Pax Christi Advent Service gathers messages for people in Holy Land

This year, Pax Christi's Advent Peace Service will be online, on Monday 7th December, 7pm. The important benefit of this format is that Pax Christi members and supporters all over the country can now participate. We may even be joined by participants from elsewhere in the world, as we often are at our zoom events.

Pax Christi has marked Advent since 1992 by organising an Advent Peace Service, in St Aloysius' church in Euston since 1993. Previously, music has been led by Bernadette Farrell, Alison Adams and Angela Andrew. Since 2011 the liturgical music, drawn from all over the world, has been coordinated by Julie McCann. We have been joined by the Westminster Deaf service too for some years. There is a group of musicians and singers who prepare in advance with Julie and provide high-quality, wonderfully inspiring material on the night. This year will be no exception.

The liturgy is chosen to speak to people who want peace, who are peacemakers, who 'hunger and thirst for righteousness'. Themes have included support for a just peace in Palestine, refugees and asylum seekers, climate change, women, and being peacemakers in our world today. It is powerful and nourishing to gather with like-minded others and to speak, pray and sing about our watchful waiting in hope as well as our actions for peace and nonviolence. This year's liturgy is inspired by Pope Francis who says, '"We need a community that supports and helps us, in which we can help one another to keep looking ahead. How important it is to dream together… "

Each year, we gather messages of encouragement to send to people in Palestine. Last year, participants each took home a tulip bulb. In the Spring, we were able to share pictures of single, white Alabaster tulips blooming in different places, reminding us of the Advent service and our shared prayers and work for peace. There will be shared actions this year too and a link to the beauty of God's creation.

The Service usually attracts more than 100 people and has traditionally been followed by a Christmas market - in nearby Maria Fidelis School more recently. Over the years, stalls have supported Christian Aid, Traidcraft, Prisoners Abroad, our partners in Palestine, and a range of other international and local projects. This year we have challenged ourselves to organise a 'virtual marketplace' at the end of the online service.

Join our online Advent Peace Service to fortify your spirit for the rest of the winter with the things that make for peace.

Register here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pax-christi-advent-peace-service-tickets-129471232943

Pax Christi: people putting peace into action. Website: paxchristi.org.uk Contact us: info@paxchristi.org.uk. Find our advent reflections: https://paxchristi.org.uk/advent-reflections/

Send your message for people in Palestine in advance here: palmessages2020@gmail.com

Tags: Pax Christi, Pax Christi Advent Service, Advent