Reepham Benefice

Have you made your Christmas cake yet? Well if you haven’t the special prayer for this Sunday in the old 1662 prayer book has always been a reminder to do so. It begins with the words “Stir up, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people”. Now, you would be right in asking what on earth this prayer has to do with the recipe for fruit cake. Well, actually nothing at all, but in many rural areas where the old prayer book services are still used, the prayer for the Sunday before Advent has been a reminder that there is something important to be done as we move into Advent and towards the feast of the Nativity.

The Prayer goes on: “that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded”. A powerful prayer asking God to stir us into action , to get up out of our pews and share the Good news through word and deed. Our collect next week, on Advent Sunday speaks of the urgency of this work.

So, whatever you are doing this week, if indeed you keep the tradition of using this prayer as a reminder to get the recipe book, fruit and brandy out, perhaps it might be worth considering another recipe as well:

Take:  A few ounces of courage

A good splash of conviction

Sprinkle with a few words of Jesus

Add Prayer

Put in your heart

Stir

Bake in your mind, but not for too long

Cover yourself in a warm coat

And go out and share.