PASTOR'S MESSAGES    

 November 29, 2020

First Sunday of Advent

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9

This lament comes from a people who have had their hopes shattered. The visions of a rebuilt Jerusalem and a renewed people of God, spoken of in Isaiah 40–55, have not been realized. Instead, the people experience ruin, conflict, and famine. This lament calls God to account—to be the God who has brought deliverance in the past.

Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9

As the Christians in Corinth await the advent of Jesus, Paul reminds them how the Lord has already enriched them through spiritual gifts and will continue to strengthen them until the coming day of the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37

Jesus encourages his followers to look forward to the day when he returns in power and glory to end all suffering.

Prayers of Intercession

God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

We pray for the ministry we share in Christ’s name. Open our hearts to your call for justice, peace, and healing. Attune us to the needs of the world as you draw near. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We pray for this planet in need of restoration: for devastated habitats, polluted waters, thawing ice, blazing fires, swelling floods, and long-lasting droughts. Renew the face of the earth and our relationship to it. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We pray for all people who care for others in our community and around the world. Fill them with compassion and the power to respond with justice for those who are oppressed, with welcome for those who are excluded, and with relief for those who suffer. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We pray for people who are in crisis as the seasons change: for those without homes facing severe weather, for those who are unemployed or underemployed, and for those in poverty or facing food insecurity.  Bless the people that give so generously to the Eganville Food & Clothing Bank, so they may feed and clothe those in need. Relieve their burdens, sustain their bodies, and ease their minds. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We pray for the people in our families and congregation who live with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, and other invisible illnesses (especially) Natasha Gagnon-Burchat, Marion Wisotzke, Eileen Warlich, Karen Weigold, Bruce McFarlane, Sherwood Lett, Ernie Plotz, Keith Weckwerth, Gary Churchill, Ken Roesner, Ellie Sommerville, Myles Newman, Leah Pringle, Delroy Hein, Cyril Waito, Shirley Glickman, Marilyn Schneider, Donna Hoffman, Gail Hein, Emily Rhode, Stephanie Yourth, Christopher Yourth, Matthew Bowers, Beatrice Verch, Jeila Martinat, Otto Mittag, Doreen Miller, Eunice Littau, Ron Schauer, Linda Tremblay, Peter & Tina Howell, and Lorraine Selle, and anyone else that we name out loud or in our hearts. (PAUSE) .. Ease their suffering and support them when they struggle. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

We give thanks for the lives and witness of those who died while waiting for justice, peace, or healing, those whose names we know and those whose names are known only to you. Sustain all who still yearn for the completion of your redeeming work. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

HOMILY

Blue is the color of Advent and it means hope. Advent is the season for hope, waiting and anticipation of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It seems like we are always waiting for something, but, in today’s society we pretty know when thing will come, most of us have calendars on our phones so we can always know or plan for events of our lives. But there is more, people waiting for the bus to arrive at a bus stop, but here too we have schedules that tell us the approximate time of arrive. Or if you are at a parade someplace and you are waiting for it to come; you hear the music of the bands so you know it is coming.

In our Gospel reading for today, it may be helpful to understand the context of the text first. It starts by saying “In those days, after that suffering.” What suffering you may ask? Jesus was talking about the end times in the text before our reading for this morning. He says that there will be wars and famine throughout the world. He also says these things must happen.

In our reading today there is however good news. Before the birth of Jesus, the people were hoping and praying for a messiah to come. They had no idea when this would happen, but they waited. We know through the story of the 3 wise men that they were not sleeping and saw the sign, a bright star in the sky. And they knew something special was going to happen. They kept alert!

Our generation today, we are waiting for the return of Jesus but do not know when. So Jesus is telling us today through a statement of hope, waiting and anticipation when he says “Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” He is telling us to be watchful and hopeful and to anticipate his return. In fact, there is a short parable being told here when he says “it is like” which means the second coming is like a man going on a journey, and that man puts his servants in charge of the house and tells each one to do their duty. Those who care for the house are suppose to be vigilant in their duties, and he commands the doorkeeper to keep watch day and night so that the door may be opened for the master when he returns.

Then He gives this warning: "Watch therefore--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning--lest he come suddenly and find you asleep." Sleep is a symbolic word for a state of unpreparedness. It means one is indifferent and unconcerned. This parable was preached to the disciples before Jesus ascended into heaven as a warning of His return and description of the work of His church while they await His coming.

For us today the season of Advent is usually a busy time for everyone, rushing around preparing for Christmas, shopping, decorating and visiting families and friends. And for some, it is totally forgetting the coming of the Christ child. We sometimes get so used to hearing about the coming of Christ we may be able to not take notice of it, it becomes like a dull rumble. This year though, the season of Advent may not be exactly what we experienced in years past as COVID-19 has changed everything. But it still doesn’t mean that we should not be prepared and watch.

We have been waiting and waiting for the coming of Christ and it is through this waiting we sometimes forget all about the waiting and do fall asleep, not keeping awake as Jesus warns in our reading: “Keep awake, for you do not know when the master of the house will appear.”

But I will tell you today that Christ has come and especially at Christmas we know he comes. He comes as gifts the wise men brought at Epiphany, as He comes now when we give gifts of kindness, love and compassion.

He comes now on a cross as we during Lent to relive His passion. He comes now in an empty tomb as we relive His resurrection during Easter. He comes now as we see tongues as of fire on the head of the disciples during Pentecost. He comes now in bread and wine as He prepares a table for us. He comes now in His words, as we throughout this church year from Mark. He comes now through His church, through us as we become "little Christ’s" one to another. He comes now in many mysterious and wondrous ways, as He comes and comes and comes.

"Yes, Jesus is coming. Yes, on tip toe, and in spite of human pain and human clumsiness, in the most marvelous and unexpected way, Jesus is coming. Even in this time of uncertainly and anxiety through COVID, come Lord Jesus."

We are to keep awake and alert, by living our lives in accord with the one who has already come, died, and been raised.

When you look around, can you see Christ in your life? He has come! Just as our gospel reading concluded “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep Awake,” So open your eyes, and you may see our Lord Jesus Christ, here now, in this place, in this meal, inside us. Amen

Blessing

May God, for whom nothing is impossible, restore you and bless you. May Christ, in whom is the dawning of grace, carry you and gently lead you. May the Spirit, whose song is gladness, fill you with peace and comfort. Amen.