This is advance posted as Sunday 21st will be a gloriously crazy day of carol services, and I might even squeeze in some work in between them.

The last for days of Advent are returning to the designated section of BPW and the little bits of liturgy offered.

BPW 150

Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult,

Let the sea roar and the creatures in it,

Let the fields exult and all that is in them;

Then let all the trees of the forest shout for joy

before the Lord when he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the earth with righteouness

And the peoples in good faith

Isn't this intriguing?  The natural world is commanded to rejoice at the Lord's coming - for plant and animal life this is good news, not the heralding of being wiped out as worthless.  It's almost as if creation that has been "travailing as in birth pangs" now shouts "tetelestai!" it's done, completed, finished - hurrah!  HUmans might be a little anxious as they face judgement for how we have behaved through the ages - but this sounds like good news for Christmas cacti, holly bushes, goldfish and hamsters!!

Because of advance posting and a very busy day, the Advent candle picture will be delayed, so here is some rejoicing holly, a gift in memory of Holly, which seems to capture just a smidgeon of what these words mean...