St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“I tell you clearly that many will come from the east and west and will be welcome to take their places at the feast alongside Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 8 v 11 The Truth)

Closer to Jesus, is closer to holiness, praise be!

Closer to holiness, is closer to God, rejoicingly!

Living by faith, we develop a certain capacity,

A willingness to be open to the Spirit of purity.

How gracious of the Lord God to invite this, our call to sanctity.

He, our Father, longs for us to become holy.

This is why Christ Jesus lived in a way exemplary.

This is why He died for us at Calvary.

Jesus accomplished salvation all to God’s glory.

All praise is to be now and eternally,

Offered in warmest, fullest, highest sincerity.

For Jesus is our forever Saviour, thankfully.

We come together as a church, the Lord Jesus’ body,

Called to live a life of service given honourably.

Love binds us, unites us together as one family.

The same love as joins us to the holy Trinity.

“The beauty and harmony of churches, destined to render praise to God, invite us human beings too, though limited and sinful, to convert ourselves to form a ‘Cosmos’, a well-ordered construction, in close communion with Jesus, who is the true Holy of Holies.” (Saint John Paul II)

“Give thanks with a grateful heart, give praise with a joyful heart; give glory to God who has healed us, restored us and made us His sons and daughters.” (Opening of a hymn, source not known)

Let us pray “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name O Most High; to declare Your loving kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness every night...For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work...”(Psalm 93 v 1, 2, 4) and I always want to praise You for Your love and faithfulness. How particularly appropriate it is to do this during Advent, this time of happy, hopeful expectation. Amen.

ADVENT

JOY