In a walk around my neighbourhood early in the last week of November, I noticed many homes already decorated for Christmas: coloured lights, figures of Father Christmas, wreaths on the front door. With the shopping centres they remind us that the festival is drawing near.

“Lacuna” isn’t a new word. It’s a Greek word used to describe the space in a manuscript where the writing is missing. In the introduction to this wonderful creative resource available to us through the Synod of Victoria, Michael Leunig, whose drawings and words many of us appreciate, describes prayer as a creative Lacuna. Lacuna is a space in which we can listen attentively to God.

I have come to understand any space in which we wait for God as Lacuna. “Our” own spaces may take many shapes or possibilities. In one sense, our seasons of Advent and Lent are such spaces as we wait for God. In what ways are you allowing space for God, this Advent?

I’ve been thinking about spaces for God: a manger, a place in one’s heart and life, a bowl …

Things were tight in Bethlehem the night the Christ Child arrived on earth. There was not much room anywhere to allow a baby to be born. Luke tells us that the space available for God’s son to rest in that night was a manger. We also read that when Mary heard the shepherds tell of everything the angels said about the child, she kept it all deep within herself. That was her space for God.

Some might recall Phillips Brooks’ words ...

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels their great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel.

The Uniting Church joins with others to support the Christmas Bowl Appeal. This is another way in which God speaks to us of the needs of people in many countries. Contributions to the 2002 Christmas Bowl appeal through the New South Wales Ecumenical Council almost reached $750,000. The 2003 appeal is under way. How will we respond to God’s call?

At the end of year service for United Theological College, the ways several people had created space, allowing God to work in them through the development and ongoing life of the college and the lives of many people, were recognised.

One God space “reclaimed” recently, after the destruction of the fires in Canberra in January, is the chapel at Greenhills Conference Centre.

Dedication of the great cross at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Canberra took place in a simple and moving ecumenical service. From the base of the cross standing high on the site overlooking Lake Burley Griffin, living water flows to nourish, sustain and strengthen.

Spaces have been created for God to speak and work through funds raised by used stamp sales — almost $20,000 this year. $17,000 has been distributed for ministry projects.

Star-Child, earth-Child, go-between of God,
love-Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod;
This year, this year let the day arrive
when Christmas comes to everyone, everyone alive!
Shirley Erena Murray Ó 1992

May you all be blessed as you receive all God offers this Christmas. And may you be a blessing to others!