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

Arise! Shine!

Beauty instead of ashes

Something to read

[The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,]
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion -
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations.
Isaiah 61:2b-4 (NRSV)

Something to think about

‘I read in a book that a man called Christ went about doing good. It is very disconcerting that I am so easily satisfied with just going about.’

This is a meditation of Toyohiko Kagawa, the 20th century Japanese reformer whose experience of being comforted when bereaved at an early age led him first to convert to Christianity, then to work among poor shipbuilders, and then to campaign passionately against the waste of life that came with war. His ministry took him from poverty (he lived for twelve years in a shed two metres square in the slums of Kobe) to high-ranking government approval, then to arrest, and finally to international recognition.

To go about doing good among those who mourn and those who are poor requires more than just being a cheery companion. Change in these circumstances does not come about quickly, but it can come steadily. It is like the slow maturing of an oak tree or the patient reconstruction of a ruined city. Are you prepared to be that kind of lifelong servant?

Something to do

Christmas is often an extremely difficult time for people who mourn. Loneliness can be a heavy burden - but so can company! Think about people you know who, because of bereavement or for any other reason, will be alone this Christmas.

Then try to be creative about what would give them gladness instead of mourning - a letter, a visit, an invitation, company for a visit to church, or a reassurance that it is perfectly acceptable not to force themselves to be merry if they choose. In the spirit of the Bible verses, use your imagination to offer them what they would prefer, not merely what you would like in the circumstances.

Something to pray

God's blessing upon all who enter the world this day,
and upon all who depart it.
God's peace upon all who begin to celebrate tonight,
and upon all who begin to grieve.
God prosper all who bring laughter in his name this Christmas,
and all who bring comfort.

Image of the day

Seven year-old Berli looks on as her mother Maria harvests corn in Honduras. Photo: Christian Aid/ Felicia Webb

Advent Calendar:
December 18

If you want to buy local veg for your Christmas lunch, hunt out a farmers’ market. And if you start planning your garden now, you’ll have your own veg for Christmas 2009.

Advent tip of the day:
For kids

Keep your kids busy this Christmas without spending a fortune. Get them baking and making decorations like paper chains and snowflakes.

You can find lots of kid’s recipes, activities, and instructions for making Christmas crafts online. Also, why not get your kids to swap DVDs, computer games and books with their friends – just for the Christmas period – keeps them occupied and saves you having to splash out!

Amazon gift idea – Octopals Bath Toy

Keep small people (and possibly big people) amused with the Octopals Bath Toy – lots of water-squirting fun! Today is the last day for UK free delivery with Amazon. Use the link to buy the gift and raise money for Christian Aid as well.

Eco New Year’s resolution idea – Heatkeeper Radiator Panels

It’s getting a bit late now to buy Christmas presents online, but what about getting the New Year’s resolutions in early? Why not make 2010 the year that you… save energy and cut down heating costs with the Heatkeeper Radiator Panels, which reflect back the heat that would normally just be absorbed into the wall. Use the link to buy the products and raise money for Christian Aid as well.

Today in history

Today in 1979, Hans Küng lost his licence to theologise. Thanks largely to his denial of papal infallibility, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith declared that he ‘can no longer be considered a Catholic theologian’, and demanded he lose his post at Tübingen University. The university made him Professor of Ecumenical Theology.

Piltdown man was supposedly found today in 1910 in England by the amateur geologist Charles Dawson. He (Piltdown, not Dawson) was alleged to be the missing link between apes and humans, but the fossil was in fact homemade. The hoax was only uncovered in 1953, when scientists became puzzled by the fact that all other evidence pointed to humanity originating in Africa rather than Sussex.

The United States outlawed slavery today in 1865.

English writer Dorothy Sayers died today in 1957. Best remembered for her detective stories, she also wrote a radio series dramatising the life of Jesus which created huge controversy by having Jesus speak in modern English.