Leader: Give thanks for the Lord’s goodness, God’s love is steadfast and forever.
People: God has gathered us from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south, and rescued us from trouble.

- a book of poems by Gretta Vosper As I review my involvement in the progressive Christian movement over the last decade and a half, I face a seeming contradiction. On the one hand, I’m amazed that …

Together we hold a place where each can find voice as they long to reflect the Christ for our time.

God is all without being any thing, while being the all in every thing.

Leader: The presence of God is surely in this place.
People: The presence of God is everywhere.

For those who promote human rights in countries controlled by military dictatorships, risking their lives every day
All: Blessed are those who are persecuted for their struggle for justice: the kingdom of heaven is theirs

One: Hear the voices, small voices, loud voices, voices of the oppressed, voices of the powerful.

Leader: Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ.
People: We celebrate the birth of Jesus, who showed us how to express God by letting the Christ within be our guide.

Leader: It is a night of anticipation, a night of waiting.
People: We wait, as Mary and Joseph waited for the birth of their son.

Leader: In this Advent season, we honor a time in history when people anticipated the birth of a child.
People: The child grew to be a man who gave hope to his people.

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

We recognise that life is a gift and a joy to be lived in all its richness

All: We give thanks with all our hearts

We worship and adore God,
source, essence, and aim of all things,
spirit that enlivens all beings.

“Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.” A Taize chant is incorporated into a opening invocation

Let us take a short period of silence to reflect on those with whom we need to be reconciled and what action we can take to make this happen.