Today is Stir-up Sunday. Not a very religious name and perhaps sounds a bit silly.

The nickname given to the Sunday before the start of Advent is taken from the first phrase in the Collect for the day:

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Traditionally this is the day on which the mincemeat and Christmas Pudding is stirred up, or mixed together. These days people settle for factory made puddings and Christmas cakes bought in large superstores.

As the Autumn leaves clutter the streets and the morning mist hangs longer and longer into the day, this can be a lethargic time of the year. So religion aside, Stir-up Sunday can still have an important meaning for us all at this time of year.

“Stir up… the wills of they faithful people”

A call to arms. A drum roll to get off your backside and start doing something productive.

With so much happening in the world around us how many of us are just sat on the side lines watching. Whatever your cause, ambition or purpose, be stirred, get involved and drive forward.

“… bring forth the fruit of good works”

On a weekend where four police officers have been injured in to course of thier duties, the Stir-up Sunday collect reminds us that “good works”, service to others, provides us with the ultimate reward.

So, be stirred, get involved with your community, serve and help others and most importantly, start preparing the Christmas pudding.