The following Bible passage, reflection, prayer and action are taken from Surefish's Daily Readings, which can be found here

Arise! Shine!

A descendant of David

Something to read

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1-3a (NRSV)

Something to think about

Advent means coming. Of all the seasons of the year this one inspires hope. To the month of dark nights, light will come. To the landscape of dead leaves, new growth will come. To the world of painful endurance, transformation will come. This is the promise of God.

Isaiah has pictured war as acres of felled trees. But now he introduces his advent. Out of one of the trees which looked lifeless a shoot of new life has grown. And similarly, although the Jewish people seemed to be all-but annihilated, something fragile and new was growing. This new hope for God’s people was the promise of a Messiah (or Christ - both words mean ‘anointed one’). This Messiah would be a new leader for the Jews, one so significant that he was comparable with the great King David (indeed, David’s father Jesse would be his ancestor). As so often in history, new hope was to come with new leadership. The strength of this new leader would not be dependent on physical or material power, but on the spirit which drove him on. This leader would depend on God.

Something to do

In Sierra Leone, a ten year civil war is over and disarmament complete. Peaceful elections in May 2002 marked a turning point and hold out hope for a more democratic future. President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah says, ‘The war has ended, but a new war has started ... a war on poverty.’ Christian Aid, in partnership with local organisations, is hoping to build on this new hope and help with the development of Sierra Leone, which is currently classed as the poorest nation on earth by the United Nations.

The Methodist Church of Sierra Leone is helping children who were scarred by the war to inherit a new spirit. Boys as young as ten were captured and brutalised into becoming soldiers. Young girls were used as sex slaves. Through workshops, Bible studies, music and sport MSCL helps them settle back into their communities. Christian Aid’s work in Sierra Leone includes peace-building, reviving the economy, and supporting marginalised people. Find out more here

Something to pray

O Christ Jesus, we know that you are alive and present in all of us. You strengthen us by your own journey to Calvary. We shall not give up!
A prayer from Sierra Leone

Today in history

Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned by Pope Pius VII on this day in 1804 in Notre Dame - or at least that was the plan. At the last moment Napoleon snatched the crown from him and crowned himself, just to emphasise who was really in control of Europe these days.

Today in 1697 the new St Paul’s cathedral in London, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was opened 30 years after the old one had burned down.

John Wesley quit the settlement of Georgia on this night in 1738. He had gone as a missionary to the natives and pastor of Savannah, aiming to establish a holy community recapturing the life of the early church, and he left fleeing at night on foot through marshland, pursued by lawsuits.

Image of the day

Afghanistan: Nazgul, 27 years old, and her baby daughter Mariam. Nazgul's husband is village elder in Khangozak and she is head of a government-established female shura. Nazgul attends literacy classes run by WASSA in the village and says : "Thanks for holding the literacy classes as it is the only way for us to get an education."
Christian Aid/Sarah Malian

Advent Calendar: December 2

Christmas shopping fever is starting to heat up – if you want to avoid it, you could make your own Christmas presents.

Advent tip of the day:
Christmas cards

Save money and trees by sending electronic Christmas cards – use the internet to find and send free ecards or create your own card designs using Christmas clip art or Photoshop. For a home-made look, collect last year’s cards, empty packages, fabrics, wrapping paper, buttons, ribbons, scissors and glue, get creative and make your own. If you haven’t got time to make your own, make them count and buy ethically from Traidcraft.

Present Aid gift idea – chocolate starter kit for £47

Present Aid – gifts that count. Chocolate is a favourite gift for many people. Help a Nicaraguan farmer cope with climate change by switching from growing coffee to growing cocoa beans with a chocolate starter kit, which includes seedlings and training. If you want to hand over a gift on Christmas Day, add in a Christian Aid Calendar (or get one free if you spend over £40). Use the link to go to the Present Aid site and then search for the gift you want to give.

Amazon gift idea – titanium cross

Make someone’s day with a titanium cross on a leather cord. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.

Eco gift idea – Recycled Wool Hot Water Bottle Cover

Rather than keeping the heating on, keep someone special warm on long winter nights with a Recycled Wool Hot Water Bottle Cover. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.