You may have seen Bishop Sarah launching the new app for Advent with Christian publisher SPCK: https://spckpublishing.co.uk/a_good_advent

We all know how important it is for us to help our people to pray and reflect during the Advent season. So, on Christ the King this Sunday, why not encourage them to download the app and use this simple form of reading, prayer and reflection? 

• For Apple devices, they can download the app at:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-good-advent/id1442078758?ls=1&mt=8

• For Android devices, download here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.trellisys.papertrell.book81005675347

The app is suitable for Christians or people on the edges of faith who wish to make the most of the season. It contains an introduction from Bishop Sarah and a set of brilliant daily meditations by Dr Jane Williams for each day of Advent; including a reflection, discussion point, prayer, bible reading and call to action.

As the nights draw in and London fills up with lights and a sense of expectation, Bishop Sarah says in her foreword: “To appreciate the light and hope, you need to wait in the darkness. Advent is a time to be still in the midst of our busy lives. We should make space in the darkness to appreciate the light, and to find time to focus on hope.” There is of course also a booklet for those who don’t use technology. 

I’d love to see our people keeping Advent counterculturally. Today is that benighted festival of consumerism – so called Black Friday. 

In the true world, it’s the feast day of Clement of Rome. His prayer is my prayer for you:

May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh – 

who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through him to be a peculiar people – 

grant to every soul that calls upon his glorious and holy name, 

faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, 

to the well-pleasing of his Name, through our high priest and protector, Jesus Christ,

by whom be to him glory, and majesty, and power, and honour, both now and forevermore. Amen.