saying ‘Sovereign Lord, now let your Servant die in peace as you have promised – I have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel.’ Simeon held on in there – God had spoken, and Simeon waited for God’s promises to be fulfilled. I wonder what God wants to promise you today. Pray that you will have patience, like Simeon to see these promises come to pass. Reading Luke 2:36-38 ‘Anna lived as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshipping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem’. Anna – what a woman! She was the first evangelist as she praised God as she ‘talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem’. For once old people had the best lines. Anna and Simeon show some of the positive attributes of old age. They represent wisdom and simplicity and offer some helpful ideas about using our later years. Age does not have to mean diminishment. There may well be constraints, but there is also space and time for patient, prayerful growth to fruitfulness. Read the following poem quietly and slowly Ask God to speak to you – and then listen. Nunc Dimittis How eagerly he clasped the tiny boy. The years of waiting, longing, satisfied. His aging heart now burst, and full of joy Knowing his service done, he died. Your faithfulness to me remains the same, You grant me new adventures in old age And prop me as I totter in Your name; My time has not yet come to disengage. So guide me, Master, these declining years, Be my true strength in this late autumn season. Let me not let you down – you know my fears of proving faithless or of final treason. This I am learning still, but oh so slowly, How much you care and love me on my journey. By Revd David Corfe Light – can anyone put a light out? no – it just shines in the darkness however dark the dark may be. A night light gives light as much as a Lighthouse light; they both have a purpose and they both give hope and raise our spirits. The star that led the wise men must have been seen by hundreds of others, but only a few followed it. We cannot manage without light, try it if necessary and see how limited your life is - light brings freedom from fear in addition to illuminating everything around it, bringing colour to our world and enabling us to avoid objects that would otherwise trip us up. How we all need this light in 2021. Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world. If you follow me you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life’. As you read the words from this hymn, ask Jesus for that light yourself and for those who you know and love. Pray that our world would know the light of Jesus during these dark months of winter, darkened further by this pandemic. Pray that each day the light of Jesus would be discovered in the unexpected; a conversation, a bird hovering in the breeze, a smile in the eyes of a stranger, a snowdrop pushing its way through the cold earth or as you perhaps light a candle and rest quietly in God’s love. Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us Your own, Your holy people, Light for the world to see. Christ be our light, Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness Christ be our light! Shine in Your church gathered today. Longing for peace, our world is troubled, Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has power to save us. Make us Your living voice. Longing for food, many are hungry. Longing for water, many still thirst Make us your bread, broken for others Shared until all are fed. Christ be our light Shine in our hearts Shine through the darkness Christ be our light Shine in Your church gathered today. Bernadette Farrell (b.1957) Closing Candlemas Prayer I left my candle burning. Lit from light borrowed from another It stood there, witness to Christ, Light of the world Prayer that light would overcome darkness. As I left, another lit a candle from my light; Dispelling gloom with added strength. Who knows how many took a step, drawn by the Light of Christ from darkness to new life? Lord Christ set me on fire. Burn from me all that dims Your light. Kindle an answering flame in lives around ; That darkness may be driven back And glory stream into this world, Transforming it with love. AMEN Meditation of Anna ‘I really felt I had missed it- truthfully. I mean I wasn’t just old – I was ancient! And still there was no sign of the Messiah, no hint of His coming. I began to wonder whether all those years of praying and fasting had been worth it, or simply one almighty waste of time. I doubted everything – questioned everything, Despite my outward piety. Why had God not answered my prayers? Why had He not rewarded my faithfulness? Why believe when it didn’t seem to make a scrap of difference. I still kept up the facade mind you – spoke excitedly about the future, Of all that God would do – but I didn’t have much faith in it, not after so many disappointments.