Day 344: 12/11/11- Stir-Up Sunday & Lessons and Carols

Day 344: 12/11/11
New Thing: Stir-Up Sunday & Lessons and Carols                         

Inspiration: Advent, Today's Collect     
Cost: $0.80 
Time: About two hours
Bottom Line: Delicious and Musical!

Reflection: Today is "Stir-Up Sunday"...USA style. This tradition started in England and is celebrated the week before Advent begins. But, in this part of the Anglican Communion, we celebrate it today. Here is a wikipedia description of the day:

 

Stir-up Sunday is an informal term in Anglican churches for the last Sunday before the season of Advent. The term comes from the opening words of the collect for the day in the Book of Common Prayer of 1549. Since most recipes for Christmas pudding call for the mixture to stand for several weeks before cooking, the day subsequently became connected, in countries which used the Book of Common Prayer, with the preparation of Christmas puddings in readiness for Christmas. Supposedly, cooks, wives and their servants would go to church, hear the words 'Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord...', and be reminded, by association of ideas, that it was about time to start stirring up the puddings for Christmas. In the Episcopal Church, USA, the collect appointed for the Third Sunday of Advent in the Book of Common Prayer (1979) begins with the phrase "stir up your power O Lord." Thus, in many Episcopal Churches, the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete (rejoice) Sunday, is referred to as "stir-up Sunday." 

So, today, D. and I made a little pudding after church. Granted, it was just Jell-o Pudding and not a proper English Christmas Pudding, but we stirred it up non-the-less. 

Later, I officiated at our Lessons and Carol service which was heavenly! A perfect way to sink deeper into Advent.

Here is the "Stir Up" Collect: 

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.