Call
to Worship
L. The spectacular mercies of
the Advent Christ be with you all.
And
also with you.
L. That we may be glad
whenever the Lord Jesus comes to us;
May
Christ’s own goodness be
consolidated in our hearts.
L. That we may honour God
together with our sisters and brothers of every race;
May
the Lord increase our love for each other and all humanity.
Hymn:
TIS 155 – How Great Thou Art (v. 1,2,4) Each
time I sing this hymn I am reminded of the amazing gifts we have had bestowed
upon us and how we take them all so much for granted. Not only do we take for
granted the gift of this planet but we lose the sense of the great treasure we
have been given in God's love.
Prayer
of Adoration
Bradon
prayed on our behalf to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, reflecting on our
failure to appreciate all that God is to us but acknowledging that we have,
however imperfectly, experienced God's glory, truth and forgiving love. And so,
we offered our adoration, praise and thanksgiving.
Prayer
of Confession and Assurance of Pardon
"Because
most of us are slow learners, lukewarm believers, yet effusive excuse-makers,
let us pause, take stock, and confess our sins. Let us pray.
Because
we have sometimes busied ourselves religiously,
as if
the success of God’s kingdom depended solely on us:
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Because
we sometimes opt out, and with a perverse piety
leave
everything up to God and the holy angels:
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Because
your mercy is over all your works, and your grace is greater
than
our pride, foolishness and weakness:
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy."
"My
Friends, stand up straight, lift up your downcast eyes, your redemption is at
hand. In Christ Jesus our sins are forgiven and the final victory is assured.
Thanks
be to God."
"May
the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all people,
that
we may be free from shame and holy at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his
saints."
I
have kept this section almost as Bradon delivered it. Too good to do anything
else.
Offering. We returned a little
of God's mountain of blessings to us, for the work of his kingdom.
Bible
words for today
Oliver read from Numbers 6:24 The Lord bless you and keep you. These word
evoke confidence and comfort.
The
Advent Candles
Bradon
explained that in lighting the first of these candles we were remembering that
Advent was a reliving of the promise given for all - we are reliving the
anticipation of his coming. Hope for us all,
Hymn:
TIS 265 – O Come, O Come
Emmanuel.
A plea and invitation to Jesus to do his work amongst us. Are we ready? Are we
really sincere in praying those words? We can't pray them and then stand in the
middle of the road, blocking Jesus' way.
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16. The
day is coming. If we take that as a personal message if could mean today - now.
Think on that. Luke 1:26-38. There is much in this reading. The
announcement of the birth of someone who began a new kingdom on Earth. That is
mind- blowing enough. But that an insignificant young woman should be the way
it would come about is a lesson to everyone hearing these words. Ordinary
people like we are have been commissioned to bring the Kingdom of God to the
world. There is a thought.
Sermon: Bradon reflected in his life,
speaking of the times he spends waiting - as we all do from time to time. He
spoke about the time we spend waiting in the Uniting Church, with an example of
his recent experience of having a meeting about a meeting. He then related this
concept of waiting in the season of Advent when we are reminded of those who
waited for the coming of God. The Bible is full of people who were waiting for
some great happening. The people waited to leave Egypt.
They waited in the
wilderness to enter the Promised Land. They wait for the coming of Israel. But
then the word comes to Mary - the waiting was almost over. But after nine
months - which can be very fast - or slow, the world had to wait another 30
years. Surely the waiting was over - surely the kingdom was going to be
restored. When Easter Saturday arrived the disciples were perplexed - surely
this was it! Are we still waiting? Think of all the world's problems. With the
help of Dr. Seuss, Bradon reminded us of all the things we wait for.
Is
that how it is for us? Are we just
hanging about waiting for God to act? Look again. Jesus came to pronounce the
arrival of God's Kingdom. It's here. It's happened - but only partially
fulfilled. We have seen the possibility but we're in a type of shadow.
We
should think about our waiting a little like waiting on tables - serving. It's
a time to work - not a time to have hope but to give hope. A time not to be
hanging onto the past but a time to be creating the future for all. Today is
our day!
Prayer
of the People & Lord’s Prayer: Bradon prayed for those for whom
time goes too swiftly: for those for whom time goes too slowly. He prayed for
political prisoners waiting for justice. He prayed for our loved ones - for the
sick - for the churches who want to return to past glories that they will focus
on new things for the future, Bradon prayed for the bereaved - for those who
think their anguish will never end. And then he prayed for the concerns of our
own community and we joined together in the Lord's Prayer.
Hymn:
TIS 572– O Thou Who Camest From Above. The
hymn says if all: Thou who came from above: kindle a flame; trembling to
its source return, in humble prayer and fervent praise; stir up thy gift in me;
ready for thy perfect will, my acts of faith and love. What people we would
be!
Benediction: Bradon prayed to the God of hope
that we will all be filled with joy and then sent us out in peace to love and
serve the Lord.
Closing
May the
feet of God walk with you,
and his hand hold you tight.
May the eye of God rest on you.
and his ear hear your cry.
May the smile of God be for you,
and his breathe give you life.
May the child of God grow in you,
and his love bring you home.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment