It seems like only yesterday that my boys, Josh & Gwyn, were babies. I will never forget my shock at how small they were even Gwyn at just 10 1/2lb -- it didn't seem possible that a person could be that little and still be all right! I was nervous about holding them at first. I was afraid I would do something wrong and I’d break them! It wasn't until I had to baptize a very small baby that I realized that our kids were big. I was awestruck by his tiny perfection. Such fragility. So tiny. Everything in him working away at the new business of being alive.
To see a little baby is to see what the shepherds saw, what the three kings saw, what Mary and Joseph saw. Just a little human being: weak, fragile. Never again could people dismiss the weak and the fragile as unimportant. God's own self chose this form in which to come among us: a decisive choice of the weak as the vessels of God's love for the whole of creation. God chose weakness.
When I think of Gods weakness I think of the little babies: our own babies, the tiny premature babies, the baby Jesus. Of their innocence, yes, but also of that very same longing: longing to live, trying hard to live, fighting every minute just to stay alive.
Christ came as a baby. But he also comes as a recovering alcoholic longing for job and a home and a family. He comes as a divorced man or woman who has lost a family, a broken-hearted child who has lost their parents, a lonely stranger sleeping on the streets, an old man in a nursing home not knowing who he is. God chose our brokenness in which to appear because it is in our brokenness that we need God. Longing for the fullness of life. Weak and broken, but trying to live.
What did I feel when I saw my own babies?
What did I feel when I touched that very small baby.
What do I feel when I hear about the recovering alcoholic?
All of them are weak. All of them are at the bottom of the chain of power, as the world knows power. But what I feel in their presence is awe. And we see that the world's understanding of power is upside down. Power is not the naked ability to coerce. It is the God-given ability to live. It comes from our loving. In power that works through our weakness, God is with us. All of us -- those whom we know to be weak and those whom we think are strong.
It seems that most people did not see the power in the baby Jesus. Or in Jesus when he grew up -- most people didn't see the power of God in him. Most people saw only the weakness. Most people didn't care much one way or another when he was executed as a common criminal. Most people thought they knew what power was.
But for those of us in whom the spirit of Christ lives, teaching us daily, changing the way we see the world -- the categories of power and weakness are forever changed. Seeing the victory of Christ through the embrace of the cross, our own weakness is transformed. Weak, we are strong in Christ. Dying, we live. We live, yet it is not we who live. Christ lives in us. May the love of Christ coming to you this day in the infant Jesus fill your heart. AMEN.
Tuesday 25 December 2007
Midnight Mass Sermon 2007
One way or another, everyone’s going to Bethlehem tonight. It’s the rendezvous for all the players in the Christmas story, quite literally from the highest (the angels) to the lowest (the shepherds). Joseph and Mary get to Bethlehem just in time to have their baby, but too late to find a place in the inn, which, has been enjoying full bookings during the counting process.
Pity Joseph and Mary didn’t book ahead. I checked last night on the Internet for good places to stay in Bethlehem. At the top of the list is the Jacir Palace Inter-Continental Hotel and Resort, conveniently located on the Jerusalem-Hebron Road. According to its website, it boasts 250 rooms, and 5 suites. Amenities include a 24-hour front desk, swimming pool, tennis court, barber and beauty shops, a hotel nurse, a laundry, valet, and, of course, each room comes equipped with a refrigerator, safe-deposit box, minibar, internet broadband hook-up, and satellite TV.
Oh yes . . . there are telephones in all the bathrooms.
A deluxe room for two with a king-size bed is available tonight for the special weekend rate of $1,150.00 (U.S.). MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are all gratefully accepted. Availability? I checked on-line, their full. There’s still no room tonight in the inn.
There is one detail, however, that the hotel website fails to mention. It’s hard to get to Bethlehem tonight. Israeli security forces have checkpoints set up on all access roads into the city, and many who try to get in are turned away.
The tourists who do make it past the checkpoints can wander through Bethlehem’s narrow alleys and across the barren Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity.
They can see the Door of Humility, the four-foot tall entrance into that famous basilica. After bending over, as when entering a cave, it’s a short walk to the Grotto of the Nativity, the purported site of Jesus’ birth. The manger is still there, right by the altar – not, of course, the simple clay manger that St. Helen discovered – the silver one that she put in its place.
So, if you could get by the roadblocks tonight, and you could check into your room at the Jacir Palace, and still make it to midnight mass in that glorious church above the silver manger. There would be no time to linger at the shops. Many of them are closed anyway, but you might be tempted to study the photographs posted on the shop walls – pictures of some of the hundreds of Palestinians killed.
Tonight’s the night to go to Bethlehem, but it’s so hard to get there. Instead you could log on, and become a virtual pilgrim. I tried it. It’s a lot less trouble. There are no soldiers to turn you away and no pictures of dead Palestinians to distract you from the baby Jesus in the silver manger.
Stay at a comfortable inn or do the whole thing on the Net. It’s hard to go to Bethlehem tonight. It was harder still on that first Christmas, though.
· Hard for Joseph, who has swallowed his pride to stay betrothed to a woman whose swollen belly declares her pregnant?
· Hard for Mary, who is so weary, not so much from carrying the child in her womb as from carrying the awful weight of whispers behind her back?
· Hard for the shepherds, whose life is already hard enough, without adding a wild goose chase to their nocturnal responsibilities?
· And hard, I think, even for the angels, who have to keep checking back with the control tower to make sure they have the right coordinates. This message to these witnesses? Surely someone at H. Q. has messed up.
It’s always hard to get to Bethlehem, and even harder to know for sure when you’ve arrived. The problem with Christmas is, you can make it to Bethlehem and still miss Jesus. If you rush past the children throwing rocks at the soldiers, or past the photos of children the soldiers have killed, you won’t find Baby Jesus meek and mild – not even if you make it to the church on time. He won’t be there, lying in the silver manger St. Helen made for him.
He’ll be in the homes where grief hangs heavy, like a shroud over the broken body of Mary’s boy.
He’ll be with those who did not make it to church tonight because they stopped on the way to help a stranger.
He’ll be in the homes where he has been invited and in the hearts of those who long for peace, but never speak his name.
Bethlehem is not a slice of land. The manger is not a silver relic in a church. Christmas is not a date on the calendar.
Bethlehem is the place where God is with us. The manger is the place where we can lay our heads upon Christ’s shoulder and, at last, feel safe. Christmas is a constant feast: the feast of the incarnation, the feast of God made flesh – with us, for us, among us, in love with us.
It’s hard to get to Bethlehem. Bethlehem must come to us. And so it has in Jesus.
Pity Joseph and Mary didn’t book ahead. I checked last night on the Internet for good places to stay in Bethlehem. At the top of the list is the Jacir Palace Inter-Continental Hotel and Resort, conveniently located on the Jerusalem-Hebron Road. According to its website, it boasts 250 rooms, and 5 suites. Amenities include a 24-hour front desk, swimming pool, tennis court, barber and beauty shops, a hotel nurse, a laundry, valet, and, of course, each room comes equipped with a refrigerator, safe-deposit box, minibar, internet broadband hook-up, and satellite TV.
Oh yes . . . there are telephones in all the bathrooms.
A deluxe room for two with a king-size bed is available tonight for the special weekend rate of $1,150.00 (U.S.). MasterCard, Visa, and American Express are all gratefully accepted. Availability? I checked on-line, their full. There’s still no room tonight in the inn.
There is one detail, however, that the hotel website fails to mention. It’s hard to get to Bethlehem tonight. Israeli security forces have checkpoints set up on all access roads into the city, and many who try to get in are turned away.
The tourists who do make it past the checkpoints can wander through Bethlehem’s narrow alleys and across the barren Manger Square near the Church of the Nativity.
They can see the Door of Humility, the four-foot tall entrance into that famous basilica. After bending over, as when entering a cave, it’s a short walk to the Grotto of the Nativity, the purported site of Jesus’ birth. The manger is still there, right by the altar – not, of course, the simple clay manger that St. Helen discovered – the silver one that she put in its place.
So, if you could get by the roadblocks tonight, and you could check into your room at the Jacir Palace, and still make it to midnight mass in that glorious church above the silver manger. There would be no time to linger at the shops. Many of them are closed anyway, but you might be tempted to study the photographs posted on the shop walls – pictures of some of the hundreds of Palestinians killed.
Tonight’s the night to go to Bethlehem, but it’s so hard to get there. Instead you could log on, and become a virtual pilgrim. I tried it. It’s a lot less trouble. There are no soldiers to turn you away and no pictures of dead Palestinians to distract you from the baby Jesus in the silver manger.
Stay at a comfortable inn or do the whole thing on the Net. It’s hard to go to Bethlehem tonight. It was harder still on that first Christmas, though.
· Hard for Joseph, who has swallowed his pride to stay betrothed to a woman whose swollen belly declares her pregnant?
· Hard for Mary, who is so weary, not so much from carrying the child in her womb as from carrying the awful weight of whispers behind her back?
· Hard for the shepherds, whose life is already hard enough, without adding a wild goose chase to their nocturnal responsibilities?
· And hard, I think, even for the angels, who have to keep checking back with the control tower to make sure they have the right coordinates. This message to these witnesses? Surely someone at H. Q. has messed up.
It’s always hard to get to Bethlehem, and even harder to know for sure when you’ve arrived. The problem with Christmas is, you can make it to Bethlehem and still miss Jesus. If you rush past the children throwing rocks at the soldiers, or past the photos of children the soldiers have killed, you won’t find Baby Jesus meek and mild – not even if you make it to the church on time. He won’t be there, lying in the silver manger St. Helen made for him.
He’ll be in the homes where grief hangs heavy, like a shroud over the broken body of Mary’s boy.
He’ll be with those who did not make it to church tonight because they stopped on the way to help a stranger.
He’ll be in the homes where he has been invited and in the hearts of those who long for peace, but never speak his name.
Bethlehem is not a slice of land. The manger is not a silver relic in a church. Christmas is not a date on the calendar.
Bethlehem is the place where God is with us. The manger is the place where we can lay our heads upon Christ’s shoulder and, at last, feel safe. Christmas is a constant feast: the feast of the incarnation, the feast of God made flesh – with us, for us, among us, in love with us.
It’s hard to get to Bethlehem. Bethlehem must come to us. And so it has in Jesus.
Monday 17 December 2007
Saint Martin's Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
WELCOME
If we have not met you before, please do introduce yourself. You are warmly invited to look around this building, to use it for worship, private prayer and quiet reflection. This Parish Church of Saint Martin’s within the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, affirms the heritage of the Church of England as a rich and living tradition which, rooted in history, is open to the working of the Holy Spirit in today’s changing world.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a Christian worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus and traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.
The format was based on an Order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880 in Truro. It has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world.
Our organist this afternoon is Mr. John Knight.
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
All stand.
CHOIR … INTROIT – THE CANDLE SONG,
Choir Process
Remain standing as the Priest welcomes the congregation and gives
THE BIDDING
Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, and the babe lying in a manger.
Therefore, let us read and mark in holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God in the promise of his glory and in the wonderful redemption brought us by this holy Child.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity within the Church he came to build.
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, the homeless, and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven; in the words which Christ himself has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
CAROL … ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY
READING 1 GENESIS 3:8-19
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent's head.
AND they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Thanks be to God.
CAROL … GOOD KING WENCESLAS
READING 2 GENESIS 22:15-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
AND the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Thanks be to God
ADULT CHOIR… SING LULLABY
READING 3 ISAIAH 9:2,6-9
The prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour.
THE people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Thanks be to God.
CAROL … UNTO US A SON IS BORN
READING 4 ISAIAH 11:1-4A, 6-9
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.
AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S CHOIR… AWAY IN A MANGER
READING 5 LUKE 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
AND in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
CHOIR… PAST THREE O’CLOCK
READING 6 LUKE 2:1-7
St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S CHOIR… THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY
READING 7 LUKE 2:8-16
The shepherds go to the manger.
AND there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED
READING 8 MATTHEW 2:1-12
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … WE THREE KINGS
CHOIR… THE COVENTRY CAROL
READING 9 JOHN 1:1-14
St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
PRAYERS
Let us pray. O God who makes us glad with this yearly remembrance of the birth of your only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, so we may with confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
COLLECT
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesusas Christ our Lord.
CAROL … O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
BLESSING
May the Father, who has loved us in his eternal Son, shed that love abroad in your hearts. Amen.
May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one all things earthly and heavenly, fill you with joy and peace. Amen.
May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the bearer of God, give you grace to carry the good news to others. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
If we have not met you before, please do introduce yourself. You are warmly invited to look around this building, to use it for worship, private prayer and quiet reflection. This Parish Church of Saint Martin’s within the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, affirms the heritage of the Church of England as a rich and living tradition which, rooted in history, is open to the working of the Holy Spirit in today’s changing world.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a Christian worship service celebrating the birth of Jesus and traditionally followed at Christmas. The story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.
The format was based on an Order drawn up by E.W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880 in Truro. It has since been adapted and used by other churches all over the world.
Our organist this afternoon is Mr. John Knight.
NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS
All stand.
CHOIR … INTROIT – THE CANDLE SONG,
Choir Process
Remain standing as the Priest welcomes the congregation and gives
THE BIDDING
Beloved in Christ, at this Christmastide let it be our care and delight to hear again the message of the angels, and in heart and mind to go to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, and the babe lying in a manger.
Therefore, let us read and mark in holy Scripture the story of the loving purposes of God in the promise of his glory and in the wonderful redemption brought us by this holy Child.
But first, let us pray for the needs of the whole world; for peace on earth and goodwill among all his people; for unity within the Church he came to build.
And because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us remember, in his name, the poor and helpless, the cold, the hungry, the homeless, and the oppressed; the sick and those who mourn, the lonely and the unloved, the aged and the little children; all those who know not the Lord Jesus, or who love him not, or who by sin have grieved his heart of love.
Lastly, let us remember before God all those who rejoice with us, but upon another shore, and in a greater light, that multitude which no one can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in the Lord Jesus we are one for evermore.
These prayers and praises let us humbly offer up to the throne of heaven; in the words which Christ himself has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
CAROL … ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID’S CITY
READING 1 GENESIS 3:8-19
God tells sinful Adam that he has lost the life of Paradise and that his seed will bruise the serpent's head.
AND they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken; for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Thanks be to God.
CAROL … GOOD KING WENCESLAS
READING 2 GENESIS 22:15-18
God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
AND the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Thanks be to God
ADULT CHOIR… SING LULLABY
READING 3 ISAIAH 9:2,6-9
The prophet foretells the coming of the Saviour.
THE people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Thanks be to God.
CAROL … UNTO US A SON IS BORN
READING 4 ISAIAH 11:1-4A, 6-9
The peace that Christ will bring is foreshown.
AND there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots: and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S CHOIR… AWAY IN A MANGER
READING 5 LUKE 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel salutes the Blessed Virgin Mary.
AND in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
CHOIR… PAST THREE O’CLOCK
READING 6 LUKE 2:1-7
St Luke tells of the birth of Jesus.
AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S CHOIR… THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY
READING 7 LUKE 2:8-16
The shepherds go to the manger.
AND there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … WHILE SHEPHERDS WATCHED
READING 8 MATTHEW 2:1-12
The wise men are led by the star to Jesus.
NOW when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … WE THREE KINGS
CHOIR… THE COVENTRY CAROL
READING 9 JOHN 1:1-14
St John unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation.
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Thanks be to God
CAROL … HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING
PRAYERS
Let us pray. O God who makes us glad with this yearly remembrance of the birth of your only son, Jesus Christ: Grant that as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, so we may with confidence behold him, when he shall come to be our judge; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
COLLECT
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesusas Christ our Lord.
CAROL … O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL
BLESSING
May the Father, who has loved us in his eternal Son, shed that love abroad in your hearts. Amen.
May Christ, who by his incarnation gathered into one all things earthly and heavenly, fill you with joy and peace. Amen.
May the Holy Spirit, by whose overshadowing Mary became the bearer of God, give you grace to carry the good news to others. Amen.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Sunday 9 December 2007
Who likes waiting…
Waiting is not a popular past time in our culture today. We have our photos developed at a One Hour Photo Shop, take our clothes to Same Day Dry Cleaners, and buy food at a fast food restaurant. We pay our bills over the phone and do our banking on the internet where there are no long lines of waiting people. When a lift takes a long to time to arrive, we give the button another series of rapid jabs. Children get impatient waiting for their parents to stop talking after church.
Parents teach their children how to wait patiently. They say things like -
"No, not now, you can have that when you're older."
"Just wait a while and I'll get it for you."
"Wait until your birthday."
"Wait a bit, and just be patient."
But somewhere along the line, those lessons about waiting are forgotten and so impatient drivers sit on our rear bumpers of those they think are going too slowly, people with very loud whispers complain about the person up front who has an article that needs a price checked at the supermarket, and our blood boils after pressing buttons on the phone as requested by the computerised voice on the other end only to be told that we have put on hold and that we are 26th in the queue.
And today we are waiting. What are we waiting for?
There are two kinds of waiting - passive waiting and active waiting. Let me illustrate what I mean in this way.
You are at the railway station. People are waiting for the arrival of a train. You notice that in one corner of the waiting room there is a man who has dozed off. He is waiting for the train but while he is waiting he is bored and so has decided to catch up on a little sleep. He thinks that there will still be plenty of time before the train arrives, and so for now he is sleeping. He is passively waiting.
Also waiting for the train is a little boy. He is excited about the arrival of the train and then riding on it. He can’t sit still and constantly goes to the station door and looks up and down the tracks, he chatters to the other people waiting about the arrival of the train, he even asks the sleepy man if he is getting on the train too. The little boy’s waiting is full expectation, excitement, waiting on tiptoe. He is anticipating that the train will arrive at any moment. He is actively waiting.
We can choose to wait passively. Like sitting in a waiting room at the doctor’s, flicking through magazines, day dreaming a bit, just filling in time until we are called into the doctor’s surgery. This kind of passive waiting doesn’t require much energy or attention. It requires no commitment on our part. If God wants us, he is all-knowing and he knows where to find us. In the meantime we deal with our own concerns, and look after our own need for leisure. There is no need to bother about prayer, worship, mission, the Bible, or with deliberately living the Christian life.
Or like the little boy at the train station we can wait with eager expectation. This waiting involves prayer, worship, mission, the Bible, and deliberately living the Christian life, going out of your way to serve others and not just looking after your own needs. You know that Jesus will return, and like the servant in the parable, his absence doesn’t mean forgetting about the master and what he wants you to do, but to actively wait and be prepared for whenever that moment of his arrival might be.
If you don’t believe that Jesus will return then it doesn’t matter what you do, but if you do believe that Jesus will keep his word and come again then we need to examine just how active we have been while we are waiting.
Advent is the season of the church year when we consider how well we are actively waiting for the return of Jesus. This is a good time to ask ourselves questions like...
How seriously have I taken the fact that Jesus died and rose for me?
How well have I been actively waiting or have I become disinterested?
We spend a lot of time waiting – someone worked out that we spend 6 months of our life sitting at traffic lights – but there is nothing more important to wait for than the return of Jesus. What we do while we are waiting is also important – are we like the man dozing in the railway station unaware of the approaching train, or are we eager and actively waiting like the little boy?
Jesus is coming. So let us make our Advent prayer "Come Lord Jesus".
Parents teach their children how to wait patiently. They say things like -
"No, not now, you can have that when you're older."
"Just wait a while and I'll get it for you."
"Wait until your birthday."
"Wait a bit, and just be patient."
But somewhere along the line, those lessons about waiting are forgotten and so impatient drivers sit on our rear bumpers of those they think are going too slowly, people with very loud whispers complain about the person up front who has an article that needs a price checked at the supermarket, and our blood boils after pressing buttons on the phone as requested by the computerised voice on the other end only to be told that we have put on hold and that we are 26th in the queue.
And today we are waiting. What are we waiting for?
There are two kinds of waiting - passive waiting and active waiting. Let me illustrate what I mean in this way.
You are at the railway station. People are waiting for the arrival of a train. You notice that in one corner of the waiting room there is a man who has dozed off. He is waiting for the train but while he is waiting he is bored and so has decided to catch up on a little sleep. He thinks that there will still be plenty of time before the train arrives, and so for now he is sleeping. He is passively waiting.
Also waiting for the train is a little boy. He is excited about the arrival of the train and then riding on it. He can’t sit still and constantly goes to the station door and looks up and down the tracks, he chatters to the other people waiting about the arrival of the train, he even asks the sleepy man if he is getting on the train too. The little boy’s waiting is full expectation, excitement, waiting on tiptoe. He is anticipating that the train will arrive at any moment. He is actively waiting.
We can choose to wait passively. Like sitting in a waiting room at the doctor’s, flicking through magazines, day dreaming a bit, just filling in time until we are called into the doctor’s surgery. This kind of passive waiting doesn’t require much energy or attention. It requires no commitment on our part. If God wants us, he is all-knowing and he knows where to find us. In the meantime we deal with our own concerns, and look after our own need for leisure. There is no need to bother about prayer, worship, mission, the Bible, or with deliberately living the Christian life.
Or like the little boy at the train station we can wait with eager expectation. This waiting involves prayer, worship, mission, the Bible, and deliberately living the Christian life, going out of your way to serve others and not just looking after your own needs. You know that Jesus will return, and like the servant in the parable, his absence doesn’t mean forgetting about the master and what he wants you to do, but to actively wait and be prepared for whenever that moment of his arrival might be.
If you don’t believe that Jesus will return then it doesn’t matter what you do, but if you do believe that Jesus will keep his word and come again then we need to examine just how active we have been while we are waiting.
Advent is the season of the church year when we consider how well we are actively waiting for the return of Jesus. This is a good time to ask ourselves questions like...
How seriously have I taken the fact that Jesus died and rose for me?
How well have I been actively waiting or have I become disinterested?
We spend a lot of time waiting – someone worked out that we spend 6 months of our life sitting at traffic lights – but there is nothing more important to wait for than the return of Jesus. What we do while we are waiting is also important – are we like the man dozing in the railway station unaware of the approaching train, or are we eager and actively waiting like the little boy?
Jesus is coming. So let us make our Advent prayer "Come Lord Jesus".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
