Third Sunday of AdventReadings: Zephaniah 3v14-end; Psalm 146v4-end; Philippians 4v4-7; Luke 3v7-18.Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.A Word : The prophet Zephaniah calls us to sing, rejoice and exult because God is in the midst of us bringing us to victory. For we have a God who is saving the lame, gathering in outsiders and bringing his people home to be seen by all the peoples as a people renewed and restored through God’s love. For, as the psalm tells us, the God who is the creator of all things and reigns forever is also the God who: always keeps his promises; is just to all who suffer wrongs; sets free the bound and lifts up those who are bowed down. This is an amazing God who: opens the eyes of the blind; watches over strangers; upholds the widows and the orphans; and brings bread to those who are hungry. For this is the God who loves the righteous and turns the way of the wicked upside down.This is the one true God who sent John the Baptiser into the world to prepare God’s people for the coming of the promised Messiah. As a messenger John told sinners to bear fruits worthy of their repentance because all who did not bear good fruit would be cut down. John also instructed those who listened to him to share what they had with those who did not have enough and to be fair in their dealings with others, so they would be ready when the Messiah arrived.This is the one true God who Paul says guards our hearts and minds in Jesus and whose peace surpasses all understanding. The one true God that Paul tells us to rejoice in, to pray to, to give thanks to and to offer intercessions for all that we need.Today, let us consider all that God is, all that God does for us and then step up in worship, prayer and praise.Let us Pray: Wondrous, awesome, amazing God, set us on fire by your Spirit so we are found shining as lights in the world when Jesus returns. Help us to be good ministers and stewards of your word, so we help the disobedient to turn into the wise and just and help people to be found acceptable in your sight when you return at the time of the 2nd coming. AmenThanks for joining us today.
Second Sunday of Advent Readings: Malachi 3 v1-4; Canticle-Luke 1v68-79; Philippians 1v3-11; Luke 3v1-6. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word : The first from the Book of the prophet Baruch, which can be found in the Apocrypha, is a call to the people of Jerusalem to cease being a nation of sorrow and be a people clothed in the beauty of the glory of God. A people that God will show off to all in heaven and describe as: Righteous, Peace and Godly Glory. In the reading from the prophet Malachi we hear God foretelling that he will send out a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord because when he comes to his temple the people must be ready to be refined and purified. The canticle from Luke 1v68-79 is a song of praise and thanks to the God of Israel because he came to his people to set them free. This is the fulfilment of a promise that God shared through the prophets – to send the Messiah born in the line of King David. The Messiah who would be preceded by a prophet to prepare the way for God to come to his people. The Messiah who would bring in God’s reign of compassion, peace, light and life. In the letter to the people of Philippi, we hear that even though Paul is in prison, he is full of joy and offering a prayer of praise to God for the Christians in Philippi. Paul is also asking God to bless them with gifts: that they will grow more and more in their knowledge of God; that they will grow in their ability to discern between what is right and best; and that they will grow a great harvest of the goodness that comes through Jesus. Finally in Luke, we hear about God’s calling and sending out of John to prepare the way of the Lord. In answering this call, John fulfilled the prophetic promises of God by calling people to a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins and in so doing, prepared the way. So, what is the message here for us? I believe that God needs us all to be ready – not just in the old days when he was preparing to send his son to save us – but also now in our time – as we wait for Jesus’ return. For as it says in the prophecy of Malachi – we need to get ready because when Jesus returns he will refine and purify us. For, if we wish to be clothed in the beauty of the glory of God (Baruch), we must let go of our old sinful ways and simply accept with thanksgiving God’s forgiveness of our sins – just like in the time of John the Baptiser (Luke). So today – I dare you to believe this message. For it was given to us in ancient times and re-given to us after the time of Christ in the world. And, what is more, is that this is the very message that Jesus came to share with us and to make us fit to enter heaven. Let us Pray: Wondrous, awesome, amazing God, Generous, loving and merciful. Help us to be ready when your Kingdom comes so we may pass through judgement and inherit the place that Jesus is preparing for us. Send us out into the world as children of your heavenly Kingdom and your servants in this world. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
join us for Advent Sunday worship at https://youtu.be/-zoCiHBa38YFirst Sunday of Advent Readings: Jeremiah 33v14-16; Psalm 25v1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3v9-end; Luke 21v25-36. Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word : Today is the first Sunday of the Christian year, named Advent Sunday. Today begins a season of waiting with anticipation: as we prepare for the celebration of the Incarnation, the time that God came to earth as a baby. Our first reading, from Jeremiah, is God’s affirmation of his promise to send the Messiah, born in the line of David, a righteous Lord who would bring justice. A prophecy about the incarnation, in which God would become man and live amongst us. In our time, as Christians we believe that the Incarnation is a part of our history because we believe that Jesus was the Messiah, born so long ago in the city of Bethlehem. A time we call to mind at Christmas. However, the season of Advent is also a time of waiting and preparing for Jesus return at the end of time. This preparation is important because we do not know when Jesus will return but what we do know is that when he does return he will judge the living and the dead. In Luke we hear some of signs that will be seen in the heavens and on earth before Jesus returns. In Luke, Jesus tells us that heaven and earth will pass away but his word will continue forever. In Luke, Jesus also warns that we need to get ready, stay ready and be alert for his return by praying and avoiding being dragged down by overindulgence, intemperance and degeneracy. Down the ages all manner of people have prayed in many and varied ways. For example, in the psalm God is being asked to teach us his ways and lead us to the truth. As a prayer, the psalm acknowledges our sinfulness and asks for help to learn God’s ways. The psalm is also a prayer of praise for God, because God is always compassionate, ever loving, merciful and gracious to all people who follow God’s ways. In the letter to the Thessalonians we hear another example of prayer, that gives thanks to God for the Christians in Thessalonica and prays for their growth in faith and love – so they will be blameless when Jesus returns to gather us in for the final judgement. Today, as we begin the Advent season, it is our turn to prepare – not just for Christmas – but especially for Jesus’ return. I pray we will make the time to get ready and stay ready for Jesus’ return. Let us pray: Almighty God, you offer us grace to turn away from works of darkness and offer us your armour of light in Jesus Christ our Lord. Teach us to be a watchful people, as we await the coming of your son so that we shall be found active in your service and ready to meet Jesus when he comes to judge the living and the dead. Amen Thanks for joining us today.
The Feast of Christ the King Readings: Daniel 7v9-10&13-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1v4b-8; John 18v33-37 Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. A Word : Today is the last Sunday of the Christian year when we focus on Jesus’ return, as the King of all at the end of time. The psalm tells us that the one who is king forever is both the Lord on high and is one who is full of might and strength and holiness. Revelations tells us that Jesus Christ is the ruler of the kings of the earth who all the tribes of earth will see was pierced for us when he comes again with the clouds. For as this book tells us, Jesus is: the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the one who was and is and is to come, the Almighty, the living God. Daniel foretold this in the description of an everlasting kingship that can never be destroyed ruling over all peoples and nations of every language being given to one like a human by the Ancient One. Daniel describes this as taking place in the presence of the thousands and thousands serving the Ancient One at the time of final judgement when the books are opened for our lives to be judged.Today, as we give thanks that Jesus came to do everything for us that we cannot do for ourselves, we can keep in mind that Christ is a King like no other. For we have a King who rolled up his sleeves, stepped down from his glory in heaven and came to earth to show us the way to heaven. For Jesus is a king who when questioned by the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate declared that his kingdom was not from this world. For he was born and came into the world he created to bear witness to the truth that everyone who belongs to the truth will listen to his voice. For, if we but follow as Jesus calls, the truth will set us free from sin and we shall find ourselves in the book of life when we are called into the time of judgement. So today as we celebrate the last Sunday of the Church year, we are pointed to Jesus, the one and only and forever king of all people, and time and places – Christ the King. A king who became like us so we could strive to become more like him. Let us pray: Lord grant to each one of us: the ears of disciples; the eyes of apostles; the tongues of prophets; the feet of servants; the grace to see you at work in the world; and to hear your call to us; then help us to live our lives in accordance with your word and calling. Amen. (Saint Ignatius of Loyola)
