As I sit at my computer, the red sandstone of the tenement opposite glows a warm hue in the afternoon sun, and the chimney pots stand stark agasint a clear blue winter sky - it is a beautiful day here in Glasgow.

Despite the best efforts of the snow, the bus companies and coucil gritting department we filled our cosy back room with people (about 16 I think, I didn't count) for our first lunch time reflection for Advent.  It was a lovely space amidst all the busyness of the day, time to slow down and focus beyond ourselves.

The Promise of Advent is some material linked to the Millennium Development Goals, using some stunning art work by the artist He Qi.  I have to admit that I altered the resource material a bit to fit the flow of what we wanted, but it seemed to work, and prompted some very moving and wide-ranging prayer for the most vulnerable people, some people knew personally, others we know of as statistics.

We shared a lovely lunch and lots of good conversations before people braved the cold to go about the rest of their daily business, and we collected a useful sum for Christian Aid.

The promise of our Advent is good, as, together, we journey towards Christmas.

December 1st, the day we are invited to remember the scourge that is HIV/AIDS.

With no cure, and with lots of new cases emerging worldwide all the time, this is one of the big killers in some of the world's poorest and most vulnerbale communities.  Whatever the transmission route, be it breast milk, be it shared needles, be it unsafe sex, there are real human stories behind the data, and plenty of innocent victims of other people's choices.

According to the AVERT website there are around 100,000 people in the UK living with HIV/AIDS - that's one heck of a lot of families... makes you think.

Off shortly to the pub to sup coffee, as one does.  Well our coffee club does anyway.  It is interesting to see how a crowd attracts a crowd... when we began supping coffee the pub was usually empty, now there are loads of other people.

Next week a couple of dozen folk will be sharing a pre-Christmas lunch, time to enjoy good company and good food in convivial surroundings, alleviating isolation and loneliness.

The week after (snow loading on 'doomed roof' permitting) we will be meeting at church for 'carols and a cuppa' and hoping a few other folk will take part too.

As the year draws to its close it is good to look back at the good this group has achieved, people sharing and caring, and now bringing light into the dullness of winter days.

There are some who feel this is not 'kosher' as we don't have a 'message' or pray overtly or sing hymns.  This doesn't worry me because I can see the good it achieves, and the needs it meets.  Anyway, I reckon JC would enjoy the odd not-so-good latte in the pub and a good laugh with friends.

All good stuff.

My old college is once again posting short lectionary based reflections for Advent here

It is cold all over Britain and even in the city of Glasgow it keeps snowing a little every now and then.  Cars that have not moved for a few days resembled igs (I assume you know the childish joke so I won't explain) and people muffled up against the cold bear more than a passing resemblance to the Michelin Man.

Today I set out wearing two jumpers and three hats as well as my red duffle coat (of course) and my big, black boots.  I stopped at the coffee shop to purchase hot choclate with whipped cream before braving the chill of the church.  Soon enough the vestry warmed up enough that I could shed one jumper and leave on only one hat.

As I sit at my computer, checking emails, reading blogs and pondering what I might speak about on Sunday (girl - multi-tasking) I am also struck by how fortunate I am compared with so many people in Britain, never mind the rest of the world.  I have the option of putting on two jumpers, three hats, a coat and big boots, not everyone does.  I have the health to get out from home and go to work, not everyone does.  I have money to stop at the coffee shop and treat myself to luxury hot chocoate, by no means everyone does.  I have heaters in my office that can be plugged in and will deliver adequte heat without fearing the bill, not everyone does.

The church heating problems are now resolved, hurrah!  It was a nuisance having to hire in heating equipment over the weekend but it was fantastic how everyone pulled together and simply got on with it.  Now that normal service is resumed, I hope that we will not forget those less fortunate than ourselves.