Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday of Advent. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (Christ be our Light)"
Today's Gospel
Luke 21:25-36Signs of the End of the Age
Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Reflection
"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down…”
This sermon from Jesus is sometimes referred to as the ‘Little Apocalypse” sermon and was one of the last speeches Jesus gave before He started His passion journey.
He wasn’t ranting crazily about the end of the earth, He was calmly describing what is to come, to the hundreds of people who came to the Mount of Olives daily to hear him talk.
However, what He was saying would be horrifying to them. He had just predicted the fall of the Temple which would have seemed impossible - after all this is God’s temple which is glorious in every respect and stood for hundreds of years. Surely that cannot happen!
Yet within a few decades after his death, they would witness the fall of Jerusalem and the total destruction of the temple by the Greco-Roman forces. His followers, the early Christians, would be persecuted and scattered across the regions.
Jesus goes on to tell them that even more catastrophic events of cosmic proportions will follow - and predicts the signs that will foretell the ‘end of the age’.
Some people take this quite literally as the end of all mankind and the earth. However, others see this as the way people of that time used exaggeration and hyperbole as a way to get an important message across.
Whichever view you take it is still clear that there will be a massive and cataclysmic impact on everything as we know it. But when that will happen, only the Father knows, (Matt 13:32).
All this sounds very negative and even depressing, but that was not the message that Jesus wanted the people to take away. His message to them, and us, is one of hope and salvation; because He also promises us, that when this all happens it will be a sign that the Son of Man is returning to redeem the believers. It is not a threat of damnation but a promise of salvation.
“Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Strangely, I am reminded of the image of meerkats, where one of them alerts the pack and they all stand up straight, raise their heads and look around. That’s what we are asked to do, stay alert. But not because of something bad, rather because when we see these signs something wonderful is about to happen. Jesus also provides us with comforting guidance when He says, “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life”.
He is reminding us how to live our lives in goodness. Not to waste time on meaningless things that add no value to ourselves or others, (dissipation). Dissipation is the opposite of stewardship, where instead of making the most our time, money, relationships and other God given gifts we waste them and have nothing to show for it. Similarly endless worrying burns up energy and diminishes hope [Matt: 6:31-33], do not worry but seek the righteousness of God.
Looked at in this light, Jesus’ message is really positive, when we turn to Him and pray and live our lives in a good and meaningful way, He will be our hope and salvation.
Advent is the time when we look forward to Jesus’ first coming, however none of us know when He will come again. Neither do we know what the End of Age will look like or when it will happen any more than the early Christians did. Maybe it will be a major war to end all wars, or climate disaster, or maybe something cosmic like a massive sunspot that destroys all our technology and sends us back to the stone age, because without computers there is no money apart from physical possessions.
However, for those who are in Christ, this is not something to fear, it is something to look forward to, because it is a signal of our redemption and the end of suffering.
A time when Jesus will return to transform all that we know and reign in glory. Paul
Our Prayers
As we begin this season of Advent,
may our hearts be filled with the hope that comes from knowing your promises are true.
We look toward the day when we will see You face to face.
May we live righteous lives, in faith and goodness,
Assured of your redeeming power and love.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Hark, the Glad Sound! The Saviour Comes"
Notices
Next Sunday’s Services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes’ and 11 am at St Thomas’. Also next Sunday, our Christingle Service will be here at St Thomas’ at 3 pm, and the Churches Together Advent Praise is at Zion Methodist Church at 2.20 pm.
The Tuesday morning service of Holy Communion is at 10 am here at St Thomas’, and Worship for all Generations is at 6.30 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday at St Agnes’.
On Monday at 4.30 pm at St Thomas’ we’re having our ‘All-age Worship Singing’. This is a special one, where we’ll be practicing all our Christmas Carols, ready for our Christmas services and Carolling around the village, so please join us if you can.
The Ladies of Leesfield Coffee Morning is at 10.30 am on Saturday 7th December in the Community Room at St Thomas’ – all are most welcome!
