This morning the good people of the Gathering Place were finally permitted to open the mysterious brown boxes that had been sent to them by post.

Inside was, to all intents and purposes, an Advent Calendar with a difference... a Bag of Blessings, with something for each day up to and including Christmas Day.

This morning we prayed for the courage to hope, thought about the interconnectedness of faith and hope, and gave thanks for the little shoots of new growth that are the signs of God's inbreaking kingdom.

Over the coming days, look out for more objects from the bags!