How Do We Reconcile This?
For December 1, 2024:
How Do We Reconcile This?
by Katy Stenta
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
In the Scriptures
This seems to be a prayer for return to one another’s presence. A hope for physical presence and reconciliation is an ever-present theme in the Bible, both between people and between humans and God. Matthew 18:15-18 instructs us on how to gain forgiveness and find reconciliation in a community: First by working out problems one on one and then in front of witnesses. Romans 5:1-11 specifies how humanity is reconciled to God through the direct sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s love is what saves and brings us back to God again. The reconciliation in these scriptures are based on love. The actions come out of love, and that love pulls people together. Faith and reconciliation go hand in hand.
In the News
In light of the recent election, we too long to be reconciled in the United States. The vote seems to be closer than anyone had even imagined. Is that good news? It is hard to gauge. It seems like there are echo chambers everywhere, as evidenced by this Axios’s article of who is showing up where on Social Media. How do we even talk to one another in light of the large divide of the country — especially with the holidays coming up. Greater Good has some suggestions on how to do this. In the more successful conversations — participants built up a small buffer of goodwill — three positive feelings for every negative one. One does this by asking questions, understanding, or as Ted Lasso says, being curious. Meanwhile Sojourners suggests less talk and more action. After all, they will know we are Christians, not by our brilliant intellectual arguments, but by our love and actions. In this article small stories are told: giving groceries to one in need, giving a cup of water to a stranger or otherwise making choices to do small good things. It is the butterfly effect — the choices you make might help to save the entire world. Small, concrete actions might be the way to go.
In the Sermon
Paul starts by thanking God for the Thessalonians. It might be hard to feel thankful in this time period, even in the wake of Thanksgiving. However, Paul starts the restorative work with thanksgiving and hope. First, Paul thanks God for the people, next, he hopes to be physically present with them. Finally, Paul hopes for an increase in their faith — a gentle hope and push at the same time.
Then Paul gently makes the ask, but the ask is confessional. He confesses that “we” (the Thessalonians and himself) all need to be more willing — and he prays for more love all around. He prays that the Thessalonians reach full holiness before God — another prayer for hope.
Paul is reaching out locally, he is starting with the positive and committing to act cooperatively and in concert with the Thessalonians. He is putting his hopes, and heart, on the table. He is strategically putting everyone in the same camp and talking about where they can walk to at the same time, instead of pitting them against each other. The work to be done is reconciliation, because it will be done together.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Prepare Ye, Prepare Ye!
by Mary Austin
Luke 21:25-36
As Advent begins, people of faith turn our hearts toward the coming of Jesus. In a curious parallel, the United States is preparing for another Donald Trump presidency, some with enthusiasm and some with fear, confusion, and anger.
Immigration advocates are drafting lawsuits that can be filed right away. Liberal-leaning groups are having a mixed response. Some people are exhausted, with no energy left. Others have more energy. “As roughly half the country reels after Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the protest groups that sprung up to fight his first administration are rushing to prepare for the next four years. The unofficial coalition of left-wing groups, which came to be known as “the resistance,” is made up of hundreds of activist organizations large and small. Their leaders say they’ve been planning for this possibility, and they are already reactivating the infrastructure they built up during the Republican’s first term.”
World leaders are also getting ready for relationships with the US that are “less predictable, more chaotic, colder to allies and warmer to some strongmen, and much more transactional in picking friends globally than before. America’s place in world affairs and security will fundamentally change, both critics and supporters of Trump say. His backers say he simply will be choosier about US alliances and battles than previous presidents. When it comes to the US role on the world stage, no more talk of the country as leader of the free world, said Fiona Hill, a former Russia adviser to Trump and preceding US presidents.”
President-elect Trump is apparently preparing, too. In addition to naming cabinet secretaries and other appointees, his team is writing a pile of executive orders for his first day in office. “Americans will see the new Trump administration enact changes at a pace that is “like nothing you’ve seen in history,” a Trump campaign official said. Trump is preparing on day one to overturn specific policies put in place by Biden, with plans to end travel reimbursement for military members seeking abortion care and to restrict transgender service members’ access to gender-affirming care, two people familiar with the plans said. But much of the first day is likely to focus on stopping illegal immigration — the centerpiece of Trump’s candidacy. He is expected to sign up to five executive orders aimed at dealing with that issue alone after he is sworn in on January 20, three Trump allies said on condition of anonymity. By contrast, that is as many orders as he signed on all issues during the first week of his last term.”
Jesus promises a world of turmoil before the world sees the coming of the Son of Man arriving with the full glory of God. It’s easy to focus on the turmoil — in his era or ours — and to miss his instruction. As we wait, he says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down…[with] the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly.” Turn your eyes to hope, he says. Turn your hearts to anticipation.
Jesus reminds us that even in the upheaval, the biggest preparation happens inside us. Where we place our attention is still within our control, even when nothing else is. The way we shape our spiritual practices still belongs to us, even when the world is out of control. God is no less at work right now.
We are not to be distracted or fretful and are invited by Jesus to “be alert at all times.” As we wait for the full presence of Jesus, we can be alert to ways to bring his presence into the world. Our alertness may lead us to:
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer
Advent, The Season Of Waiting
Waiting Online
Thank you for calling the random Christmas shopping company. Your call is very important to us. Did I say very important? No, it’s extremely important. It’s the most important call ever made in the history of calling. Please use the following menu to assist us in helping you:
If you have a question concerning your account, press 1.
If you have a question concerning someone else’s account, press 2.
If you have a question concerning accounts in general, press 3.
If you have a question concerning an order you made, press 4.
If you have a question concerning an order you did not make, press 5.
If you have a question concerning just any old thing, press 6.
If you would like to speak with one of our highly trained and helpful associates, press 0 or just stay on the line.
(So, I press 0.)
You have indicated that you would like to speak to one of our highly trained and helpful associates. Unfortunately, they are all helping other customers at this time. You are number 45 in line. The approximate wait time is…25 days. Or you can press 9 and leave a message and someone may or may not call you back sometime in the future.
(Recording of Dean Martin singing “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” plays for 30 seconds. Line goes dead.)
* * *
Things To Do While Waiting
Time is the only thing you can’t make more of, so, when we are forced to wait, in line or just in general, we chafe at the time being lost. Psychology Today suggests that waiting time need not be lost and offers these activities that can make waiting time productive, even if only for a few minutes. Here’s my updated version of an article they ran in 2019.
1. Read a little. Be it a book, newspaper, a blog, or a magazine. Cell phones now make it easier to have a book, newspaper, magazine, or all kinds of reading matter at our fingertips at any moment. And just ten minutes of reading a day can change your whole outlook on life.
2. Floss and brush your teeth. It only takes five minutes, and you will feel refreshed afterward. Oh, and science shows that there is a connection between oral health and heart health.
3. If you want to freshen up but don’t have time for a shower, try washing your face. Research has shown that a five-minutes face wash can free the mind to solve a particularly sticky problem.
4. Put the dishes or, well, anything away. Hey, you’re going to have to do it eventually, why not while your waiting for something else.
5. Clean out a junk drawer. Come on, we all have them. Those drawers where we toss things because we don’t know what to do with them. Well, if you haven’t figured it out in a year, you’re probably not going to, so toss it.
6. Unsubscribe from social media, email, or text accounts. Ask yourself if this account is really improving your life or just making it more hectic and needlessly busy. If it is the latter, trash it.
7. Do the paperwork you’ve been putting off. Working ten minutes at a time on that stack of paperwork on your desk will get it done faster than you thought.
8. Reach out to an old friend. Send a text or an email to someone who is in your life but with whom you have not communicated in a while.
9. If someone or something (with a tail) is around, you can spend a few extra minutes giving him, her, or it some extra attention. Petting the dog or cat helps us to relax, lowers our blood pressure, and makes us feel more secure. So does a nice long hug.
10. Practice: a musical instrument, a poem you’ve always wanted to memorize, a new language you’ve wanted to learn, a speech you’re scheduled to give. Ten minutes of practice a day will give you a new skill within just a few months.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36 — Distractions: In the gospel reading Jesus warns us how easy it is to miss the advent of the messiah because we are distracted by dissipation, drunkenness, and worry.
Distracted By Dissipation
Dissipation is usually defined as the squandering of money, energy, or resources on frivolous or unnecessary things.
Conversation overheard in big box discount store:
* * *
Distracted By Drunkenness
The drunkenness spoken of here can be literal or figurative. We can get drunk on the temptations presented by the prolonged holiday season — spending, partying, drinking, etc. — or we can get literally drunk on alcohol.
The American Addiction Centers report that “the period that starts before Christmas and ends on New Year’s Day accounts for some of the highest incidents of binge drinking and related public health problems. In a story sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the Statesman Journal writes of how the Christmas season, and especially Christmas week, creates a number of opportunities for drinking to get out of control.
“An addiction medical specialist with Kaiser explains that overindulging during the holidays is easy. There is plenty of food, drink, and good cheer to go around, and moderation is rarely taken seriously. There is the idea that being more responsible with food and alcohol consumption in January will ameliorate any excesses during the holiday season, so people tend to eat and drink more.”
US News and World Report points out that even social drinkers can face a barrage of temptations to drink more than they normally do. At house parties, office parties, and bars, alcohol is in constant flow in the buildup to Christmas and New Year’s. (“How To Know When Holiday Drinking Is a Problem.” (December 2014). US News & World Report.)
* * *
Distracted By Worry (Anxiety)
Some common causes of anxiety during the holidays include unrealistic expectations, financial worries, loneliness, social anxiety, pressure to drink, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is important to practice self-compassion and coping skills during this time.
The website ChoosingTherapy.com offers 10 coping strategies for dealing with holiday anxiety. Here are a few:
* * * * * *
From team member Mary Austin:
Luke 21:25-36
Stand Up and Do Something
Jesus talks about the signs of God’s coming fully into the world, and then advises, “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads.” Don’t cower in fear, he says, and do what you can do.
Restaurateur and author Will Guidara recalls that his mom was ill for much of his childhood with a disease that grew progressively worse. He remembers, “She loved me recklessly. One night, she fell coming down the stairs. My dad was working restaurant hours, as he did for most of his professional life; when he got home around eleven, he found my mom and me sleeping on the bottom step. I was too little to help her up, but not too little to fetch us pillows and a blanket so we could make a comfy nest.” (from Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect)
Even when things are unsettled, there are things we can do while we wait.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Olympic Level Staring
It’s no big secret that most of us hate idle time, and will do almost anything to distract ourselves. Novelist Ann Patchett, who is a very productive writer, along with owning a bookstore, is the opposite. She says, “If staring ever becomes an Olympic event I’ll be bringing home the gold. While other people go to work, I stare out the window. I stare at my dog. I stare at blank pieces of paper and paragraphs and single sentences and a buzzing computer screen. Hours and hours of my day are spent with my eyes glazed over, thinking, waiting, trying to figure things out. The muse is a sweet idea, like the tooth fairy. The muse supposedly comes down like lighting and fills your fingers with the necessary voltage to type up something brilliant. But nobody ever made a living depending on a muse. The rest of us have to go out and find our inspiration, write and rewrite, stare and stare and stare until we know which way to turn. I dated my husband for eleven years before I married him. It was the staring that made me so hesitant. I just couldn’t imagine living in a house with another person when so much of my life was spent sprawled across the sofa, eyes wide open, saying nothing at all.” (from What Now?)
Advent invites us to sit and stare at nothing in particular, ready to be surprised by the presence of God.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Happy Holidays with a Side of Tension
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,” Paul writes to the Thessalonian churches. This is the opposite of what many Americans feel at this time of year.
Therapist Britt Frank observes, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . . for Regression.” She adds, “Consider the emotional climate from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve…no time of year provides more evidence of emotional regression than the holiday season. The holiday season is for therapists what tax season is for accountants. Phones light up, email in-boxes fill to overflowing and waiting lists balloon…The chasm between cultural expectations and the reality of the holiday season is wide and deep. Emotional pain gets stuffed down (along with lots of pumpkin pie and eggnog) because people think they should be happy. Think of the 24/7 stream of cheery messages: “’Tis the season to be jolly . . .” “Joy to the world . . .” “Rejoice! Rejoice!” “All is calm, all is bright . . .” “Peace on earth, goodwill to men . . .” Despite the positive and encouraging soundtrack in the background, the holiday season is when depression skyrockets and self-esteem plummets.” (from The Science of Stuck)
Along with Paul, this time of year prompts us to pray most earnestly that God will “strengthen our hearts” and turn us toward love.
* * * * * *
From team member Chris Keating:
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Promise of the Prophets
“There is no poetry like the poetry of the prophets,” wrote the late Rachel Held Evans. Advent’s readings and hymns draw heavily on the prophets, whom we often interpret as whispering promises describing the coming of Christ. Yet the prophets had more on their minds than prefiguring Jesus, reminding us that our interpretive task is to look at urgency, which framed the prophet’s original context.
Evan’s delightful prose reminds us:
Prophecy illuminates the past, present, and future by employing story and poetry to bring into sharp contrast the way things are with the way things should be with, the ways of power-hungry people with the ways of a loving God, the path of cruelty and injustice with the path of righteousness, the kingdoms of this world with the coming Kingdom of God.
These words shaped the faithful imaginations and determined journeys undertaken by the characters who make their way to the creche this Christmas. As Evans says, “the language of the prophets was on the minds and lips of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and John the Baptist as they prepared for the arrival of Jesus.”
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Dissipation and the Worries of Uncertainty
Jesus’ exhortations to patience in times of uncertainty are hardly the sort of Christmas greeting many are yearning to hear. Apocalyptic readings often generate knee-jerk responses grounded in literalism and assurances of certainty. But the complexity of our world resists quick answers. Given our multiple-layered universe of uncertainty, the Gospel’s apocalyptic urgings may indeed be the most important word preachers can offer in Advent 2024.
New York Times columnist Peter Coy offers a thoughtful reflection on the relevance of twentieth century economist Frank Knight for a contemporary world filled with uncertainty and chaos. Coy’s column this week describes the way Knight’s century-old book, Risk, Uncertainty, and Profit, can help “guide us to a middle course between trying to avoid uncertainty entirely, which is impossible, and plunging headlong into the darkness, which is reckless.”
Risk, according to Knight, is different from uncertainty because risk assumes a measurable outcome or a probability that can be insured against. Uncertainty goes deeper into unknowns that can neither be predicted nor insured. The resulting profit, according to Knight, “was the compensation that businesses earned for putting up with uninsurable uncertainty.”
Jesus assumes that his disciples will face uncertainties and risks that cannot be quantified or measured. Disciples don’t seek to be compensated for faith, of course. Instead, Jesus points us toward a resilience-building hope that is willing to face the “uninsurable uncertainty” a life shaped by pursuing the kingdom of God will inevitably experience.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Advent as Kairos Time
Too often scripture’s apocalyptic imagery and descriptions of the “end times,” cause the church to choke on its words, shrinking in its response to popular versions of eschatology. Indeed, end-times imagery is worrisome and seemingly contradictory to cheering, jolly messages of Christmas.
Scholar Diana Butler Bass, however, reminds us that earlier generations of Christians grew to appreciate Advent’s “poetic interplay” of Jesus’ birth with his long-delayed return. Bass suggests looking at Advent’s waiting for Jesus not as a chronological or linear event (“chronos” time). Instead, she says, consider that “time is not a line. Rather, time is held in the being of God.”
Such a perspective allows us to see Jesus’ coming in a new way. “Jesus has come; Jesus comes; Jesus will return.” Here we find the diligence necessary to put with the uncertainty and chaos of our time. But even more than that, we discover the hope that enables us to find “the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
As Bass says:
This is the dance of time, grace-filled steps that enact God's vision that the end-times are all times; that all times are the end-times. In this spirit of time-enfolded-in-time, we walk through Advent. Jesus has been born, but we act as if we are still waiting. Christ will return, yet Christ has already come.
* * * * * *
WORSHIP
by George Reed
Call to Worship
One: To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls.
All: O my God, in you we trust; do not let us be put to shame.
One: Make us to know your ways, O Lord; teach us your paths.
All: Lead us in your truth for you are the God of our salvation.
One: Good and upright is the Lord who instructs sinners in the way.
All: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.
OR
One: God is coming to dwell in our midst.
All: How shall we prepare for God’s coming?
One: God calls us to right living and to love one another.
All: With God’s help we will seek righteousness.
One: God calls us to lives of humility, justice, and mercy.
All: Humbly we will seek justice and mercy for all.
Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 82
NCH: 116
CH: 119
LBW: 34
ELW: 257
W&P: 154
AMEC: 102
STLT: 225
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
UMH: 196
H82: 66
PH: 1/2
GTG: 82/83
NCH: 122
LBW: 30
ELW: 254
W&P: 153
AMEC: 103
Prepare the Way of the Lord
UMH: 207
GTG: 95
CH: 121
W&P: 174
Renew: 92
Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting)
UMH: 210
NCH: 121
ELW: 266
W&P: 163
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
UMH: 213
H82: 436
PH: 8
GTG: 93
NCH: 117
CH: 129
LBW: 32
W&P: 176
AMEC: 94
Renew: 59
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
UMH: 358
H82: 652/653
PH: 345
GTG: 169
NCH: 502
CH: 594
LBW: 506
W&P: 470
AMEC: 344
Trust and Obey
UMH: 467
AAHH: 380
NNBH: 322
CH: 556
W&P: 443
AMEC: 377
O Jesus, I Have Promised
UMH: 396
H82: 655
PH: 388/389
GTG: 724/725
NCH: 493
CH: 612
LBW: 503
ELW: 810
W&P: 458
AMEC: 280
My Hope Is Built
UMH: 368
PH: 379
GTG: 353
AAHH: 385
NNBH: 274
NCH: 403
CH: 537
LBW: 293/294
ELW: 596/597
W&P: 405
AMEC: 364
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee (O Our Lord, We See You)
UMH: 623
H82: 318
PH: 520
GTG: 517
NCH: 336
CH: 416
LBW: 211
AMEC: 531
Change My Heart, O God
CCB: 56
Renew: 143
Create in Me a Clean Heart
CCB: 54
Renew: 181/182
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who is the Holy One:
Grant us the grace to prepare ourselves for your coming
by bringing righteousness and love to the forefront of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you are the Holy One; in you there is only what is right and true. Help us to prepare for your coming by being your righteous people filled with love. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially when we look for salvation from sources other than God.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have prepared for many things but we have failed to prepare for your coming. We have set our eyes on our financial security and find ourselves spiritually bankrupt. We have listened to the empty promises of those who seek power and wealth above all. We have been led to rely on military power to save us. We have forgotten the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate. We have left no room for him within or among us. Forgive us and draw us back into your realm so that we may truly be prepared for your coming. Amen.
One: God welcomes us as the prodigal children we are. We are forgiven not because we deserve to be but because God loves us. Receive God’s grace and prepare your hearts for the coming of the Christ.
Prayers of the People
We come together to lift our voices and hearts in praise because you, O God, are the faithful one who continually calls us home. You are the one who offers your grace and love freely.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have prepared for many things but we have failed to prepare for your coming. We have set our eyes on our financial security and find ourselves spiritually bankrupt. We have listened to the empty promises of those who seek power and wealth above all. We have been led to rely on military power to save us. We have forgotten the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate. We have left no room for him within or among us. Forgive us and draw us back into your realm so that we may truly be prepared for your coming.
We thank you for the wonder of your grace. We are truly blessed by your presence that seeks us out and calls us to your embrace. You offer to come and dwell within us and among us as our loving parent. We give you thanks for your faithfulness to your promises.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need. We lift up to your loving presence those who live in fear, want, and loneliness. We pray for those who find it difficult to prepare for the celebration of Christmas because of tragedies in their lives. We pray for those who find the words of peace hard to receive in the midst of violence.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
* * * * * *
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Let’s Light A Candle
by Chris Keating
Jeremiah 33:14-16 and 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Face it — gathering with children on the First Sunday of Advent is fraught with difficulties. Not only is this the tail-end of a long holiday weekend, the starry-eyed excitement of Christmas is at fever pitch. A car dealer in my congregation once told me December was always a difficult month for sales, because, in his words, “It’s hard competing with Santa.”
Just imagine if car dealers had to wrestle with apocalyptic-themed words of Jesus! Yet for all of the obstacles, Advent is a treasured time of the year. It is a time when the church’s message combines with other symbols, decorations, and songs to create powerful memories for children. With that in mind, this week would be a great week to focus on your church’s Advent traditions, introducing them once again and helping ground them in the stories of scripture.
Consider incorporating your Advent candle liturgy into your children’s time. This offers a chance to explore the traditional meanings of the candles (often expressed as “hope, peace, joy and love”). While much of the Luke passage will soar over the heads of children (and probably more than a couple of adults), Jeremiah’s words offer a concrete image of waiting and hopefulness the children can understand. They know what it means to think of Christmas as time of waiting. Jeremiah knew that God’s people were impatient, and that things had been hard for them. In the face of hopelessness, Jeremiah sparks new promises. What new things are the children of your church hoping for?
Likewise, as you light the candle, you might have one or more of the children read Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. The images of thankfulness, gratitude, and growing in faith will resonate with them. You can find a simplified version in a good children’s Bible, or even use the litany below (you can easily add additional readers instead of just two):
Reader one:………How can we thank God enough for you?
Reader two:………Our hearts are filled with joy!
Reader one:………We pray for you night and day,
Reader two:………We can’t wait to see you face to face!
Reader one:………This candle reminds us of hope.
Reader two:………We pray God will strengthen us
Reader one:………So that our love might increase,
Reader two:………And our hearts made strong as we wait for Jesus.
All:………Amen.
Allow Advent to be a time of creating memories of faith so that your children and families may understand the traditions of the season, and discover new ways of waiting patiently for Christmas’ arrival.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, December 1, 2024 issue.
Copyright 2024 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
- How Do We Reconcile This? by Katy Stenta based on 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13.
- Second Thoughts: Prepare Ye, Prepare Ye! by Mary Austin based on Luke 21:25-36.
- Sermon illustrations by Dean Feldmeyer, Mary Austin, Chris Keating.
- Worship resources by George Reed.
- Children's sermon: Let’s Light A Candle by Chris Keating based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
How Do We Reconcile This?
by Katy Stenta
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
In the Scriptures
This seems to be a prayer for return to one another’s presence. A hope for physical presence and reconciliation is an ever-present theme in the Bible, both between people and between humans and God. Matthew 18:15-18 instructs us on how to gain forgiveness and find reconciliation in a community: First by working out problems one on one and then in front of witnesses. Romans 5:1-11 specifies how humanity is reconciled to God through the direct sacrifice of Jesus Christ. God’s love is what saves and brings us back to God again. The reconciliation in these scriptures are based on love. The actions come out of love, and that love pulls people together. Faith and reconciliation go hand in hand.
In the News
In light of the recent election, we too long to be reconciled in the United States. The vote seems to be closer than anyone had even imagined. Is that good news? It is hard to gauge. It seems like there are echo chambers everywhere, as evidenced by this Axios’s article of who is showing up where on Social Media. How do we even talk to one another in light of the large divide of the country — especially with the holidays coming up. Greater Good has some suggestions on how to do this. In the more successful conversations — participants built up a small buffer of goodwill — three positive feelings for every negative one. One does this by asking questions, understanding, or as Ted Lasso says, being curious. Meanwhile Sojourners suggests less talk and more action. After all, they will know we are Christians, not by our brilliant intellectual arguments, but by our love and actions. In this article small stories are told: giving groceries to one in need, giving a cup of water to a stranger or otherwise making choices to do small good things. It is the butterfly effect — the choices you make might help to save the entire world. Small, concrete actions might be the way to go.
In the Sermon
Paul starts by thanking God for the Thessalonians. It might be hard to feel thankful in this time period, even in the wake of Thanksgiving. However, Paul starts the restorative work with thanksgiving and hope. First, Paul thanks God for the people, next, he hopes to be physically present with them. Finally, Paul hopes for an increase in their faith — a gentle hope and push at the same time.
Then Paul gently makes the ask, but the ask is confessional. He confesses that “we” (the Thessalonians and himself) all need to be more willing — and he prays for more love all around. He prays that the Thessalonians reach full holiness before God — another prayer for hope.
Paul is reaching out locally, he is starting with the positive and committing to act cooperatively and in concert with the Thessalonians. He is putting his hopes, and heart, on the table. He is strategically putting everyone in the same camp and talking about where they can walk to at the same time, instead of pitting them against each other. The work to be done is reconciliation, because it will be done together.
SECOND THOUGHTSPrepare Ye, Prepare Ye!
by Mary Austin
Luke 21:25-36
As Advent begins, people of faith turn our hearts toward the coming of Jesus. In a curious parallel, the United States is preparing for another Donald Trump presidency, some with enthusiasm and some with fear, confusion, and anger.
Immigration advocates are drafting lawsuits that can be filed right away. Liberal-leaning groups are having a mixed response. Some people are exhausted, with no energy left. Others have more energy. “As roughly half the country reels after Trump’s defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the protest groups that sprung up to fight his first administration are rushing to prepare for the next four years. The unofficial coalition of left-wing groups, which came to be known as “the resistance,” is made up of hundreds of activist organizations large and small. Their leaders say they’ve been planning for this possibility, and they are already reactivating the infrastructure they built up during the Republican’s first term.”
World leaders are also getting ready for relationships with the US that are “less predictable, more chaotic, colder to allies and warmer to some strongmen, and much more transactional in picking friends globally than before. America’s place in world affairs and security will fundamentally change, both critics and supporters of Trump say. His backers say he simply will be choosier about US alliances and battles than previous presidents. When it comes to the US role on the world stage, no more talk of the country as leader of the free world, said Fiona Hill, a former Russia adviser to Trump and preceding US presidents.”
President-elect Trump is apparently preparing, too. In addition to naming cabinet secretaries and other appointees, his team is writing a pile of executive orders for his first day in office. “Americans will see the new Trump administration enact changes at a pace that is “like nothing you’ve seen in history,” a Trump campaign official said. Trump is preparing on day one to overturn specific policies put in place by Biden, with plans to end travel reimbursement for military members seeking abortion care and to restrict transgender service members’ access to gender-affirming care, two people familiar with the plans said. But much of the first day is likely to focus on stopping illegal immigration — the centerpiece of Trump’s candidacy. He is expected to sign up to five executive orders aimed at dealing with that issue alone after he is sworn in on January 20, three Trump allies said on condition of anonymity. By contrast, that is as many orders as he signed on all issues during the first week of his last term.”
Jesus promises a world of turmoil before the world sees the coming of the Son of Man arriving with the full glory of God. It’s easy to focus on the turmoil — in his era or ours — and to miss his instruction. As we wait, he says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down…[with] the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly.” Turn your eyes to hope, he says. Turn your hearts to anticipation.
Jesus reminds us that even in the upheaval, the biggest preparation happens inside us. Where we place our attention is still within our control, even when nothing else is. The way we shape our spiritual practices still belongs to us, even when the world is out of control. God is no less at work right now.
We are not to be distracted or fretful and are invited by Jesus to “be alert at all times.” As we wait for the full presence of Jesus, we can be alert to ways to bring his presence into the world. Our alertness may lead us to:
- Be quiet when there’s so much noise around us.
- Listen carefully, when we really have a lot to say.
- Make a connection with a younger person, or an older neighbor.
- Take Bystander Training, so we can support someone being harassed in public.
- Give money to causes that work for the world we want,
- And countless other things.
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean FeldmeyerAdvent, The Season Of Waiting
Waiting Online
Thank you for calling the random Christmas shopping company. Your call is very important to us. Did I say very important? No, it’s extremely important. It’s the most important call ever made in the history of calling. Please use the following menu to assist us in helping you:
If you have a question concerning your account, press 1.
If you have a question concerning someone else’s account, press 2.
If you have a question concerning accounts in general, press 3.
If you have a question concerning an order you made, press 4.
If you have a question concerning an order you did not make, press 5.
If you have a question concerning just any old thing, press 6.
If you would like to speak with one of our highly trained and helpful associates, press 0 or just stay on the line.
(So, I press 0.)
You have indicated that you would like to speak to one of our highly trained and helpful associates. Unfortunately, they are all helping other customers at this time. You are number 45 in line. The approximate wait time is…25 days. Or you can press 9 and leave a message and someone may or may not call you back sometime in the future.
(Recording of Dean Martin singing “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” plays for 30 seconds. Line goes dead.)
* * *
Things To Do While Waiting
Time is the only thing you can’t make more of, so, when we are forced to wait, in line or just in general, we chafe at the time being lost. Psychology Today suggests that waiting time need not be lost and offers these activities that can make waiting time productive, even if only for a few minutes. Here’s my updated version of an article they ran in 2019.
1. Read a little. Be it a book, newspaper, a blog, or a magazine. Cell phones now make it easier to have a book, newspaper, magazine, or all kinds of reading matter at our fingertips at any moment. And just ten minutes of reading a day can change your whole outlook on life.
2. Floss and brush your teeth. It only takes five minutes, and you will feel refreshed afterward. Oh, and science shows that there is a connection between oral health and heart health.
3. If you want to freshen up but don’t have time for a shower, try washing your face. Research has shown that a five-minutes face wash can free the mind to solve a particularly sticky problem.
4. Put the dishes or, well, anything away. Hey, you’re going to have to do it eventually, why not while your waiting for something else.
5. Clean out a junk drawer. Come on, we all have them. Those drawers where we toss things because we don’t know what to do with them. Well, if you haven’t figured it out in a year, you’re probably not going to, so toss it.
6. Unsubscribe from social media, email, or text accounts. Ask yourself if this account is really improving your life or just making it more hectic and needlessly busy. If it is the latter, trash it.
7. Do the paperwork you’ve been putting off. Working ten minutes at a time on that stack of paperwork on your desk will get it done faster than you thought.
8. Reach out to an old friend. Send a text or an email to someone who is in your life but with whom you have not communicated in a while.
9. If someone or something (with a tail) is around, you can spend a few extra minutes giving him, her, or it some extra attention. Petting the dog or cat helps us to relax, lowers our blood pressure, and makes us feel more secure. So does a nice long hug.
10. Practice: a musical instrument, a poem you’ve always wanted to memorize, a new language you’ve wanted to learn, a speech you’re scheduled to give. Ten minutes of practice a day will give you a new skill within just a few months.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36 — Distractions: In the gospel reading Jesus warns us how easy it is to miss the advent of the messiah because we are distracted by dissipation, drunkenness, and worry.
Distracted By Dissipation
Dissipation is usually defined as the squandering of money, energy, or resources on frivolous or unnecessary things.
Conversation overheard in big box discount store:
Ah, finally. The toy department. What toys do they want?Christmas spending in 2024 is anticipated to rise by 7% compared to last year, with the average shopper expected to spend about $1,638 on gifts, travel, and entertainment. Total holiday spending in November and December is estimated to be between $979.5 billion and $989 billion, compared to $955.6 billion during the same timeframe last year.
I don’t know. What’s the popular new thing?
How about these. I’ve seen these on TV. They’re supposed to be the big thing this year.
Oh, wow! Those are awfully expensive.
Dear, it’s the grandchildren. There’s no such thing as too expensive.
* * *
Distracted By Drunkenness
The drunkenness spoken of here can be literal or figurative. We can get drunk on the temptations presented by the prolonged holiday season — spending, partying, drinking, etc. — or we can get literally drunk on alcohol.
The American Addiction Centers report that “the period that starts before Christmas and ends on New Year’s Day accounts for some of the highest incidents of binge drinking and related public health problems. In a story sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the Statesman Journal writes of how the Christmas season, and especially Christmas week, creates a number of opportunities for drinking to get out of control.
“An addiction medical specialist with Kaiser explains that overindulging during the holidays is easy. There is plenty of food, drink, and good cheer to go around, and moderation is rarely taken seriously. There is the idea that being more responsible with food and alcohol consumption in January will ameliorate any excesses during the holiday season, so people tend to eat and drink more.”
US News and World Report points out that even social drinkers can face a barrage of temptations to drink more than they normally do. At house parties, office parties, and bars, alcohol is in constant flow in the buildup to Christmas and New Year’s. (“How To Know When Holiday Drinking Is a Problem.” (December 2014). US News & World Report.)
* * *
Distracted By Worry (Anxiety)
Some common causes of anxiety during the holidays include unrealistic expectations, financial worries, loneliness, social anxiety, pressure to drink, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is important to practice self-compassion and coping skills during this time.
The website ChoosingTherapy.com offers 10 coping strategies for dealing with holiday anxiety. Here are a few:
- Practice mindfulness. In other words, slow down and concentrate. Focus on the present task. Practice thankfulness and remember what is important.
- Plan ahead. Something as simple as writing a grocery list before you enter the store can significantly reduce worry and anxiety.
- Focus on values. Identifying core values can highlight what is most important to you during the holiday season. Core values can help ground you in your holiday decision-making when holiday anxiety creeps in.
- Take breaks. Short breaks to do some breathing exercises, or long breaks to read a book or take a walk can help to reduce holiday stress and anxiety.
- Re-think gift expectations. Giving experiences — dinner out, a movie night, a round of golf, a night of bowling — has become a popular substitute for finding the perfect “thing” and it’s often something you can do together to strengthen your relationship.
- Attend to your religious and/or spiritual beliefs. Attending worship, prayer and/or meditation, study/discussion groups can all help to keep our anxiety and worry in check.
* * * * * *
From team member Mary Austin:Luke 21:25-36
Stand Up and Do Something
Jesus talks about the signs of God’s coming fully into the world, and then advises, “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads.” Don’t cower in fear, he says, and do what you can do.
Restaurateur and author Will Guidara recalls that his mom was ill for much of his childhood with a disease that grew progressively worse. He remembers, “She loved me recklessly. One night, she fell coming down the stairs. My dad was working restaurant hours, as he did for most of his professional life; when he got home around eleven, he found my mom and me sleeping on the bottom step. I was too little to help her up, but not too little to fetch us pillows and a blanket so we could make a comfy nest.” (from Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect)
Even when things are unsettled, there are things we can do while we wait.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Olympic Level Staring
It’s no big secret that most of us hate idle time, and will do almost anything to distract ourselves. Novelist Ann Patchett, who is a very productive writer, along with owning a bookstore, is the opposite. She says, “If staring ever becomes an Olympic event I’ll be bringing home the gold. While other people go to work, I stare out the window. I stare at my dog. I stare at blank pieces of paper and paragraphs and single sentences and a buzzing computer screen. Hours and hours of my day are spent with my eyes glazed over, thinking, waiting, trying to figure things out. The muse is a sweet idea, like the tooth fairy. The muse supposedly comes down like lighting and fills your fingers with the necessary voltage to type up something brilliant. But nobody ever made a living depending on a muse. The rest of us have to go out and find our inspiration, write and rewrite, stare and stare and stare until we know which way to turn. I dated my husband for eleven years before I married him. It was the staring that made me so hesitant. I just couldn’t imagine living in a house with another person when so much of my life was spent sprawled across the sofa, eyes wide open, saying nothing at all.” (from What Now?)
Advent invites us to sit and stare at nothing in particular, ready to be surprised by the presence of God.
* * *
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Happy Holidays with a Side of Tension
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all,” Paul writes to the Thessalonian churches. This is the opposite of what many Americans feel at this time of year.
Therapist Britt Frank observes, “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year . . . for Regression.” She adds, “Consider the emotional climate from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve…no time of year provides more evidence of emotional regression than the holiday season. The holiday season is for therapists what tax season is for accountants. Phones light up, email in-boxes fill to overflowing and waiting lists balloon…The chasm between cultural expectations and the reality of the holiday season is wide and deep. Emotional pain gets stuffed down (along with lots of pumpkin pie and eggnog) because people think they should be happy. Think of the 24/7 stream of cheery messages: “’Tis the season to be jolly . . .” “Joy to the world . . .” “Rejoice! Rejoice!” “All is calm, all is bright . . .” “Peace on earth, goodwill to men . . .” Despite the positive and encouraging soundtrack in the background, the holiday season is when depression skyrockets and self-esteem plummets.” (from The Science of Stuck)
Along with Paul, this time of year prompts us to pray most earnestly that God will “strengthen our hearts” and turn us toward love.
* * * * * *
From team member Chris Keating:Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Promise of the Prophets
“There is no poetry like the poetry of the prophets,” wrote the late Rachel Held Evans. Advent’s readings and hymns draw heavily on the prophets, whom we often interpret as whispering promises describing the coming of Christ. Yet the prophets had more on their minds than prefiguring Jesus, reminding us that our interpretive task is to look at urgency, which framed the prophet’s original context.
Evan’s delightful prose reminds us:
Prophecy illuminates the past, present, and future by employing story and poetry to bring into sharp contrast the way things are with the way things should be with, the ways of power-hungry people with the ways of a loving God, the path of cruelty and injustice with the path of righteousness, the kingdoms of this world with the coming Kingdom of God.
These words shaped the faithful imaginations and determined journeys undertaken by the characters who make their way to the creche this Christmas. As Evans says, “the language of the prophets was on the minds and lips of Mary, Zechariah, Simeon, and John the Baptist as they prepared for the arrival of Jesus.”
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Dissipation and the Worries of Uncertainty
Jesus’ exhortations to patience in times of uncertainty are hardly the sort of Christmas greeting many are yearning to hear. Apocalyptic readings often generate knee-jerk responses grounded in literalism and assurances of certainty. But the complexity of our world resists quick answers. Given our multiple-layered universe of uncertainty, the Gospel’s apocalyptic urgings may indeed be the most important word preachers can offer in Advent 2024.
New York Times columnist Peter Coy offers a thoughtful reflection on the relevance of twentieth century economist Frank Knight for a contemporary world filled with uncertainty and chaos. Coy’s column this week describes the way Knight’s century-old book, Risk, Uncertainty, and Profit, can help “guide us to a middle course between trying to avoid uncertainty entirely, which is impossible, and plunging headlong into the darkness, which is reckless.”
Risk, according to Knight, is different from uncertainty because risk assumes a measurable outcome or a probability that can be insured against. Uncertainty goes deeper into unknowns that can neither be predicted nor insured. The resulting profit, according to Knight, “was the compensation that businesses earned for putting up with uninsurable uncertainty.”
Jesus assumes that his disciples will face uncertainties and risks that cannot be quantified or measured. Disciples don’t seek to be compensated for faith, of course. Instead, Jesus points us toward a resilience-building hope that is willing to face the “uninsurable uncertainty” a life shaped by pursuing the kingdom of God will inevitably experience.
* * *
Luke 21:25-36
Advent as Kairos Time
Too often scripture’s apocalyptic imagery and descriptions of the “end times,” cause the church to choke on its words, shrinking in its response to popular versions of eschatology. Indeed, end-times imagery is worrisome and seemingly contradictory to cheering, jolly messages of Christmas.
Scholar Diana Butler Bass, however, reminds us that earlier generations of Christians grew to appreciate Advent’s “poetic interplay” of Jesus’ birth with his long-delayed return. Bass suggests looking at Advent’s waiting for Jesus not as a chronological or linear event (“chronos” time). Instead, she says, consider that “time is not a line. Rather, time is held in the being of God.”
Such a perspective allows us to see Jesus’ coming in a new way. “Jesus has come; Jesus comes; Jesus will return.” Here we find the diligence necessary to put with the uncertainty and chaos of our time. But even more than that, we discover the hope that enables us to find “the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
As Bass says:
This is the dance of time, grace-filled steps that enact God's vision that the end-times are all times; that all times are the end-times. In this spirit of time-enfolded-in-time, we walk through Advent. Jesus has been born, but we act as if we are still waiting. Christ will return, yet Christ has already come.
* * * * * *
WORSHIPby George Reed
Call to Worship
One: To you, O Lord, we lift up our souls.
All: O my God, in you we trust; do not let us be put to shame.
One: Make us to know your ways, O Lord; teach us your paths.
All: Lead us in your truth for you are the God of our salvation.
One: Good and upright is the Lord who instructs sinners in the way.
All: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness.
OR
One: God is coming to dwell in our midst.
All: How shall we prepare for God’s coming?
One: God calls us to right living and to love one another.
All: With God’s help we will seek righteousness.
One: God calls us to lives of humility, justice, and mercy.
All: Humbly we will seek justice and mercy for all.
Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 82
NCH: 116
CH: 119
LBW: 34
ELW: 257
W&P: 154
AMEC: 102
STLT: 225
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
UMH: 196
H82: 66
PH: 1/2
GTG: 82/83
NCH: 122
LBW: 30
ELW: 254
W&P: 153
AMEC: 103
Prepare the Way of the Lord
UMH: 207
GTG: 95
CH: 121
W&P: 174
Renew: 92
Toda la Tierra (All Earth Is Waiting)
UMH: 210
NCH: 121
ELW: 266
W&P: 163
Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
UMH: 213
H82: 436
PH: 8
GTG: 93
NCH: 117
CH: 129
LBW: 32
W&P: 176
AMEC: 94
Renew: 59
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
UMH: 358
H82: 652/653
PH: 345
GTG: 169
NCH: 502
CH: 594
LBW: 506
W&P: 470
AMEC: 344
Trust and Obey
UMH: 467
AAHH: 380
NNBH: 322
CH: 556
W&P: 443
AMEC: 377
O Jesus, I Have Promised
UMH: 396
H82: 655
PH: 388/389
GTG: 724/725
NCH: 493
CH: 612
LBW: 503
ELW: 810
W&P: 458
AMEC: 280
My Hope Is Built
UMH: 368
PH: 379
GTG: 353
AAHH: 385
NNBH: 274
NCH: 403
CH: 537
LBW: 293/294
ELW: 596/597
W&P: 405
AMEC: 364
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee (O Our Lord, We See You)
UMH: 623
H82: 318
PH: 520
GTG: 517
NCH: 336
CH: 416
LBW: 211
AMEC: 531
Change My Heart, O God
CCB: 56
Renew: 143
Create in Me a Clean Heart
CCB: 54
Renew: 181/182
Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who is the Holy One:
Grant us the grace to prepare ourselves for your coming
by bringing righteousness and love to the forefront of our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you, O God, because you are the Holy One; in you there is only what is right and true. Help us to prepare for your coming by being your righteous people filled with love. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially when we look for salvation from sources other than God.
All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have prepared for many things but we have failed to prepare for your coming. We have set our eyes on our financial security and find ourselves spiritually bankrupt. We have listened to the empty promises of those who seek power and wealth above all. We have been led to rely on military power to save us. We have forgotten the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate. We have left no room for him within or among us. Forgive us and draw us back into your realm so that we may truly be prepared for your coming. Amen.
One: God welcomes us as the prodigal children we are. We are forgiven not because we deserve to be but because God loves us. Receive God’s grace and prepare your hearts for the coming of the Christ.
Prayers of the People
We come together to lift our voices and hearts in praise because you, O God, are the faithful one who continually calls us home. You are the one who offers your grace and love freely.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. We have prepared for many things but we have failed to prepare for your coming. We have set our eyes on our financial security and find ourselves spiritually bankrupt. We have listened to the empty promises of those who seek power and wealth above all. We have been led to rely on military power to save us. We have forgotten the one whose birth we are preparing to celebrate. We have left no room for him within or among us. Forgive us and draw us back into your realm so that we may truly be prepared for your coming.
We thank you for the wonder of your grace. We are truly blessed by your presence that seeks us out and calls us to your embrace. You offer to come and dwell within us and among us as our loving parent. We give you thanks for your faithfulness to your promises.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for one another in our need. We lift up to your loving presence those who live in fear, want, and loneliness. We pray for those who find it difficult to prepare for the celebration of Christmas because of tragedies in their lives. We pray for those who find the words of peace hard to receive in the midst of violence.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)
All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:
Our Father....Amen.
(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)
All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
* * * * * *
CHILDREN'S SERMONLet’s Light A Candle
by Chris Keating
Jeremiah 33:14-16 and 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Face it — gathering with children on the First Sunday of Advent is fraught with difficulties. Not only is this the tail-end of a long holiday weekend, the starry-eyed excitement of Christmas is at fever pitch. A car dealer in my congregation once told me December was always a difficult month for sales, because, in his words, “It’s hard competing with Santa.”
Just imagine if car dealers had to wrestle with apocalyptic-themed words of Jesus! Yet for all of the obstacles, Advent is a treasured time of the year. It is a time when the church’s message combines with other symbols, decorations, and songs to create powerful memories for children. With that in mind, this week would be a great week to focus on your church’s Advent traditions, introducing them once again and helping ground them in the stories of scripture.
Consider incorporating your Advent candle liturgy into your children’s time. This offers a chance to explore the traditional meanings of the candles (often expressed as “hope, peace, joy and love”). While much of the Luke passage will soar over the heads of children (and probably more than a couple of adults), Jeremiah’s words offer a concrete image of waiting and hopefulness the children can understand. They know what it means to think of Christmas as time of waiting. Jeremiah knew that God’s people were impatient, and that things had been hard for them. In the face of hopelessness, Jeremiah sparks new promises. What new things are the children of your church hoping for?
Likewise, as you light the candle, you might have one or more of the children read Paul’s words to the Thessalonians. The images of thankfulness, gratitude, and growing in faith will resonate with them. You can find a simplified version in a good children’s Bible, or even use the litany below (you can easily add additional readers instead of just two):
Reader one:………How can we thank God enough for you?
Reader two:………Our hearts are filled with joy!
Reader one:………We pray for you night and day,
Reader two:………We can’t wait to see you face to face!
Reader one:………This candle reminds us of hope.
Reader two:………We pray God will strengthen us
Reader one:………So that our love might increase,
Reader two:………And our hearts made strong as we wait for Jesus.
All:………Amen.
Allow Advent to be a time of creating memories of faith so that your children and families may understand the traditions of the season, and discover new ways of waiting patiently for Christmas’ arrival.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, December 1, 2024 issue.
Copyright 2024 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
