Lessons and Carols

December 22, 2024 Lessons and Carols 4th Sunday of Advent Year C Prelude Greeting Lighting of the Advent Candle Reader One: When the people were looking for deliverance, the prophet Micah declared, “But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah…from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient day.” (Micah 5:2). But what if Micah is also talking to us, proclaiming, “But you, O Wilmington, from you shall come forth for me…” What? What might God be calling forth from us? Congregation: God invites us to receive the promise of God’s salvation and the sustenance of God’s mercy and grace, enabling us to live the promise as God-bearers to the world. As Christ was born in Bethlehem, so too we answer God’s invitation to have Christ born among us today and every day. Reader Two: We light this candle of love as a sign of our commitment to live as people of God’s promise, a promise of salvation and flourishing for all people that springs forth from God’s love for all creation. (United Methodist Board of Discipleship) Light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath. Call to Worship One: We’re SO close! We eagerly wait for the birth of one who will stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord. Many: We’ve come today to remind ourselves of the one who is coming, even in the midst of all the parties and presents. One: For the gift of this child, the one of peace, is for ALL to live lives of security. Many: With destruction, war and pain all around, we plead “Come!” One: Come! For this is the one of peace. Many: Come, Holy One of Peace! (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer On this almost-but-not-quite-there morning, God, we’ve come to give you thanks for Mary, who carried Jesus to his birth. We’ve come to thank you for our tangible anticipation of the Coming One, who became Love embodied. In this hour, renew in us strong hope which brings us peace because of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. AMEN. (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving0 A Sermon for all Ages Object: A magnifying glass. Good morning, boys and girls. Imagine what it would be like to make yourself as big as you wanted to be with a magic wand, or a special word. How big would you like to be? (Let them answer.) That's big. There is something about being big that is exciting. We can hardly wait until we grow up to be as big as our fathers and mothers. To be able to grow tall is wonderful. It's great to grow smart and strong. But the Bible is always telling us that it is even greater to grow another way. I want to talk to you about the way this morning. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a true believer in God all of her life. Even when she was a child, she knew that God was something very special to her. I am sure that she prayed and worshiped God every day. But when she was told by God that she was going to have a child, and that the child was going to be special because it was going to be God's son, then she believed even more. Mary talked about her soul being magnified. How many of you have a magnifying glass? Do you know what a magnifying glass does? (Let them answer.) Right, it makes everything look larger and easier to read or see. Mary said that her soul was magnified. It was larger than before. Not only was it larger, but her love for God and the wonderful things that he was able to do was also larger for everyone else to see. Mary could not stop talking or praising God for the wonderful things that had happened to her. I wish that we could magnify all of our souls. All of us know something about God, and we think that he is great for the things that he has done for us, but how do we show it? Do we sing songs about God with glad hearts and joyful voices? Do we thank God in prayer and tell others how wonderful God is to share his world with us? Do we thank him for all of the good things that are in the world? That is what we call magnifying the Lord, to make God easy to see for everyone. Let your friends and neighbors know that you know how good God is to you. When you see a magnifying glass I want you to remember Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how happy she was to be able to serve God. When you think about how glad Mary was, then think about how glad you are to know God and share God's love in the same world with others. Amen. CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, Exegetical Aim: God can do some awesome things. Props: A Bible and photographs (or replicas) of some big things: elephant, tree, world, stars, or universe. The bigger the photo the better. Lesson: Good morning. (response) How is everyone doing? (response) Here is a question for you this morning, and I think you know the answer to it. How big is God? (response) Tell me. Show the respective pictures: Is God bigger than an elephant? (response) Sound incredulous: How is he bigger than an elephant? (response) Is God bigger than a tree? (response) How is God bigger than a tree? (response) Is God bigger than the world? (response)How can God be bigger than the world? (response) Okay, I know this one is impossible. Is God bigger than the universe? (response) Now how can he be bigger than the stars and the whole universe? (response) But that's the biggest thing ever! How can he be bigger than the universe? (response) For a touch of humor you might add as the very last question a picture of someone famous who will create laughter. Application: [Slowly as if you are thinking this through:] Okay. If God is bigger than an elephant and he is bigger than a tree, if he is even bigger than the world and the stars and the whole universe, then how can God be a baby and fit inside Mary's tummy? (response) Have the appropriate text marked:] It says right here in Luke chapter 1 verse 43 that Mary was the mother of our Lord. How can that be? How can God who is bigger than all things be a baby? In Mary's tummy? (response) That's the amazing thing about God. He is so big and strong and powerful that he even can become a baby in Mary's tummy. He can do whatever he chooses. He can be bigger than the world or he can be small like when he came to earth as the baby Jesus. But the most amazing thing of all is that he became a small baby because he loved us and he wanted to be with us. God is so amazing and so good. Let's Pray: God, we know that you are greater than all the trees and stars and things that are. And even though you are so much bigger than us, you became one of us and loved us. Amen CSS Publishing Company, Children's Sermons A to Z, by Brett Blair Prayer of Confession Lord, we are so excited. Christmas Eve Day is here. We want to jump ahead to the exciting and wondrous worship service that we will hold this evening. We are impatient to hear the whole story. Slow us down again, Lord. Cause us to look at the blossoming of the branch and remind us that your love is blossoming in our lives. As we hear Mary say "Yes!" to God's good news, help us to remember that God continually calls us to be those who will bear the good news to those in need. Forgive us when we forget to do that. Heal our wounds and bind up our spirits. Enable us to go into your world offering our lives, our gifts, our talents, for your glory. In Jesus' Name, we pray. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Words of Assurance God's love and faithfulness have been at work in you. You are healed and forgiven. Rejoice in God's love and blossom. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Lessons and Carols Script (Liturgist reads lessons 2, 4, 6) First Lesson Isaiah 40:1-8 The Good news of God’s Return Comfort for God’s people 40 Comfort, comfort my people! says your God. 2 Speak compassionately to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her compulsory service has ended, that her penalty has been paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins! 3 A voice is crying out: “Clear the Lord’s way in the desert! Make a level highway in the wilderness for our God! 4 Every valley will be raised up, and every mountain and hill will be flattened. Uneven ground will become level, and rough terrain a valley plain. 5 The Lord’s glory will appear, and all humanity will see it together; the Lord’s mouth has commanded it.” 6 A voice was saying: “Call out!” And another[a] said, “What should I call out?” All flesh is grass; all its loyalty is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass dries up and the flower withers when the Lord’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass dries up; the flower withers, but our God’s word will exist forever. Carol Go Tell it on the Mountain UMH 251 Second Lesson Jeremiah 23:5-6 Hope for those who are faithful Promise of a righteous and just king 5 The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous descendant[a] from David’s line, and he will rule as a wise king. He will do what is just and right in the land. 6 During his lifetime, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And his name will be The Lord Is Our Righteousness.[b Carol O Come All Ye Faithful UMH 234 Third Lesson Zechariah 9:9-10 Peace to a worn torn land Joy and protection for Judah and Ephraim 9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion. Sing aloud, Daughter Jerusalem. Look, your king will come to you. He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and riding on an ass, on a colt, the offspring of a donkey. 10 He[a] will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem. The bow used in battle will be cut off; he will speak peace to the nations. His rule will stretch from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Carol What Child is This UMH 219 Fourth Lesson Haggai 2:6-9 A new temple more glorious than ever This is what the Lord of heavenly forces says: In just a little while, I will make the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land quake. 7 I will make all the nations quake. The wealth of all the nations will come. I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of heavenly forces. 8 The silver and the gold belong to me, says the Lord of heavenly forces. 9 This house will be more glorious than its predecessor, says the Lordof heavenly forces. I will provide prosperity in this place, says the Lord of heavenly forces. Carol Angels We Have Heard on High UMH 238 Fifth Lesson Luke 1:26-35, 38 Angel announces to Mary she will have a son Jesus’ birth foretold 26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary.28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” 34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son 38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her. Carol Hark the Herald Angels Sing UMH 240 Sixth Lesson Mark 1:1-15 Jesus proclaims the coming of the Kingdom 1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son,2 happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah: Look, I am sending my messenger before you. He will prepare your way, 3 a voice shouting in the wilderness: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight.”[a] John’s preaching 4 John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. 5 Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. 6 John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Jesus is baptized and tempted 9 About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him.11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.” 12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him. Jesus’ message 14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” Carol When Christmas Morn is Dawning UMH 232 Bidding Prayer Beloved in Christ, as we await the great festival of Christmas, let us prepare ourselves so that we may be shown its true meaning. Let us hear, in lessons from Holy Scripture, how the prophets of Israel foretold that God would visit and redeem the waiting people. Let us rejoice, in our carols and hymns, that the good purpose of God is being mightily fulfilled. Let us celebrate the promise that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will bring all peoples and things into the glory of God’s eternal kingdom. The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. But first let us pray for the world that God so loves, for those who have not heard the good news of God, or who do not believe it; for those who walk in darkness and the shadow of death and for the Church in this place and everywhere, that it may in pure joy lift up the light of the love of God. These prayers and praises let us humbly offer to God, in the words and Christ himself taught us… (United Methodist Book of Worship) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Christmas is a time for giving gifts, even for people who have no recognition of the Biblical story of Mary, Elizabeth, or the baby Jesus. For us, however, who steadfastly try to place a crèche in front of all the candy canes, carefully wrapped packages and the blare of Hallmark movies, Christmas helps us recognize the remarkable gift of the infant who grew to become the Christ. It’s in response to that gift that we share gifts. With an effort, we’re able to reach beyond those with whom we live, work, or travel. Together, we’re able to share gifts with ________________ (list several of the ways your congregation shares gifts in this season; including outreach to children, families or other congregations, and the special day Christmas offering for Disciples in support of our own regional office and staff). We gladly give, remembering we are the hands and feet of Jesus for others. With joy, let us share our morning tithes, offerings and gifts. Prayer of Thanksgiving On this Sunday closest to Christmas Day, we offer these gifts to you, Generous God. Thank you for the ways you continue to provide for us and for all your beloved creatures. Encourage each of us to follow the pattern of constant and consistent giving that you’ve set. May we practice generosity so “when the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone…the work of Christmas” (from Howard Thurman) continues on! AMEN. (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook As you leave this place, may you go knowing that from generation to generation, we have been claimed and loved. From generation to generation, God has been by our side. From generation to generation, we are not alone. The God of yesterday and the God of tomorrow knows you by name, loves you, and calls you forth, saying, “Go be the person you are called to be, love wildly, do justice, and come back soon.” May it be so. Amen. (Sanctified Art.com, Anna Strickland) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction As we seek the ways of God and our Creator’s intentions for our lives, May the Spirit of God enliven us as we love boldly, May the Spirit of God strengthen us as we create paths of peace. May the Spirit of God awaken us as we love generously and widely. A season of birth is imminent, for God’s love is with us as we seek our renewal of life. (United Church of Christ, Michelle Torigian) Brass Postlude

Mary's Hope for the World

December 11, 2022 Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Hope for the World Year A Third Sunday of Advent Opening Song Welcome Advent Hymn Lighting of the Advent Candle CALL TO WORSHIP One: Our souls magnify the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Savior! All: We come today with eager hope, awaiting God’s new revelation. One: The mighty One has done great things! God’s mercy covers generations. All: We come today with ready peace, trusting with anticipation. One: The One who lifted up the lowly And filled the hungry, dwells with us. All: We come today with fervent joy, we worship with great expectation. (Inspired by Luke 1:46b-55, The Magnificat) (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Mia McClain) INVOCATION God of Mary, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Rahab— God of us all, your children here and your children afar— We enter this moment of worship with eager anticipation. We know that even before a child would come to lead the way, You were leading our way. From the valleys of the shadows of death to the tables in the presence of enemies, you have never left us nor forsaken us. You rod and your staff have guided us. Guide us now, O God. Make your presence known as we worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Mia McClain) Song Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming UMH 216 Children’s Sermon Object suggested: Magnifying glass and objects that would be interesting to view when magnified such as a leaf, blade of grass, print in a book, a bug. It is fun to look at ordinary things through a magnifying glass. The magnifying glass makes an object appear larger. We can see details we didn’t know were there. A magnifying glass helps us get a closer look at things. Let’s take some time to see what we can discover. See how the print in this book gets larger as you pull the magnifying glass away from the page? Look at your fingernails and hands through the magnifying glass. Do you see anything that surprises you? (Provide various objects that would interest children.) The word “magnify” has two meanings. It means to make things larger, as when we look through a magnifying glass, and it also means to “praise” or “give thanks.” In the Bible, as we read about the birth of Jesus, we learn that Mary felt joy because she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus and she gave thanks to God. She said, “My soul magnifies the Lord” (1:46). “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior…” (1:47). The joy that Mary felt, as she prepared for the arrival of Jesus, is available to us as we celebrate his birth. Tonight, Christmas Eve, we have the opportunity to praise God and give thanks for his love. We “magnify the Lord” as we sing Christmas carols, read from the Bible, light candles, pray, and listen to the story of the birth of Jesus. Take a closer look at God’s love that is offered to us through the Christ child. “Magnify the Lord.” Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2008, Richard Niell Donovan Prayer of Confession (Isaiah 35, Luke 1, Matthew 11) Upside-down God, you announce your coming with exciting news: the hungry will eat their fill, the oppressed will dance in newfound freedom; you proclaim your mission with hard news: the well fed will go hungry, the powerful will lose their status. We find ourselves squirming as we acknowledge our participation in structures that oppress and marginalize. Help us accept and proclaim the coming of your Son as truly good news. Give us the courage to set aside our privilege, and help bring about this upside-down world, where everyone can sing together for joy. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Bartlett) Words of Assurance (Isaiah 35) The desert shall rejoice and blossom. Waters shall break forth in the wilderness. The burning sand shall become a pool. The God who can transform the dry lands can also transform the desert of our lives. Abundant forgiveness is ours from the God who turns sorrow and sighing into joy and gladness. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Bartlett) Passing the Peace of Christ (Isaiah 35) The coming of Christ turns the world upside down. For folks who are quite content with things as they are, this may not feel like good news! But a greater vision lies before us—God’s vision of real life for all. Comfort one another with these words of encouragement: “Be strong, do not fear.” Respond in kind with these words of hope: “God will come and save you.” Scripture And Responsive Reading Luke 1:46-55 UMH 199 Sermon Mary’s Hope for the World Have you ever imagined that your life was a Broadway musical? And you are just going about your everyday life, say washing the dishes and all of a sudden, you just break out in a song? I bet you think that it would never happen – perhaps you are saying that there is nothing worth singing about in your life, or perhaps you are not that dramatic, or maybe you think that you are not that good of a singer. What if I told you that you do it every week. We come to church, we listen to scripture, we pray, we take it all in, and what do we do – we sing about it. We even stand up and sing songs that we all know (most of the time). We sing about whatever the lesson is for the day. So you see, being a Christian is a lot like starring in a Broadway musical. You probably never realized that the book of Luke is actually written as a musical. Luke loves for his main characters to burst out in song, praising God and celebrating the good things that God has done for them. There is the book of psalms – which are songs of faith for every occasion in life. In the first two chapters of Luke, there are 4 important songs that are critical to our faith. Today, we focus on the Song of Mary. Imagine the scene – Mary has been visited by an angel and told that she will bear a son – this son is the answer to the prayers of the nation. The angel tells her that she does not have to bear the child alone – because she has a cousin (or perhaps an aunt) Elizabeth who also has a special pregnancy. She needs to get a way and process all of this, so she decides to visit Elizabeth. When she arrives, Elizabeth and the unborn baby celebrate Mary. And right on cue – Mary breaks out in the song – My soul magnifies the Lord. She says that she is blessed and special because God has showed her mercy – God will provide for those in need. Before Jesus gives the sermon on the mount and says blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they will be fed. His Mother said He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away. Now some say Mary was just singing the words of a hymn that she would have known by heart, some say that this song was an impromptu response to the joy of the moment. We are not sure where Luke got this song – but we do know that the broadway moment continues today – not only when we sing, but as we live out our faith and follow her son jesus in everything that we do. Through this song of Mary we feel her expressing her faith and vision, and asking the right questions. In an old biography of Francis of Assisi, the story is told of a night he spent in the castle of an Italian nobleman. The host was curious as to the secret of Francis' remarkable vitality, so he arranged to have Francis spend the night in the chamber adjacent to his own. As soon as they retired, the nobleman watched to see what Francis would do, and it turned out to be quite simple. He knelt by his bed and prayed over and over again, "O Lord, who art thou, and who am I? Who art thou and who am I? Who art thou and who am I?" The biographer concludes that this is one of the clues of Francis' greatness. All his life he continued to ask the right questions, he never tired of trying to penetrate ever more deeply into the core of our existence. After all, the God-question and self-question are the ultimate realities. If we would grow in spiritual intensity, here are two frontiers on which the Magnificat is built. I love St Francis’ questions to God – Who are you and who am I. Advent is our season for asking the same questions. This is sort of the season for questions isn't it? Especially questions about the Christmas Story. There are so many elements that are just barely touched on. We get the smallest glimpse of what they really were. Yet we read them with the familiarity of our favorite children's bedtime story. We know every detail of the story. We know everyone of the characters. And we don't dare leave one out. You know, at the time of her conversation with Gabriel, Mary didn’t think of herself as the mother of God. There are a lot of misconceptions about Mary. Nowhere in the Bible does it say where to worship Mary. Nowhere in the Bible does it say we are to pray to Mary. Nowhere in the Bible does it say she was perfect or sinless. Nowhere does it say that she was God or even co-equal with God. What is so special about Mary is, she was so un-special. God took an ordinary, run of the mill, teenage, peasant girl and used her in an unbelievably extraordinary way. At the time of the conversation, not only was Mary Unspecial, she was also unlikely. But that is why she is singing – God has turned everything upside down. For once – the little guy wins and finds favor with God. The people who were lost in the dessert are now redeemed, those who were exiles are now favored children of God, God is not only the defender of the poor and vulnerable – God gives them justice and gifts. Brayden was about nine years old when he came to the church after school program. He was staying with his grandma who had to work until 6. The principal recommended that he come to the program so that he would be alone at home. Everything changed when he walked in. In Sunday School he would ask questions that were not appropriate for children. He would terrorize the girls in the class by pulling their chairs from under him. The teachers were always on edge with him. The staff would have special meeting, just to talk about what to do with him. Unlike a lot of the children he was there every week. When he saw the staff on the street, he would point them out. He even introduced his Sunday school teacher to his grandma who worked at the local grocery store. One lesson before Christmas, the class was talking about home – they were talking about where they were going to celebrate Christmas. When it came Brayden’s turn he could not talk about the place where he felt the spirit of love. First he said that he had lived a lot of different places. Then he was asked where he felt the most secure. Matter of factly, Brayden said – right here in my church. The person that the teacher felt was the least likely to get the message – understood the best. God comes to us in the least likely people, in the least likely places and the least expected places. – and when he does – we break out in song – or at least Luke’s characters do. Mary’s song is just the beginning of Luke’s story. There are at least 40 songs of faith in the book of Luke. For Luke, when we sing – we are invited into a triangle with God. We are called to live a life of service to bring about a balanced world for all. Just as the birth of the messiah came through the life of an ordinary unspecial young woman, miracles happen every day. When we get together and sing – the world changes. On Christmas Day a small manger scene sat on a table just inside the doorway to a neatly kept home. People hurried past it all day. They barely noticed tiny figures gathered around the infant tucked in the straw. In the morning children raced by it on their way to the Christmas tree. At noon, arriving guests pushed past it to get to the dining room. One accidentally knocked over a shepherd as he took off his winter coat. Later in the afternoon a well-fed group of adults and children moved somewhat slowly by the manger again as they drifted from the dining room back to the living room. Almost none of them stopped to look at the manger. In fact, none of them even noticed it, except two. An elderly woman, walking with a cane, paused in front of the scene. Gently she set the shepherd back in an upright position. Then she looked at the Christ child in the middle of all the figures. As she stood there, she became aware of her small grandson standing by her side. As the voices drifted in from the living room, the two continued to look at the manger scene. At length a smile spread across the woman's face and the child took her hand. In the midst of a day filled with so much busyness, food and opening, the two of them quietly received God's gift. Today we come face to face with a mind-boggling, bumfuzzling, unlikely idea and story. It's a story that is almost incomprehensible in its simplicity and truth. It's a story that is, in itself, a gift. It's a gift wrapped with the most exquisite paper imaginable, a bundle of swaddling clothes. This gift was left for each of us, under the tree of life nearly 2,000 years ago by Him whose birthday we celebrate today. This gift has been offered to everyone. Some have left their packages unclaimed. Others have graciously accepted the gift and carry it around everywhere they go. Unfortunately, they've failed to begin unwrapping and discovering the hidden splendor and grace of God's love. The packages are all alike: in each one is a scroll addressed to us individually, on which is written, "I love you!" and it's signed God. Although it seems like such an Unlikely Gift, born in such an Unlikely Place, to such Unlikely Parents and for such an Unlikely Purpose, it’s really the work of God. All you have to do is reach out and accept the gift which God has for you? Don't leave it under the tree. Find the gift in Mary’s story and her song. Now it is time for us to stand and sing the finale! Amen. Song I want to Walk as a Child of the Light UMH 206 Prayer Lord of delight and surprises, you come to us each day with opportunity, love, support. You pour your blessings on us, reminding us of your compassionate presence with us. Help us to be people of loving service. Help us to see the ways in which you enter our lives and enable us to serve you by serving your people. As we have come to you this day, bringing our concerns for healing and hope, remind us that you are with us all and that your healing mercies are given. Give us the courage to be faithful stewards of your creation and bring us together with one another in celebration and service. Lift us up, bring us forward, give us peace. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook God forth with great expectation Waiting for God’s mercy to fill us Wait for the God’s grace to surround us Wait for God’s child to lead us And in that waiting, May God bless and keep you May God’s face shine upon you May God be gracious to you And give you peace. Amen ( United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Mia McClain) Community Time Benediction Let the love of God flow into your hearts. Believe in the power of God to change your life. Behold the goodness of God in creation and in others. Be at peace and celebrate God’s good news. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Additional Illustrations An eight-year-old girl was showing her preschool sister a picture of Mary and the baby Jesus. The younger girl examined the picture closely and then she asked, "Where's Joseph?" The older sister thought for a moment and then replied, "He's taking the picture." (1) Bruce Larson tells a beautiful and true Christmas story that appeared sometime back in the Denver Post. It seems, a week or so before Christmas, a pastor told his congregation about a needy family facing a bleak Christmas. One young father decided to do something about it. He and his son set out in the family pickup to cut down a fresh evergreen and deliver it to this needy family. They ran into a rock slide and a boulder hit the truck. It was totally wrecked. The windshield was smashed and while the father wasn't hurt, the young boy was cut by the glass and bleeding severely. They tried to wave down a passing motorist to help, but to no avail. Finally, after over two hundred cars had whizzed by, one stopped. The couple in the car took care of the injured boy, returned the two to their home, and then went on. The father and son never got the names of their two ministering angels. I'm sure it was a little bit of Christmas miracle, because in a week's time the truck was repaired and the boy's injury healed. On Christmas Eve, the pastor asked this same man if he'd deliver a basket of food and toys to the needy family he'd set out to bring the tree to earlier. He loaded up his truck and drove to the address he was given and rang the doorbell. Who should answer the door but the couple who'd stopped to help him on the highway just weeks before? (2) Life does not always work out quite that neatly. But the story does point to what Mary teaches us. Life IS Hard but in the midst of all the hardship the world can throw our way, God Is Good. An eight-year-old girl was showing her preschool sister a picture of Mary and the baby Jesus. The younger girl examined the picture closely and then she asked, "Where's Joseph?" The older sister thought for a moment and then replied, "He's taking the picture." (1) This is sort of the season for questions isn't it? Especially questions about the Christmas Story. There are so many elements that are just barely touched on. We get the smallest glimpse of what they really were. Yet we read them with the familiarity of our favorite children's bedtime story. We know every detail of the story. We know everyone of the characters. And we don't dare leave one out. It's right under your nose, so don’t miss it like the editor of that paper did when the Wright brothers made their first flight. In the year 1870 the Methodists in Indiana were having their Annual Conference. At one point, the president of the college where they were meeting said, "I think we live in a very exciting age." The presiding bishop said "What do you see in our future?" The college president responded, "I believe we are coming into a time of great inventions. I believe, for example, that men will fly through the air like birds." The Bishop was indignant and said, "That's heresy! The Bible says that flight is reserved for the angels. We will have no more such talk here." After the Annual Conference was over, the bishop, whose name was Wright, went home to his two small sons, Orville and Wilbur. And, of course, you know what they did to their father's vision.(1) You probably remember that when they were older, the Wright brothers, had a bicycle shop, which was the source of their income for their experiments in flight. They had tried repeatedly to fly a heavier-than-air craft. Finally on December 17, 1903, on the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, they did what no one had never done before. They actually flew under engine power! Elated, they wired their sister Katherine, "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Their sister was so excited, she ran down the street, shoved the telegram with the news scoop of the century, into the hands of the city editor of the local paper. He read it carefully, smiled and said, "Well, well! How nice the boys will be home for Christmas!" And the next day, buried on page 16, underneath the obituaries, was this notice: "Local bicycle merchants to spend holidays at home." Can you believe it? One of the major events of the twentieth century, and the editor completely missed it, even though it was right under his own nose! (2) Why? Because at the time it seemed so unlikely. The Christmas is about the Unlikely as well

Prophecy of the Messiah

December 4, 2022 2nd Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 11:1-10 Prophecy of the Messiah Opening Song Welcome Advent Song Comfort O Comfort by Sally Ahner Lighting of the Advent Candles Call to Worship (Say together in one voice) Beloved people of God, welcome to worship at First United Methodist Church. On this second Sunday in Advent (the season of preparation for the birth of Jesus), we focus on God’s desire for all people to live in deep and abiding peace. The prophet Isaiah describes it this way: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid… and a little child shall lead them. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Song Hail to the Lord’s Anointed UMH 203 Children’s Sermon Has anyone ever made a promise to you? (Show a wedding ring.) Does anyone know what this is? It’s a wedding ring. Why do you think a man and a woman give each other wedding rings when they get married? The wedding ring shows that they are promising to love each other forever and ever. Do you see how the wedding ring goes around forever and ever? So, they’re promising to love each other forever and ever. In the church, when it’s almost Christmas time, we use something that looks like a big ring. Can anyone think of what it is? (Show students the Advent wreath.) This is our Advent wreath. It looks like a big wedding ring, and it goes around forever and forever just like a wedding ring because the Advent wreath reminds us that God has made promises to us, just like a man and a woman make promises to each other when they get married. Can anyone think of some promises God has made to us? During Advent, the time before Christmas, we remember that God promised in the Bible to send Jesus to die for our sins on the cross and to save us. God fulfilled that promise when Jesus was born, lived His life, and then died on the cross. During Advent, we also remember that God promised to send Jesus again one day. Jesus will come down from Heaven and bring everyone who believes in Him back to life. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” We’ll also get our new bodies so that we’ll never die but live with Jesus forever. That’s what God promised us. And we know that God will keep that promise because God is perfect and keeps all of His promises. Closing Prayer Father God, we thank You for sending Jesus to save us, and we thank You for promising to send Jesus back to earth one day so that we can come back to life just like He did. We know that You will keep Your promise because You are a good and perfect God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. (Ministry to Children, Stephen Wilson) Call to confession (From Hebrews 4:14-16) In Matthew 3:2, John the Baptist cries, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Let us confess our sins this Advent to prepare for the coming of Christ. Prayer of confession God of the prophets, we confess our lack of preparedness and our tendency to wander away from you and your path. You call us to venture outside our comfortable spaces, yet we hunker down and excuse ourselves from faithful action. Forgive us, God. Call us again. Help us to respond this Advent in faith. Amen. Assurance of pardon (you don’t have to print the words if you don’t have space) Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Responsive Reading Psalm 72 UMH 795 Scripture Isaiah 11:1-10 Sermon Prophecy of the Messiah During the advent season, our underlying themes for the season are always hope, peace, joy and love. The fun part is that we never know which week is which. And everyone has such a different opinion about which week is which. That is because the gospel message has elements of all 4 – not just for advent, but for all of the weeks. Every scripture that we read has a little hope, a little peace, a little joy and a little love. I didn’t even bother to define which week is which – but there seems to be a natural progression. Last week as we talked about the beginning of the book of Isaiah we talked about peace. But I also told you that the major theme of the book of Isaiah was hope. Isaiah was trying to give hope to a people who were afraid. Even today in our world – it is hard to be willing to move forward in life, you need a little hope. Once you have hope, then you can begin the search for peace. Last week in chapter 2, Isaiah encouraged us to turn swords into plowshares and find peace in God. This week we look at chapter 11 – where Isaiah gives this image of a peacable world – where the lamb and the wolf lie down together and the snake does not bite a child. We have all seen that image of these animals living in peace. In real life we all know that animals will never behave like that, it is in the nature of some animals to attack others. It is also not human nature for us to get along. The workforce magazine “Personnel Journal” put together this incredible statistic: since the beginning of recorded history, the entire world has been at peace less than eight percent of the time! In its study, the periodical discovered that of 3540 years of recorded history, only 286 years saw peace. In that time more than 8000 peace treaties were made--and broken. In all of my years of reading this scripture, it never occurred to me that Isaiah was probably not talking about animal nature at all – but was talking about human nature. There is a tiger within you and me that wants to snarl at people on the other side of the political or ideological fence. There is a wolf within us that re-opens old wounds and past failures even within our own households, just to make sure that even those nearest to us know we haven’t forgotten their failures; maybe forgiven, but not forgotten. There is a cobra within us that lies in wait for people who are different from us, so that we can catch them fulfilling our prejudices about them. There is a bear within us that gives other people only one chance to disappoint us; and if they do, we reject them forever. There is even a little lamb when we become the victim of other peoples violence. And there is even inside of each of us – an inner child that holds onto the innocence of who we really are. There are a lot of different sides of ourselves, there is a lot going on inside of our souls. And sometimes it takes a lot of faith in order to hold it all together. In his book, Christmas Gifts That Always Fit, James W. Moore tells about a man who lived in Athens, Georgia. While waiting for a bus he saw a machine which, for 25 cents, would tell him his name, age, hometown, and other information. He decided to try it. He put in the quarter and the machine said, "You're Bill Jones. You are 35. You live in Athens. You are waiting for the bus to Greenville, South Carolina. It is delayed." He thought that was incredible and decided to try it again, and got the same answer. But the machine told him the bus was delayed a little longer. Then he decided to fool the machine. He went across the street to a store and bought some of those glasses with the mustache and eyebrows. He came back and put in another quarter. The machine said, "Well, it's you again. You are still Bill Jones. You live in Athens. You are 35 years old. You want to go to Greenville, South Carolina. But while you were horsing around, you missed your bus!"3 Sometimes we miss the peace of God. We miss it because we look for it in the wrong way in the wrong place for the wrong kind of peace. We find this peace of God in unexpected ways and in unexpected places for unexpected uses. It is the result of responding to life in Godlike ways. The stories of Isaiah, and the stories of the bible, the stories of advent are intended to help us to remember to find hope, peace joy and love in our own lives. And to pass then on to those who need them. King Duncan, Damon Runyon once wrote a charming story about a man he called Doc Brackett. Doc Brackett was a beloved old physician whose office was open to the poor and needy. He would get up in the middle of the coldest night and ride twenty miles to doctor a sick woman or child or to patch up some fellow who got hurt. Everybody in town knew Doc Brackett’s office over Rice’s clothing store. It was up a narrow flight of stairs. A sign at the foot of the stairs said: DR. BRACKETT, OFFICE UPSTAIRS. Doc Brackett never married. The day he was supposed to marry he got a call to go out into the country and doctor a Mexican child. His bride-to-be was so angry that she cancelled the wedding, but the parents of the Mexican child were very grateful when the child recovered. For forty years, the lame, the halt, and the blind of that town had climbed up and down the stairs to Doc Brackett’s office. He never turned anyone away. Doc Brackett lived to be seventy years of age, and then one day he keeled over on the sofa in his office and died. He had one of the largest funerals ever in those parts. Everyone turned out. The town’s people wanted to erect a nice tombstone for his grave but could not agree what should be engraved on the stone. The matter dragged along and nothing was done. Then one day someone noticed that there was already a proper epitaph over Dr. Brackett’s grave. The parent of the Mexican child that Doc Brackett had saved many years back had worried about him having no tombstone. They had no money to buy a marker, so they simply took the sign from the foot of the stairs at Doc Brackett’s office and stuck it over his grave. Now he had a fitting epitaph. It read simply, DR. BRACKETT, OFFICE UPSTAIRS. During this season of the year we pay homage to the Doc Bracketts of this world and we declare that not only is the world a better place for their efforts but now they reside in a better place as well--Dr. Brackett, Office Upstairs. (4) The God of Hope. You and I are free to choose the attitude with which we confront life. We can believe that there is a five per cent chance of today and tomorrow or we can believe the Good News of Christmas that God is alive and well and at work in our world bringing in a kingdom of love and justice and freedom. We can face the future with fear and foreboding, or we can trust in the God who has sustained us through the years and has promised us that He will never forget us nor forsake us regardless of our situation. We can choose to live in continued darkness, or we can step out into the light of hope and triumph and eternal victory. We can live for ourselves alone, or we can make the world a better place to live for all persons. Doesn’t the Good News of Advent and Christmas change your attitude about life? Doesn’t it make you anticipate that sometime--somewhere--somehow--something good, not evil, is out there waiting to happen in your life? That is the kind of change that takes place when the Christ Child is born anew in our hearts. Hope, Peace, Joy and Love – what needs to happen to live these everyday? Song Come Thou Long Expected Jesus UMH 196 Prayer God of Advent waiting and watching, we have come to you this day with hearts heavy, with concerns for family and friends; for world situations; for struggles in home, community, state, and nation. We feel powerless to affect any changes. So we withdraw into ourselves, quick to criticize and slow to change our own behavior. Today you have called us to prepare ourselves to receive this “shoot” which shall arise from the stump of Jesse. You remind us that this is the one who will bring messages of peace. He will help us to become faithful disciples and servants. But we have much work to do. Our preparation needs to focus on our own attitudes and actions. We need to clean our spiritual houses of the cobwebs of hate, greed, apathy, suspicion. We need to focus more on your absolute love and forgiveness. As we turn our lives to you, offering names and situations in prayers for your healing mercies, help us to remember that our own healing is vital. Enable us to be strong and confident workers for you in this world. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment (Print just the Prayer of Thankgiving) For anyone who believes Jesus is a mild-mannered, soft-spoken, gentle-spirited man, John the Baptist will open your eyes! John describes Jesus as one who will cut down every tree which does not bear good fruit, to throw it into the fire. Or picture this: Jesus with a winnowing fork, clearing out the mounds of what has been harvested in order to separate the wheat from the chaff. How can we show ourselves to be WHEAT, not chaff? How are we to prepare the way of the Lord? Our actions speak more clearly than whatever words we might offer. As we come to this time of offering, let’s make our gifts speak out loud: we want to follow Jesus, so let our giving declare our desire to be gathered into the granary, not thrown into the fire. Prayer of Thanksgiving Gracious God, Receive these gifts, and put each of us into your service, as we seek to prepare the Way of the Lord in this Advent season. Open our eyes to see, our minds to acknowledge, and our hearts to respond in love to the Powerful One, In whose name we pray, AMEN (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Communion UMH 13 Invitation to Communion (Don’t Print) The Lord’s Table provides so many facets: training table, birthing bed, feast… Today, I invite you to focus on this Table as the granary where precious grain is stored. It is here we who are hungry can come to be filled. Here what is valuable may be secured. Here, when we’re afraid or feeling alone, we are assured of the presence of the Savior, who will not leave us comfortless. Look around. No chaff here. Only what (and who) the Lord has claimed as valuable. Breathe in the peace that passes understanding, and come with assurance to share in this abundant feast, for which we give thanks to God. Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Prepare the way of the Lord with your repentance with your forgiveness of others with your ministries of compassion and grace. May God’s grace, Christ’s peace, and the Spirit’s guidance be with you today and always. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Community Time Benediction Prepare for the coming of the Lord! Make way in your hearts for love! Get rid of all anger and fear, for God is about to bring incredible light to the world! Go in peace and confidence as witnesses to God’s love. AMEN (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Additional Illustrations Isaiah didn't wait around for evidence of hope in order to hope (cf. Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1). His hope came from a deep and abiding trust in God. And he knew that God would send leaders who would carry on God's message. You and I have the advantage over Isaiah of knowing the ultimate leader, the ultimate shoot off the stump of Jesse: Jesus Christ. And that branch connects us forever with an undying hope, which is foolishness to the wise and life itself to those who give their life to Him. Saint Paul wrote in his letter to the church at Rome these words: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13) Only through the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to hope in these days. And to that hope I bear witness to you this morning, and to that hope the Church at its best has always borne witness. You see, it is a sure thing, because we can dare to trust our roots that go deep in the heart of God, roots to which Isaiah pointed, and roots which came to full flower in the face and in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Thanks be to God! CSS Publishing, Hope Beneath the Surface, by Paul E. Robinson Some time ago I read a story in a church newsletter written by a pastor in Tennessee. He told about his congregation's being in a new sanctuary for their first Christmas there. It was going to be a great Advent Sunday. The choir had put in extra time working on their music. He had prepared a sermon on "The Unexpected God." The church was full that Sunday, and the service began with the singing of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing." Just as the affirmation of faith ended, a boy announced from the back of the church, "Mr. Bob Buford's house is burning down!" Mrs. Buford, who was in the choir, fainted and fell. They revived her, and she and some firemen rushed to the fire. The congregation tried to settle down and continue the service. But suddenly a woman came in and said, "The whole town is burning up!" The preacher pronounced the benediction, and everyone ran out the door. Only one house burned after all. That afternoon the preacher thought about all this, and knew the effort to help a person was more important that the music and the sermon. He remembered too how the first Christmas took place in the midst of human suffering, and how, "When no one was looking, our unexpected God slipped in among us and changed the world forevermore."1 In ages past the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming of the Messiah. He told how he would grow out of the family tree of David, Israel's greatest king. He would not judge by what he saw, but with righteousness he would judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek. And because of him a new time would be ushered in when "the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. Each of us could offer similar testimony. But you say, “Wait a minute, Preacher. Look at all the beautiful capabilities of human beings. We rebuilt Europe with the Marshall Plan. We have a United Nations, a Church throughout the world, and the Red Cross.” That’s right. Man is more than a beast, but he is not an angel. Both the wolf and the lamb are within us. What a bundle of contrasts we are! Edward Sanford Martin has described all of us with these words: “Within my earthly temple there’s a crowd; There’s one of us that’s humble, one that’s proud, There’s one that’s broken-hearted for his sins, There’s one that unrepentant sits and grins.” What are we to do with ourselves, with this bundle of contradictions, with this combination of wolf and lamb? Only through yielding oneself to Jesus Christ can we be fundamentally changed. When we repent of sin and claim Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, his Holy Spirit begins to restrain the beast within us and to unleash the angel. Try to imagine a world in which the wolf and the lamb will share the same stall. The leopard and the baby goat will sleep together. A little child will put halters on a lion and a calf and lead them around. The lion will eat straw like the oxen. A little child will reach down into a cobra's den and not be harmed. That's what the world will be like one day, according to Isaiah the prophet. At some future time the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the oceans are with water; then no creature shall harm any other creature if all of God's earth. How often today we speak of a person as a wolf or a lion or a snake or a lamb. And when we dream, we are presented with these very same images today. They are not archaic and old fashioned. On the contrary, they are still with us. They represent the various aspects of the spiritual world with which we must deal. One of the reasons for the conflict and anxiety and misery in us is that we have not learned how to make these warring parts of us get along together. We are part wolf, part snake, part lion, part lamb. Confusion and chaos arise when we are possessed by one and then another part. The Little Child The prophet proclaimed that only as the little child within us is allowed to live, only then can these warring tendencies or archetypes come to harmony, only so. Strange as it may seem, it is not the reasonable adult or the powerful sword-wielding warrior or the judging parent who brings these various parts of us into harmony and cooperation, but rather the child, the little child. This child has the creative power to make us whole and one ... to make the most amazing things happen in what had been an insignificant life before. The whole of creation goes along with that man. This is the mystery and power, a real Christianity. Remember those often repeated and seldom heeded words of Jesus: "Trust me when I tell you that whoever does not accept the kingdom of God as a child will not enter into it" (Luke 18:17 NAB). When the disciples asked him who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, he placed a little child in their midst and said the same thing (Matthew 18:1-3). Jesus also insisted we must be born again. (John 3:2) He kept repeating the same truth. He was emphasizing that unless you have the courage to find and face the little child within you, the part of you which has been rejected and ignored and despised, unless you face it and let it direct your life, you shall not come to the kingdom of heaven or wholeness. Unless the little child in you is allowed to live, there is no hope that the lion and the lamb, the kid and the bear, the cow and the wolf within each of us can come into harmony. Only so can the snake in each of us be controlled and directed. Eric Berne has gained fame by writing simple and profound books on psychiatry. He maintains that there is within each of us the adult, the parent, and the child. Unless we are able to face all three and deal with them all, we get sick. He goes on to say that it is the child who contains the creative life and power and yet is most often forgotten among modern men. Until we can reach the playful, creative, imaginative child within us, we are dull and unwhole, fragmented and anxious, seeing no meaning or value in life. The Christ Child Another cynic remarked that peace is a moment when nations take time to reload. The stakes are certainly higher than ever. Someone asked Albert Einstein one day what kind of weapons would be used in the third world war. "Well," he answered, "I don’t know . . . but I can tell you what they’ll use in the fourth world war. They’ll use rocks." We would rather not even think about it at Christmas time, but we need to acknowledge the horror of war. Santa is sitting in front of his computer typing the following sentiments: Twas the morning of Christmas, and all through his house . . . . Not a creature was stirring, Except Santa’s mouse. For there at his screen, The old fat man designed The ultimate gift for a tattered mankind. He squirmed and he puzzled as all through the night, He polished the concept to get it just right. The formula worked!! The old guy was wired!! At last, PEACE ON EARTH . . . ! (Then, a message comes on the screen:) Step One. Some assembly required. Father William J. Bausch tells of the man who always has a special feeling each year when he receives his first Christmas card. It reminds him of the lady who lived next door when he was growing up. She was 95 years old. Often he would deliver to her the groceries his mother would buy for her. One day during Christmas he went over to take the groceries and she gave him the usual tip. But he decided not to accept it this time. She insisted that he take it. He sat there for a long time and talked with her. She told him about her early life, their country church, and Christmas. Finally, when he left her house he went across the street to the store. He could buy a lot of candy with the tip she gave him. But then he thought of her and how alone she was. He decided to buy her a Christmas card, and he searched through the cards looking for just the right one. Then he saw it. It had on the front a country church just like the one she had told him about. He bought the card, signed his name to it, and took it back over to her house. When she came to the door, he held it out and said, "Hello, Mrs. Hildebrand. Merry Christmas." She began to cry, thanked him, and wished a Merry Christmas to him. A few weeks later she died in her sleep. Her night-table light was on. On the table there stood the Christmas card he had given her. It had brought some joy into her life.4 We are given the peace of God which comes from living in Godlike ways, sharing the peace of Christ. This unexpected baby brought unexpected peace. I still chuckle over the old golfer who could not imagine what life would be like without his daily round. One day he consulted a spiritualist, asking her if she thought there would be golf courses in heaven. She meditated for a few moments and then said to the old golfer, "I have some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is that heaven is filled with lush, green golf courses with lavish club houses. The bad news is that you are scheduled to tee off on one of those heavenly golf courses tomorrow morning at 9:30!" But Isaiah's vision of justice and peace is much more than some human effort to reorder the society. It is based not only on changing the structures of the society but on changing human hearts so that they will be "full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."

Marching to Zion

November 27, 2022 First Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 2:1-5 Marching to Zion Opening Song Welcome Advent Song Comfort, O Comfort My People by Sally Ahner Advent Candle lighting Call to Worship (Isaiah 2, Psalm 122) I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord! In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains. Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord!(United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Bartlett) Song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel UMH 211 Children’s Sermon Come rushing in, pretending to look for lost items or appearing very frazzled… Oh no, I’m late, it’s my turn to talk, where are my things? I’m not ready for this at all…where did I put the…? Oh, hi, kids! Well….I’m sorry. It looks like I can’t find…I’m not sure…you know, I am not very prepared right now. See, it’s my clock’s fault! (Hold up broken clock, or day planner or calendar). Yeah, it doesn’t seem to be working, so I didn’t realize what time it really was, and I didn’t know that… well, I guess I’m just not very ready today. Have you ever felt like something was happening, and you weren’t prepared for it? Maybe you had a test at school you didn’t study for…or a game or performance that you wanted to practice for more. Or you woke up late and felt rushed. What about preparing for visitors? What kinds of things do you have to do if you have a friend coming over, or family visiting for holidays? You probably have to clean your room, make sure you have plenty of snacks, figure out when company will arrive…(allow some child responses) Well, today we are talking about a very special sort of preparation. We are talking about getting ready for Jesus! Now, we are entering the season of Advent…do you know what “Advent” means? It means “coming”, and we are getting ready for the coming of Jesus! A lot of people around this time of year get ready for Christmas, maybe by shopping or decorating or getting busy with baking and wrapping andthings…but in the church, we are getting ready to honor the birth of Jesus. God came to Earth as a baby… the people in that time had been hearing prophecies and predictions about Him, and they were eagerly awaiting the birth of the Messiah. We know that Jesus already came, and we get to celebrate and be grateful for how God kept His promises in that way! But guess what? Jesus is going to come back someday! The Bible tells us that Jesus will return again, and all the sadness will go away and he’ll scoop us up and take us to Heaven! Do you know when that will be? Well…me neither. In fact, no one knows when Jesus will come back again. It might be tomorrow…it might be in a hundred years! But He tells us to be ready…wait…how can we be ready for something if we don’t know when or how it will happen?? Well, we want to prepare our hearts. God is always present with us, and He wants us to be mindful of that presence and live in a way that pleases Him. We should daily be in prayer and study our Bibles. And we can be excited that He will come back again. So as we get ready for Christmas, remember to be thankful for the coming of Jesus. And rejoice in the excitement that we will one day see Him face to face! Children’s Prayer MomentDear God, Thank you for coming to Earth for us Thank you for keeping your promises to save us Help us to live in your presence And know what it means to prepare our hearts for You Thank you for your love We love you, God! Thank you for Jesus. In His name, Amen! (Kristin Schmidt) Confession and Grace We gather together in this season of Advent anticipating hope, praying for peace, attempting to cultivate joy and share love amidst commotion, grief, despair and uncertainty. Moment of silence All: In a world full of hopelessness, We have sometimes forgotten that you are our hope, dear God. Consumed by the chaos of the world, We lean into helplessness instead of your loving embrace. We cling to the stony roads and the bitter rods Felt in days when unborn hope had died; We’ve forgotten that you promised us hope for a future. So, stimulate our memory, dear God. Remind us of that hope you assured us of. Be with us as we cling to it in the midnight hours of waiting. WORDS OF GRACE Let us know that God gives us unmerited hope for a future, peace like a river, joy everlasting, and love. No misstep can separate us from the gifts of God. Amen. (United Church of Christ, Rev. Mia McClain) Responsive Reading Psalm 122 UMH 845 Passing of the Peace Scripture Isaiah 2:1-5 Sermon Marching to Zion Advent always starts upside down and at the ending. There is a popular Facebook post that has been circulating for a few weeks now. Advent is about learning to wait and preparing ourselves. But the post explains, we are not waiting and preparing for Baby Jesus and Christmas. We are waiting and preparing for a better world. We are waiting and preparing for the second coming of Christ. In order to prepare for a better world, we have to get in touch with what needs to change about this one. Because of rumors and the images of films and television. We all have a vision of what the end of the world will look like. It is going to be a terrible time. There are going to be earthquakes, the government is going to fall apart, people are not going to have access to food and essentials. There is going to be a lot of chaos and confusion. And then Jesus comes out of the sky. And then comes the day that we have all been dreading – judgment day – Where we are on one side of the scale and a feather is on the other side, and we get punished for all of the bad things that we have done in life – and we have to beg Jesus to let us into heaven because deep down inside we are a really nice person living in bad circumstances. That is not how it works. That is not what judgement day is all about. God’s judgement is not intended to punish us, it is intended to hold us accountable. And it doesn’t happen at the end of the our lives, or even the end of the world as we know it. It happens in the midst of our lives. In a lot of ways the book of Isaiah is known as the book of judgement. The entire book is a warning of God’s impending doom on the nation if they do not return to the ways of God. People have gotten greedy, self centered. They think that life is about their comfort and not about the wellbeing of all people. Isaiah is reminding them that God is watching them and calling them back to being a kind and caring people who take care of one another. But instead of speaking judgment as a bad thing – Isaiah speaks judgement as a primary source of hope. Isaiah 2 – the beginning of a very long book is a vision of the way things could be. It is a vision of peace, justice and wellbeing. Even us who read it today – know that things will never be this way. It says Jerusalem will be the place where everyone will come to know peace. It is the nature of the wolf to kill the lamb, and yet Isaiah says that the wolf will lie with the lamb, and the weapons of mass destruction will be turned into tools used for feeding people. And then the world will turn back to being a place where God is the center of everything and we love one another. We all know that will never happen. That is about as likely as Jesus coming back to earth and living amongst us a second time. And yet Isaiah tells that story and the people find hope in it. And it is that hope that sustains them. Insert Martin Luther story. I Would Plant an Apple Tree The story is told of the Reformation leader Martin Luther being asked what he would do if he were to discover that the world were coming to an end tomorrow. Luther’s response: “I would plant an apple tree.” It was Luther’s way, I suspect, of asserting that our calling is ever to trust in God’s faithfulness and to seek to be faithful followers of Jesus, day in and day out. Our calling is to embrace the sharp edge of expectant hope, to affirm that, even now, God may well be at work in the world around us. Joel D. Kline, The Sharp Edge of Expectation As Christians – we are told that we are the people who should carry that hope to the rest of the world. And yet where does that hope come from in a world that is so obsessed with violence. So much so, that we spend thousands of dollars on ways to kill others. We all see the stories of the war in Ukraine, and how they are being ravished with weapons of mass destruction. And there have been countless wars before that one. The history of society has been the history of war. The story of Isaiah is told in the backdrop of a violent take over, where their country was being destroyed by opressors. And Isaiah reminds us that in order to find the peace of God, first we have to put down our weapons. And turn them into plowshares. Guns aren’t the only weapons that hurt people. There are many things that we use to tear down others. Monty Python. Nobody Expects the Spanish Inquisition In Monty Python's sketch, "The Spanish Inquisition," a man is being questioned in a way that surprises him and he says, "Mr. Wentworth just told me to come in here and say that there was trouble at the mill, that's all - I didn't expect a kind of Spanish Inquisition." As if on cue, inquisitors burst into the room and one of them says, "NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise…surprise and fear…fear and surprise…. Our two weapons are fear and surprise…and ruthless efficiency…. Our three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency…and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope…. Our four…no… Amongst our weapons…. Amongst our weaponry…are such elements as fear, surprise…. I'll come in again." The inquisitors exit the scene to re-enter and begin the speech again. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. "If the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into" (Matthew 24:43). The Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Mary Hinkle Shore, The Element of Surprise How are people being hurt today? What are the weapons besides guns that need to be turned around? How do we hurt others? What weapons do we need to put down? Story In the late 1930’s, Max Schneider, a tenant farmer, was having a tought time of it on the land he farmed in North Dakota. The great depression still had a tight grip on the nations, and farmers ere victoims perpahs as much as anyone in the country. Prices for cash crops had hit rock bottom and for Max and oter farmers, it cost as much to raise the crops as the money they received for harvest. Max countly continue to fee his family. As he and his wife discussed the situation, Max told her what he had hears from other farmers when he was in town. I don’t know if it is true or not, he said, but I hear that scrap dealers are buying up old rusted machinery – in fact, metal of any kind. I thought I would scout around the countryside and collect some of those old rusted pieces we see in the fields and sell the stuff to a dealer – I hear there’s one not too far from here. What in the world do they do with the stuff? His wife wanted to know. I a not sure Max replied after thinking about it for a moment. But I have heard that a lot of that scrap metal is being sold to Japan for war. They need it to make bombs and guns for a war that started in the Far East. His wife thought it was horrible to turn old machinery into bombs. Max agreed, but was willing to sell it if it meant some extra money. They needed it for the kids school clothes. For the next few years, Max roamed all over the county to find scrap iron. He did not make a lot of money, but it did help a little. Years passed, and the kids grew up, went to college, moved out of the house. He stopped selling to Japan when WWII started and they were not allowed to sell to Japan. When they retired they moved to Arizona. While there, they noticed that there were acres and acres of old planes just sitting as if they were in a junk yard. Max got an idea – what if he bought some of those planes and sold them for scrap metal. When he told his wife, she chuckled and asked if he was in the business again. I cant imagine what they would do with scrap metal now. Perhaps they will turn it into innovative farm machinery he said. It is not just a matter of putting our weapons down – how can we turn them into creative ways to help people to live better lives. When we think of Isaiah’s story – we think that it is not possible. When we look at our world – to think that we will never live in peace. And yet Isaiah’s message is that it is possible and that it starts with us. In order for the world to change, first we have to change. Little girl – I Don’t Like This World The door slammed. There was a rush upstairs. The man looked at the clock; it was time for his daughter to be home from school. Fourth grade was not going very well, and from the sound of the slam of the door, it had not improved. He went up to her room and asked about her day. “It was awful,” she said, and then she filled in the details. When she unzipped her backpack at school, her homework was nowhere to be found. Her normally charming teacher snarled at the class. The morning dragged on to lunch, when none of the cafeteria choices looked appetizing. The class went outside to the playground and her best friend decided to play with somebody else. To top it off, a big kid named Kevin had made fun of her on the bus. “It was a rotten day,” she sobbed, and he held her. After about ten minutes, she stopped quivering. He rubbed her back and she blew her nose. One more hug, and then he went downstairs. About a half hour later, he thought it sounded unnaturally quiet, so he sneaked upstairs to see what was happening. To his surprise, she was down on her knees with her hands clasped and her eyes shut, and she was murmuring something. “Honey,” he said, “is everything all right?” “I’m okay, Daddy, I’m just praying.” “That’s good,” he whispered. “What are you praying for?” “Dad, I’ve decided I don’t like this world, so I’m praying for a new one.” Whether she knew it or not, cute as she was, she was rooting herself in thousands of years of Christian tradition. Ever since Jesus appeared among us, Christians have been praying for a whole new world. That’s what lies behind Scripture texts like the one we heard from the twenty-first chapter of Luke. William G. Carter, Praying for a Whole New World, CSS Publishing Company That is what Advent is all about – praying for a new world. Being aware of the chaos and confusion and understanding that just because that is who it is, it doesn’t have to be that way. We are not getting ready for Christmas, we are getting ready for Christ’s reign in our lives and in the world. Judgement is not about punishment, judgement is about justice. Where there is justice, there is peace, where there is peace there will be wellbeing. Shalom only happens when God is the center of everything that we do. We don’t have to fight for God, or create God, or make people do anything different. All we have to do is recognize God in the world around us and stay focused on what God calls us to do for others. If Christ did come back, it could happen, would we even know that he looks like? Probably this advent – there is some work for us to do to get ready for his return. First we have to see the chaos and confusion of the world. We have to get in touch with the needs of the world for a saviour. Second we have to see the vision for how things can be better. Have hope that Christ has the power to make it so. And that Christ will use that power – one day. Every good deed that we do to help others puts us one step closer to Christ and his fulfillment of peace, justice and wellbeing for all people. This advent our them will be the hope of Isaiah. He encourages us to imagine a world of peace and set forward to live in it. We have to have the freedom to imagine that world and the courage to redeem it. This advent as we make our journey up to the house of God – Isaiah vision does include us. In verse 5 Isaiah has instructions for each of us – Come children of Jacob – let us walk in the light of the world. Amen. Song We’ve a Story to Tell the Nations UMH 569 Pastoral Prayer God of love and mercy, thank you for your great gift of your Child, Jesus Christ, who fills us with all that we need. Merciful God, we are fully aware that not all your children are able to bask in joy or peace during this season. We pray for peace within all walls: walls within our own homes, walls that surround each city and town. We pray that during this season of Advent we may usher your promise of salvation into our lives and that we may share the Good News of our Savior with others. We pray that the promise of your birth may be the promise that we live in and share at home, at work and at school. May we be moved to compassion and action in your name. We pray this in the powerful name of Jesus Christ who taught us all to pray, saying... (United Methodist Board of Discipleship, Rev. Elizabeth Aguilar) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment (only print the prayer) Invitation to the Offering If this Advent is to be about more than going through the motions, then we must get ready for the Prince of Peace in new and radical ways. What can we do to signal our readiness for the coming of Christ into this very place? We can start with a total commitment of our resources and our lives to the cause of God’s peace in the world. When we give our financial gifts to the ministry of this church, the benefits travel widely through the connections of our denomination, but nowhere is the impact greater than in our own hearts. I invite you to use this time of offering as an opportunity to get ready for Christ’s arrival. Offering Prayer (Isaiah 2, Psalm 122, Matthew 24) Thank you, God. Thank you for the wake-up call, reminding us to be ready. Thank you for not giving up on your vision of peace. Thank you for the opportunity to gather each week in your house, that we might encourage one another to stay on your path. And thank you for the opportunity to give these gifts for your ministry, that together we might help the world be ready to receive the Prince of Peace, in whose name we pray. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Bartlett) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook As you begin the journey of Advent, remember that you are partners with Christ in bringing in the realm of God, and that in the days of uncertainly as the world is transformed, be watchful and stay awake, remembering that Christ prays for you, and draws you into the very heart of God. May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and may God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, remain with you always. Amen (Presbyterian Outlook, Barbara Chaapel) Community Time Benediction Go forth and walk the path of the Lord. Go forth and live as one instructed in the ways of the Lord. Take the weapons of your life and turn them into instruments of peace and justice. Praise be to our God who shows us the way! (United Methodist Board of Discipleship, Randy Clay) Additional Illustrations Keeping Hope Alive At the university there was a piano teacher that was simply and affectionately known as "Herman." One night at a university concert, a distinguished piano player suddenly became ill while performing an extremely difficult piece. No sooner had the artist retired from the stage when Herman rose from his seat in the audience, walked on stage, sat down at the piano and with great mastery completed the performance. Later that evening, at a party, one of the students asked Herman how he was able to perform such a demanding piece so beautifully without notice and with no rehearsal. He replied, "In 1939, when I was a budding young concert pianist, I was arrested and placed in a Nazi concentration camp. Putting it mildly, the future looked bleak. But I knew that in order to keep the flicker of hope alive that I might someday play again, I needed to practice every day. I began by fingering a piece from my repertoire on my bare board bed late one night. The next night I added a second piece and soon I was running through my entire repertoire. I did this every night for five years. It so happens that the piece I played tonight at the concert hall was part of that repertoire. That constant practice is what kept my hope alive. Everyday I renewed my hope that I would one day be able to play my music again on a real piano, and in freedom." Source Unknown Modern Day Perils I will never forget one particular testimony I heard on one particular occasion in the church I served in Atlanta. He was a seminary professor, and he and his family were joining the church. And when it came his turn, he said, “I’m joining this church because those cannons across the street on the grounds of the State Capitol Building are pointed directly at us.” I thought at the time, “That’s a strange answer.” I had never noticed the cannons across the street. And I would look for them the next day, and, sure enough, there they would be, sitting there as mute relics of some war and pointing straight at the stone gothic sanctuary of my church across the street. I would note that, were they loaded, they could blow away the whole narthex. But at that particular moment in that particular Session meeting, I thought to myself, “That’s a strange answer.” “I’m joining this church,” he said, “because those cannons are pointed directly at us.” People join the church for many reasons, but have you ever heard a reason like that? As I got to know this seminary professor, I began to understand why he would join a church because of cannons pointed at it. Holding a Ph.D. from Duke, he was a student of Stanley Hauerwas. If you’ve never read any Hauerwas, I hope you will before you leave this place. Hauerwas has written widely about the modern-day perils of attempting to follow Jesus Christ in this culture. He and others have described Christians in our time as being something like “resident aliens” — faithful colonists in an otherwise hostile, post-Christian, secular society. He has tracked the decline of what he calls “the Constantinian arrangement” between the church and the powers-that-be, and he has asserted — rightly, I think — that that arrangement between the church and the emperor, which got started with Constantine, is breaking down in our time. I know enough about Stanley Hauerwas to have a sense of why a student of his would be intrigued at the thought of joining a church because it sits across the street from a hall of power and has cannons pointed at it. Theodore J. Wardlaw, Ethics and Eschatology Never Give Up Hope In Anne Tyler's novel, “The Amateur Marriage,” we witness a sad series of events. The book's main characters are Michael and Pauline, a pair of World War II-era sweethearts who get married and eventually have three children. But then one day their oldest child, Lindy, just disappears. She runs away from home and promptly falls off the face of the earth. For the first days, weeks, and even months, they watch for her return. They seize on any and every clue as to her whereabouts. The pace, they peer out windows, they listen for a key scratching at the front door's lock, they sit bolt upright each time they think they hear footfalls on the driveway. But Lindy does not return. Over the years, her absence becomes just another part of life. They never finally give up on the idea that they'd see her again, but they stop watching for her. At first they were certain she'd be back soon. They would not have been at all surprised had she walked back through that front door. Years later, though, the surprise flipped: after a while, they would have been surprised if she had come back. Lindy does return eventually, although her mother Pauline never lives to see it. When Lindy shows back up, her father says to her, "Your mother never gave up hope, I could tell." Of course, Pauline had gotten on with life. But she just had a way of glancing out the window that let you know the hope was still there. When she had the chance to take a cruise with a group of friends, she refused. She came up with a dozen excuses but everyone knew that deep down the real reason was that she didn't want to be gone in case Lindy came back. We may not live to see our Lord's return. But as we go through our routines in these days of Noah, we certainly want it to be true that as people look at the shape of our lives, they can say of also us, "Those Christians never give up hope. We can tell." Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations

Crisis Literature

November 29, 2020 Mark 13:24-37 Crisis Literature 1st Sunday of Advent Year B Opening Song Welcome Opening Prayer Almighty God, as we begin this season of Advent remind us again that in the midst of our darkness you are bringing us peace, to calm our anxious spirits and hectic lives. Turn our hearts again toward you. Make us ready to receive your Son our Savior. Slow our pace, and give us the blessing of feeling your peace in our spirits. For we ask this in Jesus’ precious Name. AMEN. Lighting the Advent Candle Stewardship Moment The beginning of the season of giving – giving our hearts Scripture This is the first Sunday of the lectionary new year. Not all churches follow the lectionary. I grew up in a free church tradition, but I really appreciate the lectionary, because I have found that the scriptures of the week always magically address whatever issues that need to be mentioned. Following the lectionary allows me to have some structure to my devotional time. It also keeps all of the different people who play a part in the service on the same page, headed in the same direction even though we don’t all agree with one another. Of course there is a gospel lesson. There are four gospels, but only three lectionary years. The gospel for year B is Mark. Mark is the shortest of the books, so we also read parts of the Gospel of John. Mark is the earliest of the gospels. It is obvious that both Matthew and Luke used the book of Mark as a reference. We are not really sure of who Mark is, it seems that he was a follower of both Paul and Peter. A lot of his writings seem to come from Peter’s sermons. Mark was written in 70 AD, just a little before the temple of Israel was destroyed. Mark may have followed the disciples, but he did not think very much of them. Mark writes for a gentile audience, unlike Matthew and Luke who are both speaking to Hebrews. One of the themes of Mark is the messianic secret. Mark’s Jesus constantly tells those who deals with not to tell anyone what they witnessed. Mark is my favorite book. Mark is very down to earth and tells it like it is. Mark believes in magic and talks a lot about angels, demons and ghost. But he also has a great understanding of human behavior and does not have a problem calling out people’s dumb behavior. The church would not have been developed when Mark was writing, so there is not a lot of church tradition in his writing. There are only 16 chapters in the book. It is believed that the last 4 verses that talk about the mission of the church to spread the gospel throughout the world was added later. Mark has no need for the birth stories – because the beginning of our faith is the resurrection of Christ. Mark starts his book off with the prophecy of the one to come. In chapter one he talks about John the Baptist and Jesus getting baptized by his cousin. This starts his year long ministry before he is killed. The book ends with his resurrection appearing to the women at the tomb and later to the disciples. By now many of you should have got your worship bags. Included is a advent reading plan of Mark. I thought it would be good to read it in this season, so that when you hear the stories in a sermon you are familiar with them. Since Christmas is not Mark’s thing, as we get closer to the 25th – we will read about the prophecies of the messiah and the birth stories in Matthew and Luke. The first Sunday of advent always starts with the second coming of Christ. It always starts with God noisily breaking into the chaos and confusion of our world. So this Sunday we are reading Mark 13. Mark may have been a gentile, but he understood how to speak to the Hebrews. He uses a lot of popular text of the day. Mark 13 is apocalytptic literature – meaning it speaks of the day of the lord at the end of time. The books of Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel are examples of apocalyptic literature. It is written to address a crisis, and to show how God will rescue the faithful from the effects of that crisis. In Mark 13 the crisis is personal for Jesus – he is preaching and teaching things that put him at odds with the leaders of the day. He says that the temple will be destroyed, those are fighting words for a building that is the foundation of their lives. Mark’s advent message is that we do not know when the day of the lord will come. But we can expect it in our generation. We need to stay alert, pay attention, and wait on God to transform the world. Mark 13:24-37 Common English Bible 24 “In those days, after the suffering of that time, the sun will become dark, and the moon won’t give its light. 25 The stars will fall from the sky, and the planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken. 26 Then they will see the Human One[a] coming in the clouds with great power and splendor. 27 Then he will send the angels and gather together his chosen people from the four corners of the earth, from the end of the earth to the end of heaven. A lesson from the fig tree 28 “Learn this parable from the fig tree. After its branch becomes tender and it sprouts new leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that he’s near, at the door. 30 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away. 32 “But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the angels in heaven and not the Son. Only the Father knows. 33 Watch out! Stay alert! You don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is as if someone took a trip, left the household behind, and put the servants in charge, giving each one a job to do, and told the doorkeeper to stay alert. 35 Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know when the head of the household will come, whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows in the early morning or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him show up when you weren’t expecting and find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to all: Stay alert!” Sermon – Crisis Literature Today I want to read to you a poem that is based on a rather famous poem about Christmas called ‘Twas the Beginning of Advent’. It is by a friend of mine - Todd Jenkins. It will tell you a little bit about this season we celebrate. 'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church Our hope was all dying-- we'd given up on the search. It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited, But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited. Oh, we knew what was coming-- no doubt about that. And that was the trouble-- it was all "old hat." November brought the first of an unending series of pains With carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns. There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys. Enough to seduce even the most devout girls and boys. Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt From this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt. The priests and prophets and certainly the kings Were all so consumed with the desire for "things!" It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason For the origin of this whole holy-day season. A baby, it seems, once had been born In the mid-east somewhere on that first holy-day morn. But what does that mean for folks like us, Who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss? Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting, Of hoping and praying, and anticipating? Can we let go of all the things and the stuff? Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough? Can we open our eyes and open our ears? Can we find him again after all of these years? Will this year be different from all the rest? Will we be able to offer him all of our best? So many questions, unanswered thus far, As wise men seeking the home of the star. Where do we begin-- how do we start To make for the child a place in our heart? Perhaps we begin by letting go Of our limits on hope, and of the stuff that we know. Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss, Let go of the searching, let Christmas find us. We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes, To see the king coming in our own neighbours' cries. We look without seeking what we think we've earned, But rather we're looking for relationships spurned. With him he brings wholeness and newness of life For brother and sister, for husband and wife. The Christ-child comes not by our skill, But rather he comes by his own Father's will. We can't make him come with parties and bright trees, But only by getting down on our knees. He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction, Coming in spite of, not by our restriction. His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt. The question is whether we'll be in or out. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Do you have the courage to peer through the lock? A basket on your porch, a child in your reach. A baby to love, to feed and to teach. He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son. How far will we follow this radical one? He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are. He'll lead us to follow a single bright star. But that will come later if we're still around. The question for now: Is the child to be found? Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls? Can we find solitude in our holy halls? Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake? Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake? From on high with the carolling host as he sees us, He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus! As Advent begins all these questions make plea. The only true answer: We will see, we will see. Todd Jenkins, quoted by Richard J. Fairchild, "T'was The Beginning of Advent" I did not write that story, it was written by Todd Jenkins. It seems that we are off to a great start to the advent season. Decorations are coming up everywhere, some people have been decorating since September. It is obvious that people need Christmas this year. We are seeking that feeling of home. We need to feel safe, comfortable and loved. Christmas is about coming home. We need to put aside the chaos and confusion and trouble and find some sense of peace. There is a story of a young child starting school – after a few hours he started to cry. The teacher asked if he was home sick. He said not I am here sick. There are a lot of us who are sick of here. Sometimes home is not where the heart is. This Christmas season is definitely calling us all home. We dream of a world where we are all happy, we have a spirit of community, we want to help and reach out to others. We want to sing the songs, we want to see the lights. We want to celebrate. Being home begins with the condition of our hearts. If we need Christmas more than ever, we also need advent this year. We need to be prepared for God to come and straighten this all out. 2020 had a lot of hope, but in reality we have all been challenged. And there is a lot of blame on the year itself, as if when 2021 comes all of this is going to disappear. That might not happen, I don’t think trouble has a calendar to know the date. And yet as I take my advent vacation, I feel God calling me to sit still, be quiet, to listen a little more, to walk a little closer to God in prayer and study – to get ready for a brand new journey. I need to do what I can to move forward all the while trusting God. We all miss our church, we all miss being in the sanctuary, we miss being all together. We will get back together. But when that day comes, we may have to work harder to be a church, we will have to be more determined to fulfill our mission to be disciples of Christ that are an example to others. We may have to be the change we are looking for. More importantly we will have to be alert to see the change. There was a young women from Chicago who loved the Cubs. She waited for years for them to win the championship. The year they won, she had moved to London. Because of the time change she was asleep when they finally won the game. When the day comes when we can meet safely, we too want to be spiritually prepared to be the church. For now, our job is to watch for God, to work for change, and to wait for things to get better. What are you waiting for? More importantly what does you waiting look like? Advent is the time to find out. Let us pray… Advent Prayer Prayer for the waiting O God we are waiting for your creative spark to ignite us and transform us. We are waiting for your healing and comfort for lives taken by coronavirus, for the damage done to our earth and the violence that has ripped through too many communities. O God, we wait in hope. We are waiting for your justice to sway the rich and powerful to care for the poor, the lonely, the orphaned and the immigrant but also know that our hearts and hands must act for change. O God, we wait in peace. We are waiting for the whole world to tilt away from death and destruction toward play and imagination. O God, we wait in joy. We are waiting for love to come again and remind us again that it does not require any talent on our part, for you do your work. O God we wait with love. Help us, O God to paint and dance, to sing and scribble, to use our hands to create your realm even as we wait. Amen. Song for Reflection People Look East UMH 202 Announcements Benediction 1 Community Time Benediction 2 The light of the Candle of Peace goes before us, offering hope and healing to a darkened world. Go into the world, confident in God’s presence with you. Bring the words and actions of peace to all God’s people. And the blessings of God, the love of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you always. AMEN.. Children’s Moment An unlit candle Additional Illustrations Sermon Opener - Getting Ready - Mark 13:24-37 It is hard for us to understand Jesus' delay in his coming. God's time clock is certainly out of sync with ours as Little Jimmy learned one day as he was laying on a hill in the middle of a meadow on a warm spring day. Puffy white clouds rolled by and he pondered their shape. Soon, he began to think about God. "God? Are you really there?" Jimmy said out loud. To his astonishment a voice came from the clouds. "Yes, Jimmy? What can I do for you?" Seizing the opportunity, Jimmy asked, "God? What is a million years like to you?" Knowing that Jimmy could not understand the concept of infinity, God responded in a manner to which Jimmy could relate. "A million years to me, Jimmy, is like a minute." "Oh," said Jimmy. "Well, then, what's a million dollars like to you?" "A million dollars to me, Jimmy, is like a penny." "Wow!" remarked Jimmy, getting an idea. "You're so generous... can I have one of your pennies?" God replied, "Sure thing, Jimmy! Just a minute." Little Jimmy wasn't ready for that response was he? Our text this morning seems an unlikely scripture for Advent. It has nothing to do with Mary and Joseph, the Wise Men, of shepherds watching their flock. Instead it is story about a wealthy landowner going on a trip. The servants left behind were given charge of the estate and when the master returned he would check on their stewardship. It is a story about being prepared, getting ready. In that sense then this is an Advent story, for this is the season of preparedness. Consider with me a moment that... 1. God Identifies with the Human Situation. 2. Advent Is Time to Get Ready for the Return of Christ. Stay Awake! - Mark 13:24-37 A young professional woman from Ohio decided to seek her fortune, discern her vocation, and potentially change her life for the better by moving to England. She relocated to London where she began to pursue an advanced degree, seeking new opportunities in the work world. One of the things she took with her from the Midwest was an insatiable love for the Chicago Cubs professional baseball team. She followed the games on the internet, listening to the live feed. The problem with this arrangement was that, when the games began, often around seven or eight o’clock in the evening in the United States, it was one or two o’clock the following morning in London. That made for a very late — or early — bedtime. In the year when the Cubs were on the cusp of qualifying for the World Series, she eagerly tuned in to listen to the games that would decide who would qualify. But she’d been listening to every Cubs game that year, all broadcast in what was the middle of the night where she lived. After tuning in to the game that was to seal the Cubs’ fate, the inevitable happened. She fell asleep and awoke only in time to hear the post-game wrap-up. The Cubs had won. They were in the Series. She had missed all the excitement. On her Facebook account she lamented, “I’ve waited years for a moment like this, and of course I slept through it!” Is there a moral to this story? One might be: Try to get more sleep. Another might be: Try to order your affairs in such a way that you will be alert when events transpire that you believe to be of critical importance to you. In this young woman’s defense, once the World Series began, she stayed awake for every game. Her comment was, “True Cubs fans never give up.” And, in demonstration of her commitment to her favorite team, she remained faithful to the last out — staying awake for all of it. The writer of the gospel of Mark sets the tone for the Christian season of Advent with appropriate advice.... Jesus Is Coming! One of my dearest friends applied for a position that required him to instruct and inspire younger people. His interviewer and evaluator asked him, "Tell me about your walk with Jesus." My friend replied, "You know, everywhere I go, no matter where or when, I find that Jesus has arrived there first. Wherever I go, Jesus is already there." The evaluator made no reply; he had no idea what to say, and my friend was never offered the job. Was his response too theologically subtle? Jesus is not the Lord whom we discover or define or claim. Jesus comes to us. We do not summon Him by any action of our own. Jesus is God's gift. While we were yet sinners, he was born, died, and raised again for us that we might inherit new life. Advent announces that Jesus is coming and not through any action of our own. We do not deserve it. Advent happens. Advent means that Jesus comes again and for all time, at Christmas, this Christmas. Edward S. Gleason, In the Time of This Mortal Life A Distinguished Guest There is a passage in the old Jewish book of Zohar, that goes like this: "Whenever the Jews on earth rejoice in their festivals, they give praise to the Lord. They put on fine clothes and pile their tables with good food. So the angel asks, 'Why do the Jews pamper themselves so much?' And God answers, 'They have a distinguished guest today. I am with them.' "Today is a very special day. We are preparing for a very special guest. It is the first Sunday of Advent. Our celebration begins with the word "Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us." John A. Stroman, God's Downward Mobility Disappointment at the Chaos For a little while when I was a junior in Akron North High we had a substitute English teacher, and she was almost always late for our class, which met on the third floor. She usually arrived with her arms full of books and papers, out of breath, scolding us, good-naturedly for the most part, into silence. One awful day she was later than usual, and the class was noisier than usual. Erasers were flying, books were sailing. It probably doesn't do any good to tell you that, truthfully, I usually did not take part in the chaos, although I can't say I didn't enjoy it. Anyway, on this fateful day one boy-- Stanley M -- produced a cherry bomb from his pocket. The room got very quiet. Stanley lit a match and we held our breaths. The windows were open-- they were the kind that the middle pane swung out from the top. Stanley evidently intended to light the bomb in the classroom and throw it out the window toward the athletic field two stories below. We couldn't believe it-- but Stanley lit the bomb-- and threw it-- and it hit the window pane above the open window and bounced back into the middle of the room, under the desks, hissing. Just at that very moment our teacher came breathlessly into the quiet room-- quiet except for the hissing-- with her arms full of books. But before she had a chance to worry about why we were quiet, or what the hissing sound was ---KA- BOOM!-- the cherry bomb exploded, and instantly the room was full of smoke, and then there was silence again. Our teacher did not drop her armload of books. She did not miss a step. She simply went over to the desk and sat down and put her face on the books and papers she had been carrying. I think it may have been a full five minutes that no one said a word, no one made a sound. I imagine today the police would been called and someone would be expelled from school, and there certainly would be a lawsuit. But her awful silence, and the fact that we were all shocked and stunned was punishment for us all, even Stanley the bomb-thrower. More than forty-five years later I still feel that little woman's pain and disappointment at the chaos that greeted her coming. Russell F. Metcalfe, Jr., Gifts before Christmas ive Us a Little Longer Prudence Phillipson of England uses this analogy. When her children were young the floor of their playroom often became messy with games and toys strewn everywhere. Prudence got her children to clean up their toys and games by telling them she was going round the corner to the shop. "When I come back," she warned, "everything should be in its place." She would then give each child a task before she left. The oldest child would be given more complicated tasks while the simpler ones would go to the younger children. Then she would leave. The children would either do as she told them or else disregard her instructions. When she returned, sometimes she would come quietly up the stairs and see through the half-open door that they were quarreling or fooling around or just absorbed in something. Then there were other times when she would see that her children were not quite finished with their task so she would creep away to give them more time. Sometimes she would shut the front door with a bang and hear sudden noises of bustle as they hurried to get the room straightened. At such times one of the children would call out, "Not just yet, Mummy. Give us a little longer." In thinking about her children, Prudence writes, "Each Advent I recall this experience with my children and wonder how many times the Lord has been close at hand, seeing the chaos of our world and longing to come, but waiting, sparing us judgment a little longer." Perhaps we are given more time to get our lives in order. King Duncan, Collected Sermons Twas the Beginning of Advent A-lert A young girl asked her Sunday school teacher, "What's a-lert?" "A what?" the teacher asked. "A lert?" she said again. "Why do you want to know?" asked the bewildered teacher. "Because the pastor said that we should 'be alert,' so I want to know what a lert is, so I can be one?" Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes Working and Waiting When we wait, we admit there are some things that are not under our control. Most of us like to believe that we are in control. We imagine that we are masters of our destinies. If we work hard enough, if we are sufficiently prepared, if we just concentrate, we can make life work. And we can. To a point. There are some things, however, that can't be hurried. Recuperation from surgery, the grief process, a young person learning responsibility. Shakespeare put it like this, "How poor are they that have no patience. What wound did ever heal but by degrees?" John R. Claypool has wisely said, "Let's face it, there are two kinds of reality in this world of ours. There are the things you have to work for, and there are the things you have to wait for." Claypool is right. But we don't want to wait. Collected Sermons, King Duncan