Hope Springs Eternal, Advent 1, Nov. 27, 2016

First Sunday in Advent (Year A)

Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016

Theme:  Hope Springs Eternal

Intro: The church year begins anew this week, the first Sunday of Advent. And traditionally, the texts have continued the apocalyptic texts of the Reign of Christ Sunday, the last Sunday of the year. It nicely closes the circle.

And as it does, churches that follow the Revised Common Lectionary (with its Psalm, Old Testament, New Testament and Gospel readings) move from Luke back to Matthew. Why not John? Because John’s Gospel is so dissimilar from the three narrative (synoptic) gospels, it gets split up to spice up all three years. But I digress. I used to like Matthew more than any of the others – I wonder if this year will refresh that gift.

Reflection: The only healthy humanity, the only true discipleship, is to hope for the return of Christ, for the creation of a new earth with the overthrow of evil, injustice, and fear. What monsters have we become if we do not long for something like this? The means and the method do not need to be 'one like son of man coming in the clouds,' but if the vision is not there in some form, we have already perished. There is no hope left.

Andrew Prior, Uniting Church of Australia

Recently, my handbell director asked our ensemble a simple question: What do you think heaven will be like?

Sometimes he takes a pause in the middle of practice, reads a devotion, and invites comments. Last week was one of those times. Some people offered biblical answers, some quite different ideas. I realized it had been a long time since I’d tried to picture what God had in mind for us after this life is over. I remained quiet, but the question has stayed with me ever since.

And depending on the day you asked me, the answer could be several different views. In all honesty, some days I probably would say I’m not sure there’s anything. Other days, I am certain that God has a place or plan, but my mind has all kind of pictures of it, from seeing our physical bodies resurrected and an actual location that looks heavenly (give me tall pines, hiking trails and lots of lakes), to a final convergence of light, everything connected in a reverse Big Bang, spirit-pure and radiant. (I never did buy the “white-robed people walking on the clouds” vision, though, nor a Rapture, as many people think today’s lines in the Gospel imply. Too many issues with those pictures.)

What fuels most of my hope, though, is the idea of being reunited with family and friends no longer here with us, and finally seeing face-to-face the God who is so much mystery to me. So, I take heart in passages like today’s Gospel that gives us a glimpse of eternity.

So many people have focused their attention on salvation, however, that they forget the rest of this passage. “Stay awake.” Jesus says. “Prepare yourself now.”

And the only way I know how to be prepared for what is to come on that “day and hour no one knows” is to live my faith every day. To do the best job I can of letting Christ work through me this day and every day, knowing full well I’ll mess up. But God’s mercies are new every morning. So, I can keep trying, trying to live and love like Jesus did, hoping that something I do brings this world a little closer to compassionate, peaceful and just – a little closer to what God envisions it could be. And that would be heaven -- perhaps that’s exactly how Christ will come.  

Faith App:  What would you do if it was your final day? Make that phone call, reconcile with a friend or family member, spend time with a child? Be prepared: practice those “someday” actions now.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding, ELW 246

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus, ELW 254

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, ELW 257

The King Shall Come, ELW 260

Bread of Life from Heaven, ELW 474 (communion)

For the Bread Which You Have Broken, ELW 494 (communion)

Lord of All Hopefulness, ELW 765

Awake Our Souls, Tim Timmons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQR0bd1BhbA

A lot of us pray, we pray hard

With promises made when times are dark

But few are remembered

Few are surrendered

The anthem rings in spite of us

In war and peace, inviting us

To listen to the sound now

Of the kingdom calling

Awake our souls, awake our souls

Tear down the walls, dance in the freedom

Awake our souls, awake our souls

Open our eyes to see it ‘cause

Everywhere the King is, there is the kingdom

Everywhere the King is, there is the kingdom

Everywhere the King is King

There’s so many days, I miss it

Fighting for my way instead of yours

But when I surrender

I wake to remember

 

Live Like That, Sidewalk Prophets

With Every Act of Love, Jason Gray

Even So Come, Passion/Kristian Stanfill

LESSONS

Isaiah 2:1-5 They shall beat their swords into plowshares … spears into pruning hooks.

Psalm 122 I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Romans 13:11-14 Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Matthew 24:36-44 Keep awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Summary of the Lessons:  Advent has been considered a passive time. The themes for the four weeks – Hope, Peace, Joy, Love – all are nouns. Advent is known for its emphasis on people quietly remaining waiting and watchful. But all those words are opportunities for action. Hope in action looks like change and opportunity. Peace in action looks like defending the rights of all people. Love in action looks like assuring everyone has what they need. Joy in action looks like creating community and welcome. This week: Hope is the assurance of things to come.

OPENING LITANY  based on Psalm 122

L:  Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

C:  Out of the darkness, our great hope appears!

 

L:  “Let’s go to the house of the Lord!” they said.

C:  I was so elated – I couldn’t wait to go,     

L:  And before long I was gazing at the temple,

C:  Standing with them, inside Jerusalem’s gate.

L:  Jerusalem, the city that joins us together;

C:  A birthplace of faith at the crossroads of time,

L:  A worship pilgrimage for all of God’s people,

C:  Joining in a great litany of thanks and praise.

L:  Keep praying for peace within Jerusalem,

C:  Peace for all peoples starts within its walls,

L:  Because the Lord’s house is here in the city,

C:  Always will I hope for God’s healing to arrive. 

 

CONFESSION  loosely based on Isaiah 2:1-5

L:  Lord, we gather in your house of worship,

C:  Eager to please, eager to be seen as faithful,

L:  But our worship and praises often are empty words –

C:  Help us focus our hearts and minds on you.

L:  Lord, we call ourselves Christians in your name,

C:  Hearing your words, listening to your teaching,

L:  But the actions often don’t make it past the parking lot –

C:  Help us put your instruction to work in our world.

L:  Lord, we idealize your peacemaking ways,

C:  How poetic to beat swords into plowshares,

L:  But we create conflict so much better than compromise –

C:  Help us to understand each other and make a peaceful world.

 

(Silent reflection: soft music, such “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” could be played during the reflection each week of Advent. Or the music could be a softer version of the tune played for an Advent candle lighting.)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … Listening to you is the easy part – following you as disciples much harder. We recommit ourselves weekly to learning to serve like you did, living as if you were returning today. Help us live awakened to your presence among us in each moment.

Hear this Good News:  Come, walk in the light, knowing that not one person gets his or her walk with Jesus perfectly right. We are not clothed in our own good works, but in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come. You are forgiven of all your sins – go make the most of each day, sharing life abundantly.

In the name of …

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C: God of our Waiting … as we enter the season of Advent, we pray that you would prepare our hearts once and always for your presence among us. Stir us up, Lord, and make us watchful, because we know not what day you will arrive, only that you will surprise us with how you arrive. Keep us looking for you in every situation, in every face we meet.  Amen. 

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give thanks, most gracious God, for the hopefulness in this meal, a remembrance of the covenant shared with your people.  Send us as your keepers of this promise, that your kingdom will come, as we live expectantly, always seeking your good.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  Now is the time – today is the day.

C:  Stay watchful – keep awake!

L:  Live today and every day with your eyes wide open.

C:  Hopeful that your actions today bring the kingdom come.

L: Go now, people of hope, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God! 

First Reading Isaiah 2:1-5 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: In the book’s first chapter, Isaiah lays out a harsh current reality: violence, bribery, desolation and trampling the poor. The second chapter is a restart by God, written about the future, a future filled with hope. 

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come

    the mountain of the LORD’s house

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be raised above the hills;

all the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

    to the house of the God of Jacob;

that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the light of the LORD!

Second Reading  Romans 13:11-14 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Writing the church in Rome, Paul reflects the belief that Jesus was coming back within people’s lifetimes. Paul encouraged people to remain engaged in Christ-like pursuits, even to suggesting celibacy and sobriety.

Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Gospel  Matthew 24:36-44 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: With the start of the church year, year A is primarily in Matthew’s Gospel. The first Sunday in Advent begins where we ended last week, with a view toward end times.

“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: 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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.