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Scripture Text (NRSV)

 

Luke 21:25-36

 

21:25 "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.

21:26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

21:27 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory.

21:28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

21:29 Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees;

21:30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.

21:31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

21:32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

21:34 "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,

21:35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.

21:36 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."

 

Comments:

 

When God brings the creation to fulfillment, there will be dismay, perplexity, fright, and shaking heavens. But with this vision also come words of assurance: for the faithful, it will be a time not to cower in fear, but to stand boldly and receive God's promised redemption.

The gospels encouraged the early believers by pointing to signs of the coming realm of God. Although these signs seem strange and fearful today, their purpose was to keep the people faithful to God and God's coming day.

This is the message of the fig tree: its keepers see the signs its life provides and know what they are to do. This passage is a call to hopeful waiting; to prayer and preparation. The growing seed offers us a useful image: once it is planted, we wait for its fruition. So it is as we await God's reign, encouraged, hopeful, and expectant with the promise of God's vision of justice.


Drivers encounter all kinds of signs. Some are simple kindergartne-level drawings: a squiggly arrow means curves ahead, and we hold the wheel more firmly, sharpen our gaze. An odd cross consisting of a vertical with two arms coming off at different points represents two side streets, one left, one right. What appears to be a real cross warns of an intersection ahead. We prepare to slow down. We obey. We understand and we do.

The dictionary explains that a sign is something indicating the existence of something else. Jesus reminded the disciples that the fig tree sprouting leaves is a sign that summer is already near. The real "something else" we should know about is that "the kingdom of God is near." We are to understand and do. And we should understand that "hearts weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and worries of this life" (Luke 21.34) are also a sign--a sign, perhaps, that we do not understand--even worse, a sign that although we do understand, we don't do.

Advent itself is a sign. Christ is coming soon. This Sunday's signs are very clear. One would hope that of all the signs that surround us, the ones from God would receive our most earnest attention. And what good signs they are. We do well to go back to the simplest sign, the sign of an intersection--God's intersection with us--our Lord's cross. And then to look ahead. The best sign on our travels, at journey's end, is our own street sign, our own house number, our home. We will see the Son of Man coming with power and great glory, some of us rising from graves, some standing on our front porch, all of us realizing our redemption is here.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

George W. Hoyer


When I look and verses 21;25-26 And think to recent events and things Happening now. Signs in sun, moon and stars.... The recent Solar Flares that passed through earth, disrupting some's power and phone service. Moon with our recent eclipse, and Stars Fallen stars- meteorites and fallen "stars" Kobe, Robert Blake, and Michael Jackson. Distress in Mid east, here, Turkey, Georgia-Russia....Fainting and fear haunts us what future.

We could ask Are we living not only in the last days- last hours? Close to time of verse 27?

I know most of our mainline denominations don't give creedance to dispensationalism. But, most of us to believe, we say it in our rituals Christ was Born, Christ was Risen, Christ will come again. He will come descending as he ascended. that's in our word of God. Do we beleive it?

We better, our redemption does draw nigh. ( don't claim to be a prophet) But when I read this, it's there PLAIN TALK! Don't have to be a prophet anyone can see.

The Hebrew People were not alert, and didn't expect Jesus to come to a poor couple as the babe in a manger.

Let us not be caught sleeping either. LOOK UP! WITH HOPE! YOur Redemption comes!

Clerically Blonde in west ohio

 


A fifth grade student writes of the Advent need for "A Shine of Hope": "I am in the freezing wilderness watching life fly bye

Wondering why life is the way it is no use to try

Seeing what is going on in Iraq and other places it seems our world is deteriorating.

All I need is just one little shine of hope and then I will believe, instead of waiting to die."

Compare this reflection with that of T. S. Eliot:

"I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope For hope would be hope of the wrong thing; wait without love For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faith But the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting. Wait without thought, for you are not ready for thought: So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing."

Perhaps Advent calls for such reflections on "waiting" in the utter empitness of "kenosis". "Thick darkness" may be pregnant! Is it possible for despair to give birth to hope, for light to rise up out of darkness?

Unless we pray in song "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" out of grief-strickenness, beneath the Fig Tree's dark night of a broken Covenant, and discover the "O Holy Night", we shall not be able to authentically sing with all our heart "Joy to the World". The Coming of the Son of Man calls for the courage to "wait" in the self-emptying act, even in the midst of the darkness of a despair, yet pregnant with the power of victorious hope! Can the promises of God be fulfilled in the Son of Man emerging out of death upon a cross? Is Christ's birth, and the messge therefrom, any different than his death? In utter mystery of helpless darkness and emptiness we called to trust in the one who comes to us in this condition, rather than the feenzy activity of our pretencious "religiousity" of trying to save ourselves. We want the Christmas joy but without the Advent "kenosis" of "waiting" upon the Lord.

Just Reflecting, PaideaSCO in north GA mts.


Seems all the postings until now have been rather dark and defeated. Where is the "hope" in the voices of the preachers? Isn't Advent about looking FORWARD to the fulfillment of Christ's hope? I think that too often, Christians read the apocolypes of Matthew, and Luke with too much fear! If we have accepted Christ's grace and forgiveness, whatis the fear? Why not express hope? Shouldn't the message to those who do not know about Jesus be more hopeful that condemning?

I'm curious. How do those who fear Christ's 2nd Advent deal with John 3:17? Jesus says, "For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved!" Therein is great hope.

With regards to this text, isn't Jesus cautioning his disciples against apostacy? Seems to me, Jesus is calling the disciples to hold firm to their faith and their hope.

Steve in NC


Steve:

Not sure I see the darkness and defeat in George W. Hoyer's take on this reading. "Stand us and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Shalom: Tom in Ontario


I am struggling with several issues: 1) the obvious message of the text that there is a return of Christ, 2) my own theological differences with those who are sure we are in this time now, and 3) the belief held in my congregation that there is no return.

I may land with the priest I heard on EWTN who said that "Jesus lives in the now of eternity". Thus he is both always present and always coming, always here and always around the bend. Whether we are certain the Day is coming soon or not, we should always live our faith with urgency, knowing that every moment could be our last, as which point Jesus has effectively come.

Preaching in AR


Add my name to the people who are not spending any time worrying about the return of Jesus. I'm too busy being thankful he came in the first place.

I tend to try to steer people away from living their faith for the future. I don't like the "carrot on a stick" theology that seems to teach that you have to live rightly on earth because of the afterlife. I want people to live rightly here on earth because it is a far, far more joyous journey to walk with God than to walk away from God. In that same vein, to tell people they must wake up every morning with the attitude of "well, today may be the day it all ends for us" seems contrary to what God asks of us. I think God asks us to greet each morning with the attitude of "well, another day to love and serve the Lord, and to be a neighbor to someone!" If we could do that, I'm guessing we would have no fear of Jesus' coming, whenever or however it comes. He wouldn't find us searching the skies for signs and wonders, but searching in dark corners for people in need of some kindnesses from Christians.

So, as you can see, I'm going to be having trouble again this week dealing with the text as it is written......

KyHoosierCat


KyHoosierCat

This scripture is not telling people they must wake up every morning with the attitude of "well, today may be the day it all ends for us". It is telling us to wake up every morning and say TODAY MAY BE THE DAY IT ALL STARTS FOR US. The most wonderful day in our existence. This scripture is telling us not to have dissipation and drunkenness and worries. We should look forward to this day with excitment and joy. It is what we are waiting for and while we wait it is our opportunity to witness for Christ.

JWS


Dear Friends,

Lots going on this week, huh? With Thanksgiving, special Advent services and my child being off the rest of the week I went ahead and worked up a rough draft of my sermon. I am starting Advent off as if God has wrapped up a present and put it under the tree weeks before the event. The good thing is we can open it up now.

I invite your comments. You can view the sermon at: http://www.rfci.net/bagpiper/20031130.htm

Send comments to bagpiper@rfci.net.

Grace and peace, Mike Evans


One scripture that keeps going through my mind as I read this and see the disconnect between what is thought of as an imminent return of Christ within the generation and here we are nearly 2000 years later is Hebrews 9:27-28. "Since men only die once, and then there is the judgement, so Christ, too, offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself, and when he apppears a second time, it will not be to deal with sin but to reward with salvation those who are waiting for him." The signs of "the end" are present in each and every generation. We die and then are there. More or less each one of us must face the tribulations of life, the temptations to dissipation and worry. Each must decide in each generation to stand up in hope and realize the end comes for all of us but for those of faith the end is another beginning. To quote my mom (who taught me to preach by preaching to me so much) "All things must come to an end so that better things can begin." The "Judgement" or in our case the "Welcoming In" can give much hope and peace of mind in the midst of a world that seems to each generation evil and in chaos. Just some thoughts. FB in AZ


I am working on a sermon title, "The Days Are Surely Coming" in conjunction with OT and Epistle readings. I am hoping to flesh this out, not just in giving answers but, in asking questions.

Too often, I think we move in either/or circles, either be worried or rejoice. I'm not sure the texts stress an either/or. I think it is both/and. The days are surely coming statement can bring both fear and hope depending on the context in which one lives.

We do begin to look to the future in hope and faith during the season of Advent. But we still live in this world, oftentimes struggling with issues whether they be in relationships, job security, finances or other.

For me, advent is a time for hoping in the midst of all the realities. From a practical standpoint, my pastoral theology/practice keeps me in the middle of concerns that many families are dealing with. Pressing needs have a way of bringing us to our knees and bring out the worst of our fears and anxieties. We can't always bring easy answers or fixes, sometimes we just need to share in the struggle and the pain, helping to carry the burden to God. Isn't this part of the awe and wonder of the incarnation, God entering into our struggling, broken world?

When we do this well, dwelling with another's story and really living with their concerns, then we have the credibility to preach the hope and the expectation of what Christ can do in the future, both on earth and in the heavens. Let's remember that Amazing Grace is often more profound to those who are struggling than to those who seem to have everything together.

My congregation has gone through a lot of emotional struggle. Too often, we let culture values impact us and run for our own comfort. But, if we are indeed Biblical, we will enter into the struggle and find that God resides there. I am reminded that labor pains always precede birth. This is true at Christ's birth, in his ministry and at his death and resurrection. We are not to let the struggle overwhelm us but it can be the crucible that God uses to shape us.

So, having said that, I will be dealing with Jeremiah's "executing justice", I Thessalonians "lacking of faith" and the "fear and foreboding" of Luke. And the above will be put into perspective with "the Lord being our righteousness" knowing that "our redemption is drawing nigh."

The days are surely coming with a mix of fear and hope. So we "pray that [we] may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place." The preparation of Advent is not to take us out of this world and its problems, but to help us abide in the midst.

Grace and peace, Prophet in PA


Hello, friends:

I've been off-site for a while because of a death in the family -- my stepdad (my only surviving parent until last week) died Monday, 11/17, so I was in California for the week (and will be returning there soon for his burial).

But I'm back now ... and offer you this poem that I think speaks to the focus of Advent, being alert to the present. It is entitled "I AM" by Hellen Mallicoat:

I was regretting the past // And fearing the future // Suddenly my Lord was speaking: // "MY NAME IS I AM." He paused.

I waited. He continued, // "When you live in the past, // with its mistakes and regrets, // it is hard. I am not there. // My name is not I was.

When you live in the future, // with its problems and fears, // it is hard. I am not there. // My name is not I will be.

When you live in this moment, // it is not hard. // I am here. // My name is I AM."

Be alert! (The world needs more lerts!) Live in the present.

Advent blessings, Eric in OH


Tom in Ontario,

On my second (and third) read through these postings, I find I must retract some of my previous statements. True, not ALL are dark. I guess I am responding more to the sense I get from many Christians who are so transfixed on pinpointing the signs of the "rapture" that they miss the reality of living in the Grace of God. Thanks to Eric for the Mallicoat poem. It speaks to me of the hopefulness of today, and the hope for tommorow.

My title this week is "In Hopeful Expectation." Our congregation, like that of the PA Prophet, has been through too much in the recent past. We are in the midst of a wonderful re-visioning process, capturing our renewed hope for our future. I think vs 34 is especially powerful.

Thanks again for the re-direction in my reading. (Sometimes we all need a good shake.)

Steve in NC


Yesterday and today I've been curious about the word "generation." This promise is the same to each generation who reads this scripture. Yet, *just a few* generations have passed since Jesus first spoke these words.

It puts in my mind several different things: First, the period in American Protestant history known as "The Great Disappointment." I'm not sure if I've got the time-line correct, but I do believe it was during the 2nd great Awakening - when so many people sold all they had and went to wait for Jesus some place (was it in Missouri?). It was a woman who survived that Great Disappointment who dreamed that there was a halo around the Commandment of the 7th Day and she got the vision in her dream that Jesus DID come but couldn't make it all the way to earth because people were worshiping on the wrong day. (Gee, you can tell I didn't pull out my old books, can't you?) Thus began the 7th Day Adventists. It reminds me of how we can place too much stock in one component of our faith - to the point where we're greatly disappointed.

Next, it reminds me of an "outside the box" sort of movie called "The Rapture." The woman waits for Jesus and is so disappointed that he doesn't come while she's waiting for him that she refuses to go when he does come for real.

Third, "generation" reminds me of a promise that this is news of hope to all generations. To all times, all peoples, all places. The idea is to stay focused on what is divine so that we are able to stand before the Son of Man.

Fourth - even Heaven will pass away, says Jesus. It's his words that will not. Maybe the "not yet" and "already" paradox of the Good News is that his promise is the same. It's Jesus who enables us to stand before the throne.

Early, early thoughts - and I've gotta preach Wed night, too. I gotta get on the stick.

Welcome back, Eric - I'm very sorry about your stepfather. God bring peace to you.

Sally in GA


Hmmm... thinking about the entrenchment of many of our churches ... and the promise of a "future" - transform the "carrot on a stick" (or pie in the sky) theology (thanks KHC) into a promise of something better right now. Yet, in order to transform into the future, we must validate the past. Like PA Prophet's highlighting "the days are surely coming" why would we see this as an automatic condemnation of the past? or even of the present? Are these days no good?

I believe that's what my current congregation has difficulty with. These days are, in many ways, VERY good. They see very little need to be anything other than what they've been for lo these many years. And I have to say that, somewhere, they're right. It wouldn't work for ~me~ but it worked for them, warts and sins and all.

Now God is speaking to us that "the days are surely coming" - that there is life after life - even prior to our death.

I like what one post-er said: that all things must come to an end so better things can happen.

I'm thinking of titling mine: "All Good Things Must Come to an End." This could be an opportunity to acknowledge the very real grief that goes along with this.

hmmmmm....

BTW: thanks for the poem, Eric. Don't know what I'd do without you, sometimes.

Sally

 


Nope - sorry for the multiple posts again, y'all. I think in smaller sound bytes. I'm a candidate for the "Short Attention Span Theater."

Anyways, here's my title: All Good Things Must Begin

Sally


Completely off topic, but I want to wish each one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. If you are traveling anywhere, I pray travel mercies for you. May God bless you and those you love.

KyHoosierCat


I am going to play with the imagery of the fig tree and the old Christmas carol, "We wish you a Merry Christmas." In the second verse, the carolers sing "now bring us some figgy pudding." This is an English treat (famous in Dicken's "The Christmas Carol") that is soaked in rum just before it is presented, and then lit on fire, burning off the alcohol in a blue blaze.

Some people wait for the blue blaze, when the real treat is getting to eat the pudding. Are we waiting for the signs, or for the Christ?

It is a bit like always asking "are we there yet?" (a question many in our congregations will be familiar with over Thanksgiving!) The question means either we are not paying attention to the journey, or that we don't know the destination unless someone confirms it for us.

OLAS


Those who measure these things have confirmed that change of any kind is a stress-inducer. Even upward mobility, a better job, a better community, a health-change for the better, whatever. It's stressful simply because it is different from what we already know and understand. So, giving up the temporal for the eternal, while better, is pretty stressful to the human psyche. It is only faith that allows us to move into the transition smoothly. Heck, sometimes it's only faith that allows us to face the next morning! To do what several of you are suggesting - announce the news that God is in the struggle of the present - may be just the proclamation the people need to hear. Thanks for the input.

KHC


My sermon will address the "rapture" idea and also mentions the Great Disappointment.... how interesting to see others thinking along the same lines....

I've already written it. You can find it at

http://www.thefunstons.com/sermons/c113003wo.html

Perhaps someone can get some use out of it.

Blessings, Eric in OH


OLAS -- I love the fact that you're playing with the fig tree image (and figgy puddings). In Matthew's Gospel Jesus says "Learn the lesson of the fig tree...." And he makes the same point here.

I've often wondered if he is using "fig tree" as many rabbis have done as a metaphor for the Torah...?

A midrash has this to offer: "Why is Torah compared to a fig tree? Because most trees - olive, grape, date - have their fruit picked at one time, but the fig's fruit is picked gradually. And so it is with the Torah: You learn a little today and more tomorrow, for you cannot learn it in one or two years." (Midrash Bemidbar Rabbah 12:9)

One might also add that you cannot learn tomorrow's lesson today. Only the fruit that is ripe today can be eaten; only the lesson that is ripe today can be learned.

Blessings, Eric in OH


To Eric in OH, It is good to have you back! And I loved the line about be more alert... Growing up, that was one of my sister's favorite sayings! You have our prayers in the loss of your step-father.

To OLAS and the figgy pudding. Some weeks I can skip the figgy part and head straight to the rum! I'm kidding all you straight laced people! Please don't write me ugly letters back.

Grace and peace, Mike in Sunshine


A member of my church in Arlington, SD gave me a clipping that had this story... apparently Robert Fulghum told it.

In one of his books, the best selling author Robert Fulghum told about his encounter with a powerful teacher named Papaderos. At the end of a conference Papaderos asked what most speakers ask at the end of a lecture, it was a polite rhetorical question. "Does anyone have any further questions?" To which someone (perhaps Fuhlgum said) "Yes, tell us about the Meaning of Life if you would?" Laughter followed, but Papaderos without skipping a beat... took a little rounded mirror about the size of a quarter out of his wallet and told its story.

During WW II when he was just a little boy, Papaderos found that piece of mirror on the ground at the site of a motorcycle wreck. Poor, and resourceful, Papaderos had taken that little fragment of glass, carefully rounding its edges by grinding it on a rock, and had transformed it into his favorite toy. It seems that he got real good at being able to catch the sun in that mirror and reflecting it into dark places where the light never reached; into deep holes and the hidden crevices in the rocks. And as he grew, Papaderos began to understand that more than just a toy, that little rounded mirror was symbol of his life’s mission. He said that he understands himself to be a fragment of a mirror designed to catch the light and reflect it into the dark places of this world, into the hidden recesses of the human heart, transforming them through insight, discovery and understanding.

Of course, Papaderos was very clear about the fact that he was not the source of that light, but just a reflection of it. Christ is the light that shines in the dark nooks and crannies of our world and hearts. And when that light shines in on us, it fills us and then it flashes out of us.

Another one of my favorite quotes came from a book given to me by my friend Kip. "Christmas is for Celebrating"... by Bishop Melvin Wheatly...

He writes: "Christ's light was dark enough to pierce the darkness of his day, OUR day is dark enough to need the brightness of his star..." that's all I can remember of it... but it's very good.

So, enjoy your thanksgiving and look on the horizon for the glimpse of "the true light" illumining everyone....

pulpitt in ND http://faithumcfargo.com/1999/18.htm


Rick (aka Pulpitt) -- yep, that's a Fulghum story -- it is in the book "It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It" (I think that's the book anyway).

Blessings, Eric in OH


pulpitt in ND, Thanks for the story. I was trying to tackle the whole entire end-times theme and was getting pretty bogged down. Your story helped me to get back on track.

I am trying to be sensative to the fact that this time of year can be so sad for some people. The tension of already and not yet is almost mirrored in grief brought on by joy. How can we shine light into those places?

Another Advent thought: There's so much substance in the waiting. I'm going to try to put some flesh on waiting -- How can our waiting be active? Are we to just sit back and wait for Christ to come? (That's one approach) How much more fulfilling will his arrival be when we've done our best to prepare. Hospitality of the Heart.

Still a work in progress...

Thanks to all for your submissions. Great minds and hearts out there. I'll echo the wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving and safe travels.

-- Carrie in NY


Eric and all,

My friend Kip just emailed me that it is in his "All I ever really needed to know I learned in Kindergarten"...

Thanks again,

pulpitt in ND


Sign on a bumper sticker says: "Jesus is coming back, Act busy!". Seems we would be better off proclaiming: #1. "Jesus has come. Be busy"; and #2. "Jesus is surely coming back, keep on being busy". Christian faith is not a game, in wich we try to beat God and make him give us eternal life (unlike the way our legal system works. Truth and justice are not the goals, winning, and defeating the other side are). Christian faith is not an inocculation, in which we need to get just enough to be immunized and protected from the evil one; Christian faith is not indoctrination, in which we need to know enough of the right things to pass some kind of qualifying test for heaven. Christian faith is simply accepting Jesus as the one about whom it was promised that he would come, who has come, and will come again, and who calls us to follow him through life in a world of pain, through, death, and on to eternal life. But we can not get to the end unless we follow along the way through life. Jesus is the way (and the truth and the life) to the Father, and he is the way to live along the way. We can not avoid life with Jesus is this world if we want to live with him forever.

JRW in OH


Heaven will pass away -- interesting. There's something beyond, better than Heaven! Even our mind-blowing-est concept of Heaven will pass away for something greater. As many teens would say today, "Dude!"

So, how do we consider heaven on earth?

Tweeked my sermon title: "Heaven on Earth" - and will explore "All Good Things Must Come to a START"

The "generation" passing away but not the words - heck, it's playing out right before our very eyes! The words are still there, despite watching the generations come and go. Gosh, just how many cliches can we come up with? Heaven on Earth, the best is yet to come, the more things change the more they stay the same, "words" to the wise, and another one that just slipped out of my mind.

Off to work on T-giving... Thanks for all the insightful input!!!! C-ya

Sally in GA


Greetings, I have been a lurker for a long time, and I always appreciate the insight I recieve.

I am an UMC layity, worship leader, and have been delivering the "Children's Time" message for eleven plus years. I try to follow the lectionary Gospel for the week if it speaks to me.

Sometimes the well runs dry, anybody have any useful links or resources that would help me in bringing the Good News to our little ones & older ones in a fresh interesting way?

Thanks,Happy Thanksgiving,and may God Bless each of you.

prayin-n-TX


Dear prayin-n-TX, I'm new to giving regular Children's Sermons, but I have found www.Sermons4Kids.com to be very helpful. It usually gives me a really good spark to run with. tle in AR


KyHoosierCat, (and others) thanks for the Thanksgiving blessings, I can save them for next year LOL. But to our friends in the good old US of A - Happy Thanksgiving. I also plan to use the Fulghum story about the meaning of life. It is profound. Robin Sharma, The Saint, the Surfer and the CEO, writes that the ultimate questions of life have we "lived wisely, loved well and served greatly) Not bad for a book that doesn't even claim to be religious. Deke of the North


Deke, let's see. My Mother was Canadian, my dad lived in Canada for years, my two sisters are Canadian, my brother is Canadian (still lives there) and I have a gaggle of nephews and nieces and cousins in Canada. And still I forgot about Canadian Thanksgiving in October. Sorry. If I weren't a vegetarian, I'd volunteer to eat crow. ;-)

KyHoosierCat


Eric in OH -

Thanks for sharing that great piece by Mallicoat! Kind of says it all, doesn't it?

LaJo


prayin-n-TX:

Augsburg Fortress (www.augsburgfortress.org) has a number of resources worth looking at. Among them is a 3-book series entitled "Gospel Sermons for Children," based on the Revised Common Lectionary. I've found that helpful.

One practice that worked well at my former congregation was a team approach to developing the children's sermons. Three of us - two pastors and the director of our Sunday School program (who was also a teacher of one of those classes, and a lay worship leader) - met every six weeks or so to prepare the children's sermons for the upcoming weeks.

The six week lead time often allowed the chance to review first draft ideas and tweak them - or scrap them - as we saw fit. We tried to keep the work sessions light, playful, and creative. Sometimes the craziest ideas that were tossed out were refined into really great children's sermons. With three people looking at each sermon, we kept ourselves honest: the message intended for children was actually addressed to the children (not the adult sermon watered down) and we kept ourselves accountable to keeping the message understandable at the child's level.

It also provided an opportunity for some interaction and mini-skits, or an extra set of hands when needed.

And perhaps most importantly - we laughed a lot while getting the work done.

LaJo


Speaking of Canadians...Here's an occasional contributor who's migrated from Alberta to the Kitchener/Waterloo area ( and finally gotten his PC back online!) So while so many of you are finishing early and making plans for eating turkey this weekend, I'm just getting into the grind with only the memories of our October Thanksgiving!

Anyhow, to the text. I've been playing with the curiousity of the lectionary beginning the Advent texts so near the end of the gospel and working backwards towards Jesus' birth by Christmas. In musing around both in Luke's ending chapters AND his beginning chapters I've been interested to see the Advent comparisons between Jesus' first Advent (birth) and his second (parousia). Take the political troubles and familial struggles: Jesus predicts a time of unrest and of military muscle prior to his second Advent; isn't the account of an enforced census...and the murder of children (Matthew's gospel) around Jesus' birth a curious comparison? Or Jesus proclaims woe's to pregnant women in the times to come prior to his 2nd Advent; didn't his mother have to travel while very pregnant and put up with second-rate accomodations as part of Jesus' 1st Advent? Or what about all the cosmic disruptions in Luke 21: didn't Jesus' birth also fill the skies with light and sights and angelic music?

I'm also aware that Luke writes his gospel as a gentile who's researched and compiled stories about Jesus now two generations beyond the source. And Luke writes to a people who have seen the temple destroyed and the city ravaged (and people getting frustrated with the delayed return of Jesus!). It seems Luke has a perspective of hope and optimism that he wants to ensure even as he retells the gospel: 'it's the end of the world as we know it, but God's people can confidently say "I feel fine"'.

If Advent is about waiting, and the waiting is for Christ's Advent, then I'm seeing some great stuff in marriage of Advent #1 (birth)and Advent #2(parousia). -when God enters the scene it rocks whole system, ahh but the eyes of faith look up and celebrate nonetheless!

Perry in K/W


AS always, late in starting the study for Sunday. Oh what amazing things you have given me to ponder. I am one who cannot live in the Fear tactics of the Doomsdayers. I live this fear daily with our daughter. I long for Christ to help her not suffer, But I so cannot imagine MY life without her. I can imagine hers With Christ but... The point. Each day is the Day of the Lords Coming for someone. But each day is the day of the Lord's presence for everyone. Christ is here with us. I LOVE THE POEM ERIC SHARED and I will save it. Advent needs to be a reminder that there will one day, be no more days for all of us. Waiting to serve God is not really an option. But service should be in response to the amazing reality of WHO HE IS and WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE. Not fear of what is to come!!!!!

Blessed Advent to all Tammy In Texas