Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday of Advent. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. Today are our "Toy Services", where we bring toys for children who may not otherwise have any gifts this Christmas.
If you're unable to be with us in person, you will find resources for worship at home below.
Our first hymn his morning is "Wait for the Lord"
Today's Gospel
Mark 13:24-37 Signs of the End of the Age
Jesus said,
“In those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken."
Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
Reflection
Today sees the first Sunday in Advent and also the start of a new church year. Yet when we look at Mark’s Gospel, we find Jesus at the beginning of Holy Week, just before He enters Jerusalem. Perhaps that seems strange.
Advent is a time of reflection, and waiting. A time of waiting for Jesus which many people quite naturally associate with the nativity and Jesus’ glorious birth in Bethlehem. It’s about hope and expectation of the coming of the Son of Man, Jesus our Emmanuel. For our children, it’s also a time of excitement and anticipation on the run up to Christmas festivities and all that entails.
But it’s not just about the birth of Jesus, it’s also a time when we patiently wait and think about the second coming of Jesus. When He will come again in glory, at the end of the age. The end of time. A time when, as we read about last week, Jesus will sort out the sheep from the goats, (Matthew 13:31-34). The time that Jesus was talking about just before He entered Jerusalem.
Looking at this aspect of Advent, it might start to fill us more with a sense of foreboding and darkness rather than joy and happiness. But of course, there is far more to it than that. Jesus is speaking to His apostles when He tells them, “It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch”. He knows that He is about to leave them and be crucified, and He is painting a clear picture of what He wants them to do. He is also addressing all future Christians, including us.
He is giving them a ‘ how to do it’ guide for looking after and building His church during His absence. He is putting us in charge as the doorkeeper and asking us to watch, to be alert and to stay awake. To watch for the light in times if darkness.
So, what does staying alert, watching and keeping awake entail? Obviously, Jesus isn’t expecting us never to go to sleep, that isn’t humanly possible. Rather, He is asking us to maintain an awareness of His presence amongst us and not just look for the signs of the end of the age but also the signs of His work in our world every day. The acts of compassion, healing and redemption in our lives and across the globe.
When we look at the world, the wars, starvation, climate catastrophe, and persecution and so much more, it could be all too easy to let ourselves be consumed by darkness and despair.
But Advent is first and foremost a time of hope, that is why the first Sunday of Advent is sometimes called Hope Sunday. Jesus comes to us and will do so when we least expect Him to, in ways that we don’t anticipate, and through those we might least expect to bear his likeness. Being alert is about recognising His presence.
It is about the hope and light of Jesus Christ in our lives, who wants to make sure that we are never abandoned into the darkness. Because when we have something to hope for we can overcome the bad things in our lives that worry and burden us, the things that weigh us down with despair or misery.
As we journey through Advent this year, let us be alert and look for the light of the coming of Christ, the ultimate answer to all our prayers and source of our salvation. Paul D.
Our Prayers
Heavenly Lord, as we start the season of Advent,
Let our hearts and minds be focussed on you.
Father God, you gave us your only Son Jesus
To be a light of hope for the world,
A gift of hope and joy laid in a humble manger.
Lift us from sadness and despair,
Help us to feel your presence and remember that,
For you, nothing is too difficult, and that
you will come again to bring salvation.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending"
Notices
Next Sunday, the 10th December, we have a family Christingle Service at 3 pm at St Thomas' Church. This is a lovely service for all ages, where we make our Christingles, pray and sing. All are most welcome - all you need is to bring your own orange. The collection taken at this service is sent to the Children's Society.
