Dear People of God
Grace to you and peace
I seem to have caught the poetry bug! I came across this one when I was compiling the Carol Service…
Refugee
We think of Him as safe beneath the steeple
Or cosy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million misplaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load.
Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower
Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,
The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,
And death squads spread their curse across the world.
But every Herod dies, and comes alone
To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.
From Sounding the Seasons
Malcolm Guite
Canterbury Press
That should urge us to pray even more earnestly for the people of the Land of the Holy One, Palestinian and Jew, who are not the politicians rattling their sabres or launching their missiles. The same goes for Ukrainian and Russian, invaded and invader.
Our thanks to everyone whose efforts made the Combined Churches Carol Service last week a “success”. A few people commented how good it was to have an occasion which focussed exclusively on CHRISTmas and ignored Santa, Rudolph and all the other extraneous matter!
By the time you see this the Giving Tree will have been cleared and the gifts taken to Samaritans for distribution to those for whom Christmas in and extra burden financially or socially.
Today we light the pink candle on the Advent wreath. The title “Gaudete Sunday” comes from the older tradition where the readings for the day began with “Rejoice” – the Latin word is “Gaudete”.
Remember the times of the Christmas services: Christmas Eve (next Sunday, which is Advent 4) 5:30pm St Michael’s hall Children’s Pageant and Eucharist. Christmas Eve late night 11:45pm St Paul’s, Midnight Mass; Christmas Day 8am St Michael’s. (after which it will be “God rest ye merry, Father George!)
The Lord be with you
Fr George
PROPERS for Advent 3
Sentence
Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God
Collect
Of the Day
Eternal God, you send John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son: grants us wisdom to see your purpose and openness to hear your will, that we too may prepare the way for Christ who is coming in power and glory to establish his rule of peace and justice: through Christ our Judge and our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Of the Season
Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came among us in great humility, that on the last day, when he shall come again in is glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through hm who lives and reigns with you I the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Readings
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 The good news of deliverance
Psalm 126 A song of restoration
1Thessalonians 5:12-18 Exhortations to a life of faithfulness
John 1:6-8, 19-28 The testimony of John the Baptist
Sermon (Fr George)
In the Name of God, Amen
A translation note to start with. In the reading from Isaiah, where the text reads on verse 2 “…and the day of vengeance of our God”, modern scholarship suggest that a better translation would be “Rescue” especially since the prophet goes on the speak of strength and restoration of the people. Risen and restored Zion will be a drawcard for all people, in which God’s glory will be perpetually displayed.
The Psalmist is ever-hopeful: Israel’s history seems to be a cycle of conquest, exile and restoration, so the psalmist has some historical hope of restoration, trusting in the “righteousness” of the Lord, where to be “righteous” actually means to keep one’s promises. We see that Judah, which claims to title of “Israel” (where “Israel” was actually the northern kingdom after the split in the united kingdom of David. The northern kingdom disappeared into the region of Samaria but re-emerged in a different form in the Roman Empire.) God is righteous, because God keep his promises unlike faithless Israel which is always promising to “do better”.
For me at least, the core of the Gospel is in the prologue to St John’s Gospel, in which the Evangelist “unfolds the great mystery of the Incarnation”, about which you will hear more in about a week’s time! “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” is the heart of the mystery.
There was an expectation in Jewish piety that the prelude to the coming of the Messiah would be the reappearance of the prophet Elijah, who was, you might recall from your reading of Scripture, did not die as other mortals die, but was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot. If you don’t recall that particular bit of Scripture you might recall the spiritual “Swing low, sweet chariot”!
From our perspective John the Baptist is the last and greatest of the prophets: the one who announces the imminent presence of the Messiah. Tradition has it that he was a cousin of Jesus but that he only recognised the unique nature of Jesus when he, Jesus, emerged from the water after having been baptised by John, which follows on from our reading this morning.
John’s message is “make straight that way of the Lord”, echoing the prophet Isaiah, which we heard previously. It’s not, however, a once and only event. We can pray “your kingdom come”, and the kingdom is indeed coming in even as we speak. It is here when we recognise and treat other human beings as being made in the image of a loving and purposeful Creator, just as we are. It is coming in when we truly start to see ourselves as stewards of God’s creation and not its proprietors. It is coming in when justice and integrity are the keynotes of our individual, social, commercial and governmental lives. “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven”. It’s not somewhere in the “sweet bye and bye” but it’s coming in the here and now. Jesus said somewhere “If I with the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come among you”.
Advent challenges us to BE kingdom people. We stumble and fall often enough upon the way but, just as the prophets promised, God restores and forgives. For us restoration comes through our Baptism, in which we are made members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven, forgiven restored and sanctified, for which, Thanks be to God. Amen
Intercessions (Deacon Gail)
Response to our prayers: Lord of Freedom, hear us.
Come, Holy Spirit of God, come upon us, that you may send us out in your power. Fill us with your grace and goodness, that we may be able to bring the Good News to the oppressed, to comfort the broken-hearted, and to bring liberty and freedom to your people: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
We remember before you all who are seeking freedom: we pray for nations burdened with great debt, for families who have lost their homes, peoples denied justice. We pray for all who are suffering from violence or tyranny. We pray especially for the countries of Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine and other regions of concern.
Lord of Freedom, hear us.
Holy Lord, you come to us, you inspire us, you enable us, grant that we may proclaim your loving presence and show your saving power. Let your church be seen to be working for justice and righteousness, for liberty and peace; Lord that we may live at peace and oppress no one. Make us instruments of peace within our communities and within our homes. In the wider church we pray for our sister Diocese of Guadalcanal, The Archbishop of Canterbury, and in Australia for the Diocese of Adelaide.
Lord of Freedom, hear us.
We pray in this Diocese for our Bishop Peter, for our Bishops Assisting Charlie, and Sonia; for the Cathedral church with their clergy. We pray for the clergy and people of the parishes of Adamstown and All Saints Anew. In this parish we pray for our clergy George and Gail with their families; for our Home Communions and those who are housebound. We pray for the members of H2O Baptist Church.
Lord of Freedom, hear us.
Lord, teach us to appreciate what we have and to be aware of all that is done for us. Let us not take each other for granted. Let us hold fast to all that is good and abstain from every form of evil. May our homes be homes of holiness and hospitality, of grace and goodness. In our community we pray for Curley’s Service Station, Dr Johnson Dentist, Child and Family Health Clinic.
Lord of Freedom, hear us.
We remember in your holy presence, God of Liberty, all whose lives have been diminished by poverty or neglect, all whose confidence has been lost through harsh treatment or scorn. We pray for those who have been betrayed, especially those betrayed by loved ones. We remember all who have suffered through robbery or slander. We pray for all who have lost their dignity through illness. We especially pray for those who have asked for our prayers Betty, Laurie, Daphne, Margaret and Holly, Colleen and Lisa; for those known only to us. [Pause]
Lord of Freedom, hear us.
Lord, you have done great things for us already, and yet, greater things are to come. We pray for all who have departed from us, and for Jessie Giles and Jean Letherbridge whose anniversary of death occurs at this time. May they be numbered with your saints and know the glorious liberty of the children of God.
+Rest eternal, grant to them O Lord; and let your light perpetual shine upon them.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers: Grant that what we have asked in faith we may by your grace receive, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Advent Antiphons
An “antiphon” is a verse sung before or after a reading or psalm, often by alternating choirs. The Advent Antiphons begin on 17 December and continue until 23 December, when the Christmas Eve and Christmas antiphons begin. As a “stand alone” they are a worthy source of a brief meditation and I commend them for your use. (Our Advent hymn “O come, o come Emmanuel” is a version of these). Each one begins with a title ascribed to God, and the text I offer here is from the Church of England “Common Worship” prayer book. Other antiphons have been in use and a mediaeval English practice was to add an eighth “O Virgo virginium O Virgin of virgins) as the last one, and beginning the series in 16 December
17 Dec O Sapientia: O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other; mightily and sweetly ordering all things: come and teach us the way of prudence
18 Dec O Adonai: O Adonai and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush, and gave him the law on Sinai: come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
19 Dec O Radix Jesse: O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the people; before you kings will shut their mouth, to you the nations will make their prayer: come and deliver us and delay no longer.
20 Dec O Clavis David: O Key of David, and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
21 Dec O Oriens: O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death
22 Dec O Rex gentium: O King of the nations and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: come and save the human race which you fashioned from clay
23 Dec O Emmanuel: O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and the Saviour: come and save us O Lord our God
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