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The season of Advent begins with a promise…a promise of something to come – the birth of Christ.  It is a time of waiting, of preparing not just in material ways but of looking inside ourselves – are our hearts, our minds, our lives ready to receive the fulfilment of the promise?

In these weeks we follow the journey of Mary and Joseph to the fulfilment of God’s promise – we light candles – this week just one candle is lighting, a gentle glow in the midst of the darkness as the world awaits what is to come. We are invited to wait with hope in our hearts…not to rush ahead. In these days the stable is where the animals take rest and eat from the manger – these places will become essential elements of the fulfilment of God’s promise – but not yet!  In Advent life goes on as it looks forward to the season of Christmas – it is an invitation to stand with the prophets as they wait for the promise of light in the darkness…for the promise of the Saviour who will come…

These days leading to Christmas are days of being the now of waiting…to remain in the silence…to pause and learn how to wait with hope in the space between promise and fulfilment.

Karen OSU

November is a month of endings…the last of the leaves fall from the trees, we remember those whom we have said goodbye to as they leave this earthly life…our readings at Mass speak of the end times.  And yet each of these endings speaks too of a new beginning – we know that the leaves will come again…spring will come and the buds will appear to bring new life to our world.  For those to whom we have said goodbye – we know for them life has changed not ended, they are with the Lord, awaiting the day of resurrection.  And as our liturgical year comes to a close we will turn to the season of Advent as we wait with joyful hope for the coming of the Saviour at Christmas. 

Not every ending is so dramatic – each day brings sunset as we move to the night and sleep until the new day dawns filled with new beginnings and new possibilities.  Every day we experience small endings, each day we say farewell to someone, we leave behind a task, we enjoy a feast, celebrate an occasion, engage in a conversation – none of these will be repeated in the same way, each has impacted on our lives in way that will not occur again. 

In the words of Brendan Kennelly in his poem The Essential –

Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
that always seems about to give in
something that will not acknowledge conclusion
insists that we forever begin.

Karen OSU

Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Goodall Institute

An excerpt from her final message to the world (to be read after her death on October 1^st, 2025)

“In the place where I am now, I look back over my life in the world, the place I left behind.

What message do I want to leave behind? I want you all to understand that each and every one of you has a role to play.  You may not know it, you may not find it. But your life matters and you are here for a reason and I hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. Whether you find it or not, I want you to know that your life matters.

I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world and even today when the planet is dark, there is still hope. Don’t lose hope – if you do, you become apathetic and do nothing.  

If you understand and if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world and if you want to save the planet for future generations, then think about the actions you take every day because multiplied a million billion times, even small actions will make a great change.

I want you to understand that this life on planet earth is not the end. I believe and now I know that there is life beyond death – that consciousness survives – I cannot tell you how from where I am – secrets are not mine to share……. I cannot tell you what you will find when you leave Planet Earth, but I want you to know that your life on Planet Earth will make all the difference to the kind of life you will find when you die.

Above all, I want you to know that we are part of Mother Nature while we are on earth. We depend on Mother Nature for clean air, for water, for food, for clothing – for everything. And as we destroy one eco-system after another, as we create worse climate change, worse loss of diversity, we have to do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today and for those who will follow.

You have it in your power to make a difference. This is your future. Don’t give up.  Do your best while you are on this beautiful Planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now.  God bless you all.”   

B. O’S

A smile works wonders!  In St. Mark’s Gospel (chapter 10:7), Jesus asks us to pass on the abundance we have received; this is what He says: “You receive without charge, give without charge”. Every day, we have lots of opportunities to do this:

Probably the simplest way to do so is just to smile at someone and be friendly and gracious. A smile works wonders.   In a simple smile, we can share the abundance that we have received. Not only does a smile bring joy, but it can also change our own attitudes. If we feel stressed or annoyed, smiling at someone can break this state of negativity. A smile is a simple thing, but we often forget how powerful it is. A smile is simply an expression of the joy within us bubbling to the surface.

A mixed-media painting by the Dutch photographer Max Van Der Oetelaarhad had a profound effect on me. It’s a photo of a happy, joyful, smiling woman; she is surrounded by a burst of magnificent splashes of colour. The truth is that smiling does not cost us anything – it is something we can easily and gladly give without charge.

Let us avail of the many opportunities to smile that come our way.

                                                                                                                            B. O’ S.

Let us turn our hearts to the West

From there the thunders bring us cleansing rain

Creator God, heal us and our relatives.

Let us turn our hearts to the North

Winter comes to us from there and calls us to rest.

Creator God, restore our strength.

Let us turn our hearts to the East.

The morning sun begins each day there.

Creator God, awaken us and help us to walk with a renewed life.

Let us turn our hearts to the South

Where the warm winds come from to give us comfort and joy.

Let us turn our hearts to the Sky

From there our Creator sees all around us.

Creator God, help us to trust you to lead us.

Let us turn our hearts to the Earth

From there quiet wisdom comes to teach us.

Creator God, hear us as we pray.

Adapted from Diocese of Western North Carolina – Anglican indigenous ministries                                                                            

B. O’ S