First Sunday of Advent - A

For September 6, 2026:

• WTH, God? by Mary Austin based on Exodus 12:1-14. Are there rituals that can really keep us safe?
• Second Thoughts: Dressing Up Like Dolly by Chris Keating.

Contents
"Before You Judge" by David O. Bales
"Christ, Paul, And The Law" by David O. Bales


Before You Judge
by David O. Bales
Matthew 18:15-20

The seven members of the presbytery’s judicial commission were ministers and elders, all over 50, chosen for their stability of life and faith and their ability to be fair. They were experienced enough not to be awed by anyone. However, when Daniel Newton stepped into the room too much space here

Contents
"Teeth" by C. David McKirachan
"Being Ready" by Peter Andrew Smith

Teeth
by C. David McKirachan
Matthew 18:15-20

Confrontation is one of my least favorite things. Because of that I have a staff, about six feet of cedar, knarled by age and elements leaning in a corner of my study. It’s to remind me that as a shepherd, I’ve got to remember that not all the people who come through the door are sheep. Some of them have sharp teeth.

Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done....” (v. 19)

Good morning boys and girls,

Have you ever played tug-o-war?  Goes like this: two sides pull on the rope against each other. Each of the two sides tries to pull the other over a designated line. The group that is pulled over the line loses. The other side wins. So let's pretend we are playing tug-o-war.

Good morning, boys and girls. Do you ever get into arguments? (Let them answer.) Sometimes arguments are fought over the strangest things, aren't they? In our house (list your own things here) I've heard an argument start over who would get to read the cereal box during breakfast. Has that ever happened to you? (Let them answer.) It happened like this. Someone was eating breakfast. This box of cereal (hold up the box) was in front of that person. Someone else in the family started to eat. That person grabbed the box and started to read it.

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you take your lunch to school or to your day care center? (Let them answer.) When you take your lunch do you carry it in a bag or in a pail? (Let them answer.) I brought a lunch pail from my house today to show you. Do any of you have a pail like this one? (Let them answer.) This lunch pail makes me think of this morning's lesson. In the lesson we are told to love our neighbor like we love ourselves. When you love your neighbor you are doing the right thing.

Good morning! This morning I'm going to ask you to fill this glass full. (Let the children put the stones in the glass container. When they appear to have the glass full ask:) Is the glass full? (Let them answer.)

I brought this glass to show you something about how God's kingdom works. God asks us to do good and treat people kindly, with respect, and with politeness. God wants us to be good to people. God wants us to be good people. We call this "the law" because God's law is that we do good to others.

They were huddled together leaning against straw stacks in a corner of the old barn, where they wouldn't be disturbed. They each had their eyes tightly shut, and were keeping their hands held firmly together.

"Please, God," prayed Ruth, "give us a dog of our very own."

Her sister and brother nodded in fervent agreement. "Yes, God, please," added Tim, for good measure.

Amanda thought she'd better say something too, in case God thought she wasn't part of it. "I want one too, God," she said.

Theme For The Day
In the Passover and in the Lord's Supper, eating is remembering.

Old Testament Lesson
Exodus 12:1-14
The Institution Of The Passover

Characters

Harry Christian

Margaret Christian (Harry's wife)

Fed-Up Express Man

Accompanist (nonspeaking)

Props

Stuffed chair

Newspaper

Table

Lamp

Bible

Dressing mirror

Large box (containing the following items)


Silver shirt


Silver gloves


Silver sunglasses


Silver light saber


Silver-wrapped instruction book

Thomas Browne said that "the vices we scoff at in others laugh at us from within ourselves." More than any other relational failure this is true of hurt and vengeance.

When the great nineteenth-century Spanish General, Ramon Narvaez, lay dying in Madrid, a priest was called in to give him last rites. "Have you forgiven your enemies?" the padre asked.

"Father," confessed Narvaez, "I have no enemies. I shot them all."

Many times, especially during Lent, we hear that Jesus is the Lamb of God who shed his blood on the cross for our sins. But how do you feel when the doorbell rings, and you open the door, and there is someone holding a Bible who starts up a conversation leading up to questions such as, "Have you been saved? Have you been saved through the blood of the Lamb?" Or how do you feel when you turn on your television and an evangelist pleads with you to accept "the salvation that comes only through the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God"?

Introduction

A popular television show in 2000 was the CBS program, Big Brother. It was a reality--based show that allowed the viewers to watch and then vote on who should get booted out of the house. The first contestant to be expelled by the viewers was a man by the name of William, a 27--year--old youth counselor from Philadelphia. He got the boot because he had spent his first two weeks fighting with fellow housemates.

First Lesson: Exodus 12:1-14
Theme: Together

Call To Worship

Like Hebrews of Aaron's and Moses' time, called at the first Passover to gather as families and share the sacrificed lamb of a goat or sheep, this congregation also is called to worship together as a family. Come, let us worship our sustaining God with praise and thanksgiving.

Collect

Hymns
Wake, Awake, For Night Is Flying (UM720, NCH112, PH17)
Draw Us In The Spirit's Tether (UM632, NCH337, PH504)
Spirit Of Jesus, If I Love My Neighbor (NCH590)
Savior God Above (NCH602)
God is Here! (NCH70, UM660, PH461)
Where Charity And Love Prevail (NCH396, UM549, CBH305)
Give Praise To The Lord (PH257)
The Day Of Resurrection (LBW141, NCH245, PH118, UM303)

Anthems
Cantate Domino, Pitoni, GIA, SATB

Good old golden rule days. The children will be going back to school this week, if they aren't there already. Yellow school buses reemerge from their hidden garages; crossing guards don their white shoulder belts and pick up their stop signs. Parents stock up on spiral notebooks and highlighter pens, while teachers give themselves bouquets of freshly sharpened No. 2 pencils. You can just smell the chalk in the air.

Last week we suggested that if Genesis is the account of God's election, then Exodus is the story of God's redemption. Today we take the next step in the unfolding drama: If Moses is the person God uses to redeem, then the sacrifice is the means.