Making room for God
The speed of 21st century life, with our digital devices a constant companion, makes us impatient and anxious. So many features of our contemporary living – including online interactions and social media – disconnect us from deeper, more spiritual realities. In a distracted culture there is no space for contemplation, no time for the inner life and no room for God. The season of Advent confronts and challenges these 21st versions of the tyranny of the unexamined life (the wisdom of Socrates) and offers us a deliberate way to make room for God in the season prior to Christmas (the wisdom of Jesus).
Over the weeks of Advent (and at 11pm on Christmas Eve) we will be reflecting on those spheres of life where God is unwelcome or unnoticed: our common life, science, peacemaking and the vulnerable people of our world. Each preacher is uniquely qualified to instruct and inspire us into the hope and expectation, the waiting and longing, the pausing and reflecting of Advent.
Nov 27: Making room for God in Common Life – Phil Wilcox
Dec 4: Making room for God in Peacemaking – Dr Heather Thomson
Dec 11: Making room for God in Science – Dr George Emeleus
Dec 18: Making room for God in the Vulnerable – Rebecca Solomon
Dec 24: God making room for us (11pm Christmas Eve) – Rev Dr Geoff Broughton
A recording is now available from 18 Dec:
Making room for God: A place for the advocating & caring vulnerable
Rebecca Solomon, NSW & ACT TEAR Coordinator
Making room for local neighbours
The old tradition of the ‘Nativity Play’ has been revived at St George’s! Under Phil Wilcox’s creative leadership and direction a team of young actors from Glenmore Road Public School will perform a nativity play, including Christmas Carols, on Sunday December 11, 4pm followed by a courtyard BBQ (hosted by the 6pm congregation).
Making room for global neighbours
This year we are organising the local Carols of Compassion (initiated by Love Makes A Way) outside Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s office on Thursday Dec 8, 5:30–6:30pm. Singing traditional Christmas Carols, which herald the new world order of peace, on behalf of those seeking refuge and asylum is an act of public liturgy and public witness.
We would love you to come – with your family or with your neighbours – to any or many of these advent opportunities!
warmly,
Geoff Broughton (Rector)
CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR SERVICES
24th December 5pm Puppets and Carols
An hour of interactive Christmas storytelling, perfect for young kids but enjoyed by all ages
24th December 11pm Candle-lit Communion
A simple candle-lit service of Holy Communion to welcome the Christ child
25th December 9am Christmas Celebration
A Christmas Service for everyone – creatively marking the nativity of our Lord with song, prayer, bread & wine as we celebrate God’s new thing.