St Stephen - 26th December

Grant, O Lord, that in all our sufferings here upon earth, for the testimony of thy truth, we may stedfastly look up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed; and, being filled with the Holy Ghost, may learn to love and bless our persecutors, by the example of thy first Martyr Saint Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to thee, O blessed Jesus, who standest at the right hand of God to succour all those that suffer for thee, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Christmas Day

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born this day of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

O Virgo Virginum - 23rd December

O Virgin of virgins, how shall this be? For neither before thee was any like thee, nor shall there be after. Daughters of Jerusalem, why marvel ye at me? The thing which ye behold is a divine mystery.

O Emmanuel - 22nd December

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Rex Gentium - 21st December

O king of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: cornerstone, binding all together: come and save the creature you fashioned from the dust of the earth.

4th Sunday in Advent

God our Redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O Oriens - 20th December

O morning star, splendour of the light eternal and bright sun of righteousness: come and bring light to those who dwell in darkness and walk in the shadow of death.

O Clavis David - 19th December

O key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from prison, and break down the walls of death.

Happy Birthday!

Happy 30th Birthday to Jane ()!

O Radix Jesse - 18th December

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples; before whom kings will shut their mouths, whom the nations will implore: Come to deliver us, and do not now delay.

Skiing and Technology

Ok so everyone who goes skiing uses the 'net to look at the webcams, resorts webpages and snow forecast before they go skiing, but two new additions I've noticed this year.

SkiWelt have a Google Earth download of the skiing area.

Another site SkiLine says "Entering the number of your lift ticket you will get your personal "skiline" within seconds. At first glance you can review all the lifts you have been using, as well as the vertical meters and downhill kilometres you have completed."
Could be quite interesting to see how much you do in a day.

Away from technology and in the real world, following on from the Kitzbühel - Westendorf link that the KiWest lift brought us a couple of years ago, Westendorf is now going to linked to the main bulk of SkiWelt. In addition there is one further new Gondola in Westendorf and the second part of the Hopfgarten to Hohe Salve is also complete.

I have to say I am looking forward to getting out to Kitzbühel and trying out all these new lifts and the easier link over SkiWelt without having to get a bus from Westendorf to Brixen.

O Adonai - 17th December

O Lord of Lords, and ruler of the House of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and gave him the law on Sinai: come with your outstretched arm and ransom us.

Fresh Expressions in a Catholic context

Last week a conference on Fresh Expressions in A Catholic context was held at Coventry Cathedral.

It was "interesting"

I didn't attend any of the conference bit but was serving at the Mass in the morning and Benediction the afternoon.

At Benediction the had a smoke machine and strobe light behind the Altar. While some people seemed to enjoy it (Jen said "It was cool!") personally as much as I enjoyed having Benediction in the Cathedral I didn't think it was needed. (And anyway why have a smoke machine when you have incense.) I believe that Anglo-Catholic worship is "multimedia" enough as it is without needing what looked like the entire support group for a top nightclub / pop group!

Jane () attended some of the workshops and will no no doubt post about them in here own time.

The day is being discussed else where on the web on Ship of Fools here and there are also blogs on it here and here.

O Sapientia - 16th December

O wisdom, coming forth from the Most High, filling all creation and reigning to the ends of the earth; come and teach us the way of truth.

3rd Sunday in Advent

O Lord Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Second Sunday in Advent

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

St Andrew (Transferred to 1st December)

Almighty God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.