DECEMBER 13TH - THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT "GAUDETE"

 

                                                                                “The Nativity” 2014 by Christopher Ruane

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you…” (Psalm 63:1)

 “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” (Psalm 98:1-2)

“Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty…. See, the day of the Lord is coming—a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it.” (Isaiah 13:6, 9)

“You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm… But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly…” (Hebrews 12:18, 22)

 

In a sermon from 1999, Fleming Rutledge talks about two faces of Advent describing it as a time of “rapturous expectation” and “the heralding of apocalyptic woes”.  Today’s readings seem to be a good fit for this idea and the image I have chosen is another study in contrasts, depicting the peaceful beauty of the Christ child, alive in the midst of the surrounding darkness and struggle.

 

When I first looked at today’s readings, beginning with the glorious psalms, I experienced a visceral shift as I read the words in Isaiah.  It was as though the wind had been knocked out of me.  Encountering a Lord who has done such “marvelous things” and “revealed righteousness” with the same Lord who will come with “wrath and anger” jarred me, especially as I read the two passages in such close succession.   Then I turned to Hebrews and began to relax a little.  Here was beauty, hope, and joy – a glimpse of God’s promise for us.

 

On this third Sunday in Advent, we are in the heart of this season of waiting and preparation.  We are focused on the coming of the Lord as our saviour and our judge.  It is a time of darkness with a pervasive theme of judgement.  The mood can be heavy.  Several reflections in this wonderful advent calendar have already referenced our current times, and our feelings of uncertainty, loneliness, and isolation.  But today the mood lifts a little.

 

Traditionally this Third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Sunday, from the Latin for “joy”, and it is a day for rejoicing.  It is the day we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of joy.  Perhaps you don’t feel like rejoicing these days.  Maybe your own mood is more like the rest of Advent, darker, more anxious, somewhat unsettled for any number of reasons, not least of which might be the state of the world.  The theologian Henri Nouwen described the difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is being dependent on external circumstances while joy is "the experience of knowing that you are unconditionally loved and that nothing – sickness, failure, emotional distress, oppression, war, or even death - can take that love away." Our current circumstances might cause us to fret or feel down but as children of God, we live in the embrace of his unconditional love for us and assurance of his coming.   Joy can be present even in these challenging times.  God will meet us despite our struggles wherever we are.  Rejoice! 

 

Gaudete!  Gaudete!  Christus est natus es Maria virgine. Gaudete!

Tempus adest gratiae, hoc quod optabamus;

carmina laetitiae devote redamus.

 

Rejoice, rejoice! Christ is born of the virgin Mary.  Rejoice!

It is now the time of grace that we have desired;

Let us sing songs of joy, let us give devotion.

DECEMBER 12TH

 

                           - Leonardo da Vinci, The Annunciation ca. 1475

"Be broken, you peoples, and be shattered; give ear, all you far countries; strap on your armor and be shattered; strap on your armor and be shattered. Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us."  Isa. 8:9-10

In Isaiah 8 the prophet reveals that Israel’s hope in God is about to be severely tested. Just one chapter before, Isaiah has foretold the birth of a son to a virgin: a son who will be given the name Immanuel—God with us. Israel had long known that God was with her. Now, according to Isaiah, God would be with his people in a new way. But that would be in the more distant future—a future in which empires will have come and gone and Israel will be living under the oppression of a new occupying force. In the immediate future, however, the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah would be inundated by a flood so deep that the waters would come up to her neck. That flood was invasion by Assyria, and the head, that would be all that remained above the waters, was Jerusalem. Isaiah, in his urgent warning to Israel and Judah, appeals to their faith in God by addressing the two nations as Immanuel: “the king of Assyria with all his pomp…will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!” The name that will be given to the Virgin’s son is here already given to the nations of Israel, as a reminder in whom to put their trust. For despite the devastation of the floodwaters God will not have abandoned his people. In fact Isaiah’s prophecy of invasion is also a prophecy of rebuke to the invaders: “Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered!...for God is with us.” The last phrase is of course one word, the name Immanuel. “Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered!...for Immanuel.” The name rings out like a war cry itself. As we approach Christmas 2020, this is, of course, also our cry of triumph. The coming of the Lord, the coming of the light into our darkness, represents the promise of a new world, just as it was for the people of Israel.

This is also, however, a time to be reminded that the presence of God not only causes sworn enemies of God to tremble. Across our fallen world the presence of God is not always a comfortable presence. Isaiah goes on to warn: “He will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel He will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” Both St. Paul and St. Peter draw out the parallels between this verse and the growing religious and political opposition to the message that Jesus is Lord and Caesar is not.

This past year has revealed a different but worldwide enemy. During the battle against this enemy, faith in a God who is with us is comforting. When that enemy is vanquished, will our world be any less uncomfortable with the Immanuel who shows love and mercy to humans in their need? And what about ourselves? For the past months we too have woken each morning to this very troubling reality—a world ravaged by a global pandemic that, until recently, seemed destined to continue indefinitely. Many individuals have shared with me the experience of waking up for brief seconds of joy before being crushed by the reality that has been 2020.

Surely it is through the good news of Immanuel that we are able to respond to Isaiah’s call to awake, with hope and faith, to sing for joy and thanksgiving through this Advent and Christmas as we recall the time when our God came to dwell among us. THANKS BE TO GOD!

- Tim and Patricia Pope

DECEMBER 11TH

 

Love the LORD, all his faithful people!

                        The LORD preserves those who are true to him.

                                                                                                        Psalm 31:23

Readings for December 11, 2020                             

Psalm 31        Isaiah 7: 10-25        2 Thessalonians 2:13- 3:5

Advent is an attitude of anticipation as we prepare to allow Christ into our hearts.  Each year Advent brings with similarities in songs, traditions, ways of doing things, however each year we need to be open to the changes in our lives and world that affect our Advent and how we prepare.  These insights we discover over the year, different memories, changed circumstances make it so Advent is transformed yet the same.  I will be missing meeting, singing, rejoicing with my church family and how will it affect the anticipation I have for welcoming Christ this year.  My preparation is quieter and reflective of how Christ can come again into my heart with vigor and hope. 

Psalm 31 opens with words to ponder all year.  “In you, Lord, I have taken my refuge, let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.”  We do need refuge to enjoy Christ’s peace in our lives. The most familiar verse is five, “into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God” the same verse Jesus says to the Father before he dies.  Meditate what it means to commit your spirit to God, and he will faithfully deliver.  I am learning to trust God more and more, he is faithful.  It has been a long process of growing in faith with setbacks on the way. Every time I walk in faith, I need to confidently on purpose step out of my comfort zone rely on God to reassure me in all parts of my life. 

Isaiah’s scripture is one we hear every year, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7 verse 14. This passage comes after Ahaz (king of Judah), says to God I will not ask for a sign as it puts you to the test.  I feel that God asks us to purposefully walk to holiness with the true sign, Jesus God with us.  Each year at advent, I reaffirm the promise and hope of the Christ Child by determinedly putting  my faith in Him walking in his ways.

The most heartening to me of the three scriptures for today is 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5, as Paul reflects what we all need to do.  The words cut the very essence of our faith, especially this year amidst all the restrictions given to protect us.  “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” These words I commend you to faithfully act upon.  I thank God for your sharing ministry in this world, what a richer place it becomes as we fulfil God’s desire for his people.  We are blessed by so many who allow their first fruits to be savoured by friends, family and strangers.  In this season of anticipation, may God’s message through us bring light and life to our broken world for he will strengthen and protect us from evil as we become more and more like Christ.

May God strengthen your faith, draw you closer, let love grow in you as you follow the example of Immanuel, God with us.  Peace be with you!                                            

 -Greg Young

DECEMBER 10TH

                                            - The Nativity, by Lun Lan (China)

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.  Ps. 37:3-6

It seems we are all getting a bit weary.  We are fatigued.  Raw.  A little tattered from constantly adjusting our sails to weather the storms 2020 has brought.  As my dear friend, the Rev. Amy Bunce said the other day on Facebook, “This is the Adventiest Advent we have ever Advented.”  Waiting is hard.  As for myself, lately I have noticed a sharp tone creep into my voice more often than I would like.  My frustration steadily rises with each unmasked shopper I encounter in the stores or group I see ignoring restrictions.  My mental list of frustrations seems to get longer and longer each day.  As I have become aware of this cloud over my head, I realize I need to change my perspective.  I don’t like this version of myself one bit!  So, for the past month, I have been sending up the same plea during my daily prayers.  “Lord, please give me patience.  Help me to be kind and gracious toward others who are struggling right now too.  Help me to reflect the joy and peace you bring.  Help me to love first, Lord!” I am convinced my assigned reading for this Advent reflection was my answer to that prayer!

Psalm 37 is help for those who are struggling in a season of waiting.  It explains how we need to wait well.  The Psalmist tells us that as we wait, we need to keep our focus on Him, help those around us and Trust that He will provide all we need.  Because we are His, we are righteous and can have faith He will always do something beautiful.

This poem by Walter Brueggemann speaks beautifully to waiting. It is published in his book Awed to Heaven,Rooted to Earth.

 

In our secret yearnings

we wait for your coming,

and in our grinding despair

we doubt that you will.

And in this privileged place

we are surrounded by witnesses who yearn more than do we

and by those who despair more deeply than do we.

Look upon your church and its pastors

in this season of hope

which runs so quickly to fatigue

and this season of yearning

which becomes so easily quarrelsome.

Give us the grace and the impatience

to wait for your coming to the bottom of our toes,

to the edge of our finger tips.

We do not want our several worlds to end.

Come in your power

and come in your weakness

in any case and make all things new.

Amen.

- Wendy Doherty

DECEMBER 9TH

 

"7And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him."  2 Thess. 1:7-10

Today’s scripture provides hope and assurance to Christian believers through dark times, in so many ways, on a worldwide scale. “ When Christ comes on that day he will receive praise and glory from all who believe.  That includes you, for you believed...” (2 Thess. 1: 10). The scripture encourages us to live a life worthy of his call.  This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.

 During the dark days of the COVID pandemic it is all to easy to allow the continuous newscast updates and warnings with the dire effects of this disease to get us down.

 Today’s message affirms that by God’s grace we have a hope and a future with him as we await his second coming. To that end we look forward to that day when we shall live with him forever in love and unity.

- Allan and Vernice Herbig

                                                          Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

 Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in his wonderful face,

And the things of earth

Will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace

 

Keep your eyes upon Jesus,

And others will not take his place,

But through every hour,

He will give you power,

Til at last you have run the straight race.

DECEMBER 8TH

In this second week of Advent. Ps. 26 v. 1-3; Ps. 39 v. 12-13 (NRSV) 

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind. For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you." Ps. 26 v. 1-3 (NRSV)

Such beautiful poetry we read and hear from the lips of David, ardent in his love for our God; fervent in his desire for righteousness and justice, he cries and pleads passionately to the Holy One. I feel much of myself in these few words. How often I reach out, sometimes even on hands and knees, in my walk with the Eternal, whispering of my own devotion and willingness to be proven, to be tried in the love I feel I know so well. Wanting, perhaps, much like children, for the approval and security of a parent.

This new year we find ourselves amongst speaks much to these opening words of the psalm, "Vindicate me, O LORD." For the year to come, for this season of renewal and arrival we find ourselves within, for just a little bit of hope in these desperate times. These are, indeed, desperate times. Advent, I believe, calls us not only to incarnation in the Son of God, the son of Mary but to the present moment we find ourselves in. This time of dwindling light and scarcity. A time where the cold is beginning to settle and the long seasons of plenty and harvest are behind us. Some of this does not ring as true this year, though it may be anyway. Summer and Spring are behind us, and Winter is approaching steadfastly. This pandemic only seems to be prolonging though talk of a vaccine is on the way, we are still in the thick of it and will be for much, much longer, and nothing will ever be the same again after this season.

And so, we await the coming of the time we may all be together again. Emmanuel, God with us, feels much more intimate than usual. We seek peace in this second week of Advent, as the second candle is lit, and we are drawn nearer and nearer to Christ. We hope for this peace, in this time of disturbance, this time of waning and wanting; this time of separation, and this time of grace.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; do not hold your peace at my tears. For I am your passing guest, an alien, like all my forebears. Turn your gaze away from me, that I may smile again before I depart and am no more.” Ps. 39 v. 12-13 (NRSV)

May it be, as with David, so with you and me.

-Kelsea Willis

DECEMBER 7TH

                - Sunrise, Highway 3, somewhere between Coaldale and Taber.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  I John1:5

4 But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7 for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. I Thess. 5: 4-8

In CS Lewis's children's novel The Last Battle, there is a scene near the end, after Tirian and the old Kings and Queens of Narnia have triumphed in battle, where they have passed through the Stable Door and out of Narnia. To their surprise, inside the stable they find themselves in a great, bright expanse of trees, sky and meadows. Narnia has ended, and Aslan's Country is now their home. As they wander in wonder, they find a group of dwarves huddled in a circle and grumbling to one another. The dwarves, who fought against Aslan (against everyone, really), still believe that they are in the stable in Narnia, and that it is pitch black and stinking and wet. 

When Tirian and the others try to convince them that they are actually in the open meadow and under the open blue sky, they refuse to believe them. Lucy tries to show them a flower to prove it, but they smell garbage. Tirian tries to physically remove one of them to help him free, but the dwarf claims he has been thrown against the wall of the stable and then runs back to the circle of dwarves. And even when Aslan himself appears and speaks to them, and offers them a feast of delicious food and goblets of wine, the dwarves hear a machine making noise to trick them, and the feast tastes only of dirty stable water and old turnips. Their response to every attempt to convince them that they are not in a dark, smelly stable, is unbelief. "You see," Aslan explains, "They have chosen cunning instead of belief." It reminds me a little of Jesus's own words, "Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light..." (John 3:19)

The world seems a bit like that stable right now, or at least that we are surrounded by dwarves. It can even be tempting to be a bit "dwarvish" ourselves at times. But we are children of light, born of God, who is light, and of Jesus, who is the light of the world. We are not dwarves stuck in a stable. We are Image Bearers waiting in this Advent season for the coming of Jesus, our Aslan, to be born into the darkness, and to shine forth his light.  As John put it, "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." (John 1:9). It's why we light the advent candles through the season of Advent, the light growing each week with every candle, as Jesus's arrival comes nearer. It's why we have a candlelight mass on Christmas Eve, filling the sanctuary with the light of the incarnate Son. 

Our job during this season of Advent is, as Paul put's it, to "be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation."   We pay attention, watching for the light as He comes nearer each day. We love those around us, and we live in faith. And we pray, to keep our hearts and minds focused on the goal:

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, now and ever. Amen. 

                                                        (BCP, Collect for the Advent Season, p. 95)

DECEMBER 6TH - SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

 

“Praise the Lord.” Psalm 148:1,14

“Praise the Lord.” Psalm 149:1,9

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Alleluia.” Psalm 150:6

 

This year, the second Sunday of Advent falls on December 6^th, traditionally St. Nicholas Day. This day honours St. Nicholas, 4^th century Bishop of Myra, faithful follower of Jesus, generous giver of gifts, and patron saint of children.

 For the last 30 years, in honour of St. Nicholas Day, we have worked with the Confirmation class to decorate cookies and assemble trays of treats for people in our congregation who have had a rough year. (How many dear ones would that be THIS year?) We have marveled at the young people’s creativity – and occasionally messiness – in decorating. Each year, we have studied St. Nicholas’ extraordinary life, and we have laughed and chatted and prayed and worshipped together.

 This year, of course, no-one can meet together for such an activity.

 The three psalms for today (148, 149, 150) begin and end with “Praise the Lord”.  The Hebrew for this phrase is “Hallelu Jah.” This expression of praise to the Creator God of Israel (often written “Hallelujah” or “Alleluia”) is the greatest exhortation to worship found in the Hebrew Scriptures.

 Should we just belt out “Alleluia” by ourselves in this strange time of isolation?

Can we?  If you are living alone, not allowed to visit family or friends, do you have the heart to sing out “Alleluia”? Last Sunday, in the livestream service, there were 7 “Alleluias” in the final hymn.  Can we sing them together, apart? The Psalms tell us “Yes”! Just do it! In Psalm 148, “Young men and women, old people and children” are told to praise, as well as “the shining stars, the storm and clouds, and the mountains!” Step outside and shout it out! All creation is to sing “Alleluia”, because our generous, loving Creator has sent his Son to save us, to bring us to life, to lead us out of darkness into light, and because He will transform us and all creation when He comes again.

 We had the privilege of participating in Benjamin Britten’s cantata St. Nicholas a number of years ago at St. Augustine’s. Our favourite part was the moment when three murdered boys, miraculously brought to life when St. Nicholas prays, begin singing “Alleluia” (about the 3:50 mark of the video below). They are joined by their mothers, and then by the whole community singing praise to God. It is a foreshadowing of the new creation and the resurrection of the dead; it is a picture of all of us being brought to radiant life by the Saviour. 

We can feel lonely now, in 2020, singing our singular “Alleluias”. But we do so with the knowledge that there is a wonderful reunion in store – both when we sing “Alleluia” together in church, and ultimately on that day when we sing “Alleluia” in the fullness of Jesus’ presence.

Come, Lord Jesus, come. Alleluia!

 -Judith and James Robinson

DECEMBER 5TH

The sun shines through after the rain above Gaza City, one of the most hopeless places in the world. The beauty of nature reflects God’s enduring promise to protect every living thing on the earth. Taken by Allison Kittleson, 2013

Nation will make war upon nation, Kingdom upon kingdom; there will be earthquakes and famines and plagues in many places... but not a hair on your head will be lost. By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves.  Luke 21: 10-11, 18-19

Advent is a time of waiting, a time of hopeful anticipation, a time when we think a little bit more about the birth of our Lord. It feels as though we’ve been waiting since March; waiting for this virus to run its course, waiting for businesses to reopen, for life to return to normal, for a vaccine to come. The reading from Luke reminds us that there is evil and sadness everywhere in our world, but more importantly there is hope. A sure and certain hope that can only be found in our Risen Lord. Before he dies to save us all He must first be born into this world as a tiny and vulnerable baby. Jesus too lived through times of uncertainty and fear. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus has lived and faced the dangers of this world Himself, and most importantly He has overcome it all.

 During these strange and isolating times the true meaning of Christmas is more important than ever. This Christmas let us all stand firm in the truth of our faith and the promises that God, our loving Father, has made for our future. 

 - Allison Kittleson

DECEMBER 4TH

 

"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.  He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  Lk. 21:1-4

 This powerful story of a widow giving everything draws attention to the hypocrisy of Jerusalem’s leaders, as well as to the piety of a poor woman. Scholars debate the takeaway of the story, some suggesting we should all be prepared to give even when it hurts, while others suggest it’s really about political power.  In terms of Advent, I find myself thinking about the leadup to the “season of giving” which dominates the cultural celebration of Christmas that we all participate in to greater or lesser degrees. In all the hubbub of the Holy Days – much of it wonderful and some of it ridiculous – we find ourselves sniffing around for that small, bright something at the heart of it all. That which is humble and easy to miss, which slips in quietly and then scurries away, leaving behind what is in fact a treasure. Perhaps even a glimpse of glory. If we’re serious about knowing the much-debated “meaning of Christmas,” we would do well to be silent, to watch and to wait.  

 - Pat Hammond

DECEMBER 3RD

 

              For more information see https://www.moma.org/collection/works/101550

The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.  Psalm 18:4

 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.  . . . For He is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him.  Luke 20:36 & 38

"Grief, after all, is part of love. Not to grieve, not to lament, is to slam the door on the same place in the innermost heart from which love itself comes."  - N. T. Wright, God and the Pandemic: A Christian Reflection on the Coronavirus and Its Aftermath

 Hope

My friend, Professor William Blissett, (who turned 99 last month), once mentioned that the four candles in the Advent wreath represent Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell. I later learned that this tradition originated when the season was more penitential; sermons preached during these four weeks would be centred on The Four Last Things.

 When Bill first told me, though, I balked. Having grown up with Advent candles being lighted for Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace, I found Bill’s take unsettling and dark. This year, however, with its floods, fires, and pestilence, I wonder if there might be some benefit in trying to reconcile these two different approaches to Advent.

Despite the joyous nature of the season, there are those for whom thoughts of Christmas bring pain and sorrow. Perhaps it is ourselves suffering the grief of loneliness or loss—of a loved one; a faculty, such as mobility, hearing, or eyesight; a marriage; a livelihood.

 In Christ’s story, life and death, joy and sorrow are inextricably entwined. Perhaps, during the Advent season, we need to make room for lament—to name our fears, our troubles, our sorrows, as we lay them at the altar. Then, in time, we can turn to feed our souls at the manger.

 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.  Psalm 18:36

- Alison Goodwin

DECEMBER 2ND

 

-By this point early in Advent our city (and our church building, thanks to Greg Young and Mike Larsen) is well lit up with Christmas Decorations. Simone and I have enjoyed this house in our Norbridge neighborhood for years.

Psalm 13

1. How long, O LORD ? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3. Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4. And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. 5. But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

The readings for today, especially Amos 3:12-4:5 and Psalms 12 to 14 are rather dark and threatening. In present times I am reminded of the daily reports of health officials. These scriptures are speaking to the people of Israel telling them that they must attend to the word of God and that they are not doing a very good job of it. The health officials are telling us that we must do a better job of protecting ourselves and others from the contagion of Covid 19, and of course, they are right.

The problem for many of our parish community is that the health restrictions interfere with our coming together to learn, to praise God in word and song, and to support each other in our faith journey. Speaking for myself, I sorely miss the opportunity to meet and pray frequently with my fellow believers and to help praise God as a member of the choir (a smaller community that I also sorely miss). Music was a big factor in drawing me back to the church in my early twenties and I particularly miss the sound of a congregation all singing together.

The livestream services that so many members of our parish have labored to first make available and then to continually improve in quality have been an amazing light in this dark time. Even better news is that they will continue to be available for parishioners who are unable to make it to church even in non-pandemic times.

In Advent we anticipate the birth of Christ who has come to save us all.

It seems in this pandemic that we have arrived at a point that we can reasonably anticipate the arrival of vaccines and treatments for Covid 19, even if it won’t be as soon as we would like or could use.

Thanks be to God for the care he gives to us even in dark times.

-Len & Simone Robinson

DECEMBER 1ST

 

9 And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while. 10 When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out. 13 Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’ 14 But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’ 15 And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” 17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Luke 20-:9-18

Have you ever, when receiving a new book, turned to the last chapter to see how the story ends?

Well, this is what we seem to be doing with today’s reading from Luke. As we move into Advent, we are looking forward into the last chapter of Jesus is life whilst we await the celebration of His birth.

The story opens a day or two after Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the minor miracle, often unrecognized, which sees Jesus riding down the Mount of Olives and up into Jerusalem sitting on an unbroken donkey colt; amidst a crowd of people waving palm fronds; laying their coats on the ground ,and shouting at the top of their voices; the colt unperturbed, by the noise and recognizes the authority of the ruler of the Universe, who said in Psalm 50: 10-12  “All the cattle on a thousand hills are mine, I know all the fowls of the mountains and the wild beasts of the field are Mine.”

Today’s gospel reading, picks up the story after Jesus has expelled the money changers from the temple’s outer court for inflating the currency exchange. This was a practice clearly forbidden in the Torah and which was made possible because the  Roman coinage, bearing the image of Caesar,  could not be used to purchase sacrificial birds or animals . Unlike the Donkey, the scribes and Pharisees have to ask “By whose authority do you do these things?  Jesus answers them with a question about John the Baptist’s authority. A simple question which, quite literally, puts the fear of death into them and which because of the crowd, they decline to answer. This public humiliation so enrages them that from that point on they plan to kill Him.

Jesus then goes on to tell the story of the Vineyard, prophesying His own death at their hands and the fall of Jerusalem 40 years later. The parable reminds us of Jesus willing sacrifice for our redemption and our responsibility to be faithful servants in his vineyard

One wonders if any of the scribes and Pharisees confronting Him recognized the 12-year-old boy from 21 years earlier who, following His Bar mitzvah, was found questioning and debating with the elders in the Temple. One wonders too, if any of those hearing His words survived to recall his present prophesy 40years on as Jerusalem was being ransacked

As we move into advent and the celebration of Jesus birth,  we have read the last chapter in the Story and know that Jesus not only died as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world but was raised to life again and, as we celebrated on 22^nd of November, will come again as King of Kings and Lord of Lords  (Revelation 21 11:15} and  we say with the Apostle John “Amen. Even so, Come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22: 20)

- Barb Edgecombe-Green

NOVEMBER 30TH

                          St. Michael's Cathedral, Bridgetown, Barbados
 

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of his Holiness; let the whole earth stand in awe of Him”  Ps. 96:9

One of the aspects of worship that I miss most since COVID has modified our worship is, of course, singing. I regularly reflect on the Saturday Service in March when we received the news from the Archbishop that services were suspended. Since we are never able to predict the future, who knew that we would not be singing in the way that we did at that service for such a long time?

Well, of course God knew and He inspired us to worship in the beauty of holiness at that service and at all of the others since then, just in different ways, with different themes, technologies and the faith that will take us through this pandemic and beyond!

An Advent Prayer

"Lord Jesus, we wait for You in these times of wanting everything now. May we cultivate patience this Advent and take time to truly listen to your desire for our lives as we make our journey through this world. Teach us about ourselves that we may come to a deeper awareness of what is important in life. May we seek out quiet moments and spaces away from the rush of the crowds as we prepare our hearts to receive you once again.  Amen"

- Wayne Edwards

NOVEMBER 29TH - First Sunday in Advent

 

Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.  Ps. 147:1-4

The first breath always seems to be the most unrewarded, the one unrecognized.

 Before all others, one must come first. The first cry. The first inhale, the first exhale.

In the beginning, God breathed into existence light and land. God breathed into the earth to create the first human, Adam. Before we shout in exultation, we inhale. This pause pushes us forward into the rest of our lives. Into grief and joy, into disobedience and into praise. Through these breaths, we can cry with the psalmist, "Praise the LORD! How good it is to sing praises to our God." God who breathes life into the earth around us," covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth," also cares for Her people," [God] heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds." In this same breath, our Creator reminds us through the prophet Isaiah, to the people of Israel, "Why do you seek further beatings? Why do you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and bleeding wounds; they have not been drained, or bound up, or softened with oil." (Isa. 1:5-6) Have we strayed so far, now and before?

 At the beginning of this new liturgical year, we are reminded of the hope we are called to, the Word made flesh, Jesus the Christ, and the hope we are brought to new life with. As we light the first candle today, be it purple or blue, may we be filled with expectation, for the Light of the world is returning, our walk with creation is being renewed, and a covenant is being struck in the birth of a child carried in Mary's womb. May we walk with hope, with the prophets and people of ages past, and seek the coming of our Saviour, the New Adam. The first breath, the first step.

 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the sky pour down righteousness.

 Come, Lord Jesus, come soon.

-Kelsea Willis