GATHERING THE PEOPLE

Welcome: Peace be upon all who enter this house. Let us celebrate the richness and diversity of life.

The season of Advent challenges us to see God’s vision of what is yet to be, to hear God’s voice calling anew, to smell the scent of God in our world.

Acknowledgement of country

We acknowledge that the First Peoples of this land had already encountered the Creator God before the arrival of the colonisers, and that the Spirit was already in the land revealing God to the people through law, custom and ceremony. We recognise the continued ministry of First Peoples within the church, and their continuing connection to their land and living cultures. We acknowledge the ways in which we, the church, have been and continue to be complicit in the oppression of first peoples.

All: In doing so, we recommit to the path of reconciliation and justice that God lays before us.

ADVENT LITURGY

Reader One: The prophet Jeremiah speaks of a branch that will be raised. Jesus spoke of a Son of Man that will descend. Both point to a hope – a hope that calls us home. Our true home, where we’re welcomed and loved and included, where there is justice and equality and peace. It’s time, this Advent season, time to go home.

Reader Two: We light this candle, as a sign of our hope, our strong hope that there is a way to go home. To the home in Christ, and it starts with us, and it starts here, and it starts now. It’s time to go home. Light the first candle on the Advent wreath.

Hymn/Song:  THE CANDLE SONG ​​​ 

Like a candle flame, Flickering small, In our darkness, Uncreated light, Shines through infant eyes.

Chorus: God is with us. Alleluia. Come to save us. Alleluia, alleluia

Stars and angels sing, Yet the earth, Sleeps in shadows, Can this tiny spark, Set a world on fire? ​​(Repeat Chorus)

Yet His light will shine, From our lives, Spirit blazing, As we touch the flame, Of His holy fire​​. (Repeat Chorus)​

CCLI Song # 30392 Graham Kendrick © 1988 Make Way Music (Admin. by Copy Care Pacific Pty. Ltd.)

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI Licence # 31951

Prayer

Among the poor, among the proud, among the persecuted, among the privileged,

Christ is coming. Is coming to make all things new.

In the private house, in the market place, in the wedding feast, in the judgement hall,

Christ is coming. Is coming to make all things new.

With a gentle touch, with an angry word, with a clear conscience, with burning love,

Christ is coming, Is coming to make all things new.

Within us, without us, among us, before us, in this place, in every place, for this time, for all time,

Christ is coming, Is coming to make all things new. 

(Wild Goose Worship Group. Cloth For The Cradle. Worship Resources and Readings for Advent, Christmas & Epiphany. Glasgow: Iona Community 1997.) 

Hymn/Song: Siyahamba, or We are Marching in the Light of God

This song comes from apartheid-era South Africa, where people were protesting so that they could vote in their own country. And the marching is actually dance known as toyi-toyi, especially created in South Africa by a people who did not have tear gas or tanks as a defence and could only stand their ground and encourage each other by chanting and dancing. The dance was banned by Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, even indoors. 

Lyrics: We are marching in the light of God, We have friendship in the light of God

HEARING THE WORD

Readings

Let us pray: Into this day, O God, will break moments of awareness, tiny shards of light that illumine the whole reality of existence. May these readings be such a moment and may we be blessed by their gift. Amen. 

(Greta Vosper, ‘Another Breath: Prayers for Celebration and Reflection’. Brisbane: The Centre for Progressive Religious Thought Brisbane, 2009/2010.)

Psalm 25:1-10

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Luke 21:20-36

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

32 “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me. Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. Be mindful of your mercy, O LORD, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD! Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Reader: Through these readings we hear God speak. All:  Thank you, God, for your words of life.

The sermon today is by John McKinnon, and you can find it here (18mins).

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Prayer: Christ, The world is not as you would have it. 

I stand and look at the need for change, not seeing the part you ask me to play. I kneel and pray for transformation, not hearing your call to get up and follow in your work. I sit and wait for the Kingdom to come, not knowing how you need me to join in ushering it in.

Help me see, hear and know what you would have me know, and then do what you would have me do. In realisation, I pray. Amen.

(Rev Jon Humphries, NSW UCA School Chaplain)

Hymn/Song: Immanuel, by Michael Card https://youtu.be/PLwZdMfZ8nI

(Sung by the Emmanual Methodist Centre of Petaling Jaya)

A sign shall be given – a virgin will conceive A human baby bearing undiminished deity.

The glory of the nations, a light for all to see And hope for all who will embrace His warm reality.

Immanuel, our God is with us! And if God is with us, who could stand against us? Our God is with us, Immanuel!

For all those who live in the shadow of death, A glorious light has dawned.

For all those who stumble in the darkness, Behold your light has come!

So what will be Your answer? Oh, will you hear the call? Of Him who did not spare His son but gave Him for us all?

On earth there is no power, there is no depth or height, Could ever separate us from the love of God in Christ.

Immanuel, our God is with us! And if God is with us, who could stand against us? Our God is with us, Immanuel!

Original Song and Lyrics:  Immanuel by Michael Card.

Collection

Generous God, we bring our diverse gifts. Let your Holy Spirit breathe life into our serving, so that all that we do may bring glory to your name. Amen

Prayers of the people Bruce

Benediction

May the God you see in all the colours of creation arouse in you a sense of awe and wonder. May the God who is a sacred presence be real to you.

May the God who is a source of inspiration and courage keep calling you forward. May your God go with you, and bless you. 

(Francis Macnab, “Words of Blessing”. 2006. St Michael’s Church, Melbourne)

Song: A Franciscan Blessing (performed by Josh Spiers)

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation, so that you will work for justice, equity and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them, and change their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done. Amen.