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St Giles |
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Encouragement Calendar |
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‘A new year is at hand. We cannot tell what it will bring. If it brings peace, how thankful we shall all be. If it brings continued struggle, we shall remain undaunted. In the meantime, I feel that we will all find a message of encouragement in the lines which, in my closing words, I would like to say to you:-
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I said to the man who stood
at the Gate of the Year, "Give me a light that I may
tread safely into the unknown". And he replied, "Go
out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known
way." May that Almighty Hand guide and uphold us
all.’ George VI,
Christmas 1939
Learn the verse by heart for your spirit.
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| January | February | |
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‘So the Egyptians put slave-drivers over them to crush their spirits with hard labour.’ Ex.1:11 We
people of faith are not easily crushed! God’s
summer sun shines on everyone. The
oppressed Celts still laugh and sing.
My spirit is not overcome, I’m with the resurrection One.
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‘Then the king told Shiprah and Puah, the midwives who helped the Hebrew women, “Kill the baby if it is a boy…” But the midwives feared God and so did not obey the king.’ Ex.1:15 The
first recorded civil disobedience. The Celts challenge
oppression.
We will not harm a little boy. We welcome every child with joy.
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| March | April | |
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‘The princess told the woman, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.”’ Ex.2.9 Moses’
mother is paid to nurse him! The Celts love a story of
powerless people winning.
We won’t take power to make our way. With spirit, love, we win the day.
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‘Moses saw an Egyptian kill a Hebrew…he killed the Egyptian.’ Ex.2:12 Moses
is a man with strengths and with weaknesses. The Celts
embrace God’s love for us as we are.
We are a package: struggling/strong. With God’s great people we belong.
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| May | June | |
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‘Moses went to the rescue of the daughters of Jethro and watered their animals for them.’ Ex.2:18 Moses
is helpful, maybe particularly to young women! The Celts are
spontaneous, warm-hearted people.
We like to offer help and care. We have the love of God to share. |
‘“… invite him to eat with us.”’ Ex.2:19 We
are hospitable people -maybe a mid-winter dinner! The Celts
embrace in friend and stranger,
the Christ.
Around a table ‘breaking bread’, God’s love is with us, as He said.
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| July | August | |
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‘Their
cry went up to God, who heard their groaning…He saw their
slavery and was concerned for them.’ Ex.2:24
God
hears our cries and is concerned for us. The Celts knew
God’s love close to them in all their life.
We cry out in our
pain and fear. And God will hold us, close and dear. |
‘Moses saw that the bush was on fire but no burning up.’ Ex.3:2 Looking
around us we can be filled with wonder. The Celts delighted
in God’s love in the creation. In
sunset and sunrise I see The warm glow of God’s love for me.
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| September | October | |
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‘God…called from the bush, “Moses! Moses!” He answered, “Yes, here I am.”’ Ex.3:4. The springtime speaks to us of God's love of beauty, of new beginnings. The Celts love God's friendliness. In
every bush I see the flame, And hear God calling out my name |
God
sends us to help our neighbours
find freedom. The Celts are people not above or
below, but alongside.
God is sending you and me, Setting one-another free
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| November | December | |
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Many
of us can feel inferior, inadequate and hopeless. The Celts
have a humble spirit.
When feeling that it’s all too much, Remember Moses and God’s touch. |
‘God answered, “I will be with you.”’ Ex.3:12 We
approach Christmas Day when we celebrate God’s love in the
baby Jesus, born in a stable. The Celts embraced God’s
love with us in every baby.
In Christ, in me, God’s love is come. God’s love embracing everyone.
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