Worship December 4, 2021
Let us worship!
We enter into the Avent season,
a time of Hope,
a time of Peace,
a time of Joy,
a time Love.
We prepare for your coming, so many years ago.
We prepare for your coming, in days to come.
We prepare for your coming, here with us now.
We prepare, for you, O God.
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
A prayer to center you
As winter winds begin to blow,
As Christmas schedules get busier and busier,
As holiday preparations kick into full gear,
Still our minds and spirits for a brief time,
That we may focus our light and love toward you,
Most wonderful God.
May we be warmed by your grace
Calmed by your presence
And made radiant in your love.
Prepare our hearts for you and move us toward your ways.
Amen
Holy Scripture
Isaiah chapter 40
Verses 1 through 11
Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.
Reflection:
We put up our tree this past week. There was only minimal crying from my oldest because we have moved to a “too thin” artificial tree over the large and normally very round real trees we use to search for every year. We are planning on spending some time this weekend decking the halls (or atleast the living room). The nativities (yes, it is plural in our house) will be set in place. The garlands will be hung. The wreaths will be placed. We have begun to prepare for Christmas. We have already started talking about what Christmas day will look like. We are planning away at what foods we will be enjoying, who will be sleeping where, what time the grandparents will arrive. The matching Christmas pajamas should be arriving to my doorstep soon. The planning of when, where and how are already well underway.
Christmas takes a lot of planning, organizing, and preparing! From gift buying to managing multiple families schedules, that is a lot of preparation that goes into the holiday season. There is more planning and preparing for this holiday than any other. From schools plays and concerts to college finals and trips to home, church plays and town parades, there is a lot going on to celebrate. That is just the events, not to mentions all the decorating that occurs. As you drive through town you see all the Christmas lights out. From homes to drive through light shows, a lot of work has gone into preparing for Christmas.
But for what are we preparing? Family? Gifts? Food?
Or for the coming of Christ?
Isaiah reminds us to not only prepare for the celebration of the holiday, but to make room for God coming to us—to prepare for the way of the Lord.
As we hang the garlands this year, perhaps we should also hang up our hurts and our hatreds—to make more room for God with us.
As we place our wreaths on the door, perhaps we should think about who we open that door to and to whom we keep our doors shut—to prepare more space for God with us.
As we plan our tables, perhaps we should consider our guest list with care and plan to extend our table (both literal and figurative) to more people—that we may prepare more space for God with us.
This holiday season perhaps as we prepare for the celebration of this holiday, we should also consider how best to prepare for the promises this holiday season holds for us, that Christ is coming! And in so doing, perhaps we should prepare ourselves in spiritual ways, to refocus on the calling of God and the promises that we cling to—to prepare our hearts and minds for the wonders of our holy God.
Thinking it through….
How do you prepare for Christmas?
What emotions come up with preparing for Christmas? excitement, worry, stress, grief, joy?
If Christ were to come again this Christmas, what would you be proud of what? What would you want to do differently in Christ’s presence?
How are you preparing for Christ to come again?
The Word in Action
This week, what is one thing that you can do to be more prepared for Christ’s coming again?
Reach out to someone in need?
Let go of something that is hindering your relationship with God or neighbor?
Spend more time in prayer, meditation or action?
Prayer of sending
Oh, God of peace,
This advent season, help us to prepare for you with expectant hearts.
We know that you have walked amongst us.
Help us to live into the deep peace in the knowledge that you will come again.
Amen
Amen
Going out.
Go out into the world, renewed and revived by the word of God.
and in all that you do, may the love of Christ Jesus uphold you,
the peace of God sustain you and may the Holy Spirit guide you each step of the way
Let all God’s people say: AMEN
