Watching for signs of HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE in the Season of Advent

1 Advent/Year C

Nov 28, 2021

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

 

Happy New Year! Today we begin a new year according to our church calendar, or more formally known as the liturgical calendar…And every new year on the church calendar begins with the season of Advent…a four-week season that invites us to slow down and reflect on the true purpose and meaning of the upcoming Christmas season…. I say “upcoming” …because on the church calendar…The Christmas season begins on Dec 25…and lasts for twelve days from that day…

But you all know what usually happens…we often get busier, and busier in the weeks before Christmas…we do a lot of “Christmas” celebrating long before Christmas Day ever arrives… we want to skip right past these four weeks of Advent and get to the good stuff…the celebrations, the feasting, the family get-togethers, and the singing of all our favorite Christmas hymns and songs…

You will absolutely find me preparing for the Christmas holidays during Advent…by decorating the house, putting up the tree, making Christmas cookies, and yes…playing and listening to Christmas music…

But that’s not all I do to “prepare” for Christmas…

My main preparation time for Christmas is spent focusing on the scriptures, the stories, and the songs of the Advent season…

The Advent season has an abundance of gifts to offer us, too …the good stuff is right here, in the midst of this season that invites us to slow down, to be here now, and to take time to meditate and reflect more deeply on the scriptures, the stories and the songs of Advent…

Yes, we hear a lot about end times and judgement and darkness in the season of Advent…but nestled in the messages of this season are signs of hope, peace, joy and love…signs of the coming of a new kingdom, here on earth, that will burn bright with the light of Jesus Christ…with the promises fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the World…the love of God coming down to earth, to dwell among us…and walk with us…

I invite you in these next 4 weeks…to set aside some time with the scriptures, the stories and the songs of Advent….use the bulletin and the inserts in the coming weeks to do just that…and ask yourself a few questions this week on the theme of Hope…Where do I see signs of HOPE in this week’s scriptures, stories and song? How is this HOPE changing me? What is this HOPE calling me to do?

And now, let us start anew this Advent, to prepare our hearts and minds to welcome the coming of Christ into our lives once again…listen here for HOPE in this song of Advent: “People, look East” (WLP) #724

 

WLP 724- People, look East (vs 1,2,4,5)

1        People, look East. The time is near

          of the crowning of the year.

          Make your house fair as you are able,

          trim the hearth and set the table.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the guest is on the way.

         

2        Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,

          one more seed is planted there:

          Give up your strength the seed to nourish,

          that in course the flow’r may flourish.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the rose is on the way.

 

4        Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim

          one more light the bowl shall brim,

          shining beyond the frosty weather,

          bright as sun and moon together.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the star is on the way.

         

5        Angels, announce with shouts of mirth

          Christ who brings new life to earth.

          Set every peak and valley humming

          with the word, the Lord is coming.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the Lord is on the way.

 

*Recording: Zozulenka - People look east

https://youtu.be/sWto2RKNdMI

 

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK