Lots of people are incredibly busy and can't get to any special Advent worship, studies, prayer times etc.

Here are some possibilities that take only a few moments, and can be done at a time to suit you...

The Northumbria Community have some podcasts here

GRF Christian Radio have audio shorts here (you have to register to listen/download but it's free; type advent into the keyword search and off you go)

There is the emerging church prayer lava lamp here, just follow the instructions

And, pinching an idea from someone else, I have set up a 'group' candle stand at gratefulness.org here.  Simply click on the 'light a candle' link on the left side of the screen.  Then click the search menu at the top of the page, type PIA (Pause in Advent) in the group search box and it will take you there.  Then just follow the instructions.  I suggest that you avoid any full names, using first names, pseudnyms or initials only if you want to pray for people, and that you mask your own identity too.  This is all free, and you don't have to add any details - I won't know who visits.  The 'candles' last for 48 hours, if they all burn out the stand vanishes, but can easily be re-made simply by lighting a candle from the general candle page.

So, four possibilities, from under a minute to about fifteen ... hopefully something will work for you.

Last night we began our evening series of 'travelling with the Magi' on the theme of gold.  Some interesting reflections on the 'city of gold' and how the fulfilment of the prophecies lay in a manger in a back street rather than a jewel-encrusted palace.

After I got home, and whilst doing a bit of research online for my 'frankinsence' thing next Sunday, I stumbled across something that spoke of the therapeutic uses of frankincense and myrrh, and then found a link to this light, but thoughtful, post from Cancer Research UK.  Apparently, frankincense shows promise in treating some bladder cancers, and myrrh evidently for breast and prostate cancers... granted, not why we think the magi arrived carrying them, but interesting to be reminded once more of ancient wisdom that turns out to be scientifically sound.

See also here for what the BBC said about frankincense in this context

I decided, in a rash moment, that for the period of Advent I would endeavour to undertake a quick, off the cuff, reader response type, reflection on one or more of the daily lectionary readings for the day, and to try to link that to the theme for the week.  So this week, I am looking for things that connect with the idea of hope.

According to the Northumbria Community, whose judgement I trust, the readings for today are:

Psalm 104: 19-23

Isaiah 45: 3 - 7

Mark 1: 21 - 32

(You can find the Nothumbria Community morning prayer and lectionary readings online here)

As I read the three readings the line that struck me was from the Isaiah reading:

"I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Isaiah 45:3

What, I wonder, are the 'treasures of darkness'?  We tend to see darkness as negative, indeed, we love the metaphor of Christ as Light who dispels the darkness, yet here, God says, I will give you the treasures of darkness.

Might it be that there are 'treasures', insights, precious memories, glimpses of grace, depths of love, that we can only discover in or through darkness?  Not that we should seek darkness or somehow make a virtue of suffering, absolutely not.  Not that we should capitulate to the unhelpful myth that 'whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger' (tosh! imo).  No.  Might it be that the hope that sustains us in the dark places, the 'little deaths', the 'dark nights of the soul', the sleepless nights of fear of anxiety... might it be that the hope that sustains us is that somehow God is present in the darkness, and the treasures we discover, unsought, unexpected, are tiny flickering candles with the audacity to say to the darkness "pah! you shall not win!"

God, at whose word light and dark were parted, remind us that neither can hide us from your sight, from your love.

God who is the light that cannot be extinguished by the darkness of death or sin or finitude, remind us that even the darkness is light to you

God of hope, ever present in our darkest places, show as the treasures that lie hidden, and lead us forward into your everlasting light.

Amen.