MGP Gatherings: Creating A Living Cosmic Advent Wreath

As we continue to explore “presence” as a key element in Mercy Global Presence, you are invited to engage  with the Mercy family globally in creating a Living Cosmic Advent Wreath.

This will be a deepening of the Cosmic Advent Wreath which some of us have been using for a few years and which was featured in last year’s eNews.

The Cosmic Advent Wreath is rooted in “deep incarnation” – week one: God’s incarnation in the creation of the cosmos; week two: God’s incarnation in the creation of the solar system; week three: God’s incarnation in the person of Jesus the Christ; and week four: God’s incarnation in each being (human and other-than-human).

The engagement will happen in two stages: stage one will be your personal contemplation, and stage two will be a global contemplation experienced in one gathering in each of the three regions.

You are invited to engage in five moments for contemplation between November 16 and November 30. You may wish to reflect personally or with one or two companions. You decide how long your time of contemplation will be. You may choose to focus on Moment One in preparation for the regional gathering. You may wish to continue to use the journal throughout Advent, building on the richness of the regional meetings and reflecting more deeply on each moment as it unfolds during December.

You are encouraged to shape your holy space – maybe choose a woven cloth, candle, plant, seashell, treasured image . . . You may want to play soft music or simply enjoy the silence.

Download the version that best suits your needs. The single and two page versions carry exactly the same information. Only the font (print) sizes are different.

The richness, the diversity, and the wonder of the personal reflections from Stage One will be gathered in each of the three regional gatherings (by Zoom) on December 1-3, 2020 to create a truly global Living Cosmic Advent Wreath. All members of the Mercy family – Sisters, Associates, and partners in Mercy –and all who seek to be channels of God's mercy in our world in this time, are invited to participate in these gatherings in the time zone that works best for them.

Note: Do check the time for your area. There are adjusted times in some places from the previous Regional Gatherings as a result of changes to daylight saving time.Gatherings will last for 1.25 hours.

Regional Group One: Monday, 30 November at 11:30pm Irish Standard Time  (Click here to find out your time)

Ideal time for: Australia, Philippines, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Vietnam and Guam

Regional Group Two: Thursday, 3 December at 10am Irish Standard Time  (Click here to find out your time)

Ideal time for: Ireland, the United Kingdom, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan, Poland, India, Romania, Lebanon

Regional Group Three: Wednesday, 2 December at 10:30 pm Irish Standard Time  (Click here to find out your time)

Ideal time for: Canada, United States, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, Panamá, Guyana, Perú, Chile and Argentina, Jamaica, Brazil

NOTE: There will be simultaneous English and Spanish translation at this gathering. 
             Habrá traducción simultánea al inglés y al español en esta reunión

We need everyone to register to participate in a gathering. This will enable us to build a meeting list, plan the session accounting for numbers, ensure you receive the link to the gathering room and to organise breakout rooms.

Once registered, you will receive details via email (within 72 hours) of how to join the Zoom video conferencing room where the gathering will take place. 

Note: To participate in a gathering you will need access to a computer, iPad or tablet with the ability to play sound.

Messages to: MGP Guiding Group