Stir Up Sunday

 

This coming Sunday, the one before Advent, is sometimes referred to as Stir Up Sunday, and  there are two reasons for this.

The first is liturgical and the second, perhaps more interestingly is culinary!

The traditional Collect for Sunday begins with the phrase: Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people…

In terms of cooking this weekend is considered a good time for all home bakers to make the Christmas Pudding and give it a good stir in the process.  Originally a meat-based pudding eaten either before or alongside the main course on Christmas Day, it was made into a meat free, dried fruit based sweet pudding introduced into Britain from Germany by George I in 1714.  As well as stirring, other traditions surround the most important pudding of the year such as: mixing it from East to West in memory of the journey of The Wise Men and using 13 ingredients, representing Jesus and the twelve apostles!

Stir Up Sunday – it has a nice ring to it.

Of course, we all get stirred up about particular things; whether it’s faithfully shouting support for our favourite football team or just passionately standing by our family and friends through good times and bad. 

I think of the stirrings and passions of God.  Of the Holy Spirit brooding over the waters in the Creation Story, stirring up life and bringing it to birth.  Of Jesus whose passion for love and justice stirred up so many people, and not all of them on his side.

To call someone a stirrer today isn’t usually considered to be the kindest thing to say! Yet, we need people who get stirred up. Passionate people, full of convictions and energy to make positive changes in our world.

And we need that stirred up spirit in us too.  Keeping us passionate about loving our families, supporting our friends and playing our part in our community.

So, have a happy day on Sunday – and keep stirring!