Second Sunday of Advent
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Praise and honour to you living God for John the Baptist, and for all those voices crying in the
wilderness who prepare your way. May we listen when a prophet speaks
your word, and obey;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Luke.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Advent 2, Sunday, 8th Dec 2024
MAY the words on my lips and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our salvation, our strength and our refuge. <Amen>
A windswept figure, wild hair, strange clothes, shouting at the gathered crowd … NO, NOT Scottish comedian Billy Connolly rather one of the great figures of the New testament, John The Baptiser.
In ancient times, when a king was going to visit a city, he would send before him someone to herald his arrival. The herald would go around the city, telling everyone, “The king is coming. He will be here any day. So clean up your city, clean up your buildings, clean up your streets, clean up your lives. Make sure you are all in obedience to these commands. Make sure everything is fit for the king.”
As we look at the opening of Luke 3, this is what we see going on. The King is coming, and He has sent a herald to announce His imminent arrival. The king, of course, is Jesus Christ and the herald is John the Baptiser.
John has come as a herald to make sure everyone is ready. John has come to PREPARE THE WAY.
John prepares the way by doing what a herald does: he proclaims a message. In other words, he preaches.
After all - that’s what preaching is. In words, song, music, and action; preaching is a proclamation of God’s message. John the Baptiser’s message is that the people need to repair their lives and prepare for Christ’s coming and he does this by calling the people to repent and be baptised.
All of the names mentioned in this Scripture tell us that these events happen somewhere between September of 27 AD and October of 28 AD. But aside from including these names to set the date for us, Luke includes them to show how far Israel had fallen. Politically, the Jews were ruled by foreigners, and religiously, Annas and Caiaphas had been illegally put into their positions by the Roman authorities, and constantly used their power to line their own pockets and increase their own authority.
Clearly, it was time for the Messiah to be revealed. <PAUSE>
Let me just dwell on those historical figures a moment longer. We’ve got one emperor, one governor, three tetrarchs, and two religious high priests, – quite a list of people who are important and prestigious in the eyes of the world; AND YET … the word of God does NOT come through them.
God works through a relatively unknown man living in the wilderness. <PAUSE>
This is important - WE must NEVER feel that we have to be somebody well known, or of great influence, or to have an impressive title … to be used by God.
God wants to use you and me - and He will … if only we will let Him. If you and I want to be spokespersons for God, if we want to receive the Word of God, do we have to go and wander around in the desert?
No, of course not. It is true that John did live in the wilderness, but it is not because he lived in the wilderness that he received the Word of God. It is not because he ate locusts and honey and wore camel hair either.
We become heralds for God, firstly, by becoming “spiritually strong” and we do thatby studying the Word of God.
Secondly, we become heralds for God, like The Baptiser, by not setting all our focus on the pursuit of worldly possessions, or seeking importance, rank and privilege. Instead, we become heralds by filling our lives with things that matter to God’s kingdom. We chose to be lights in the darkness through our words and his actions. <PAUSE>
So, what can we learn about being a herald and preparing the way of The Lord, from today’s gospel? Well, I would suggest three things that we should take from our gospel today:
God’s timing is - as always - perfect. When a Messiah was needed God sends His Son.
God can, and will, use each and every one of us : STATUS\IMPORTANCE IS NOT REQUIRED.
When we receive the Word of God, we cannot keep it to ourselves - it must be SHARED.
The Baptiser is one of my all-time heroes because he “got it” … he “got”, he understood The Word of God and not only did he understand it … he applied it. The Word of God, lit a “fire in the belly”.
The Word of God MUST be proclaimed.
The Word of God MUST be shouted.
The Word of God MUST be shared … <pause> …
The Word of God MUST be LIVED!
So, this is what The Baptiser did - he taught people, then and now, that we must prepare for the coming of the Lord, and make His paths straight;
Because every valley SHALL be filled Every mountain and hill WILL brought low;
The crooked places SHALL be made straight; The rough ways WILL be smoothed; <Pause>
And all flesh WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD … so get ready, be prepared ….
The Christ child IS coming and to God be the glory.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our plea is, “hear our prayer”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Mighty God, give us faith like John the Baptist, strong enough to believe even in a desert that You and Your kingdom are with us. Make our hearts strong like his, not swayed by trials or snared by false pleasures. Give us courage to be faithful until your promises are fulfilled.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Holy God, as we pursue the new and different ways in which our faith communities approach Christmas during Advent, help us to understand through them the truth of God’s amazing love, grace, and tolerance.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Creator God, we pray for those whose responsibility it is to manage the world’s economy, and for those who have difficult ethical decisions to make; we pray for wisdom and courage to do what is right for ALL people.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are terrorised by violence and through our prayers we offer our love and support. Lord, we pray for peace in your world.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Father God, we pray for those we see and talk to every day or every week; for those we often argue with, misunderstand or disagree with; for those who brighten our lives and make us smile; for a greater thankfulness and appreciation of those we usually take for granted.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Loving God, all the needs of Your children are already known to you and so with God-given love we bring to mind those who are suffering physically, spiritually or emotionally, that they may find You there beside them in these dark and painful times.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer. Gracious God, we pray for the dying and those who have passed from this earthly life. May they know the eternal peace of heaven, and may those who miss them be comforted.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, in a moment of silence we place before you our personal prayers for ourselves, our families, our friends, for all of those whom we love and, for the gifts we continue to receive to help our ministries.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Merciful God, who sent John the Baptist to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to take heed of his words so that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy : Hear our prayer.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
