Advent 1. Anticipating - Sunday, 28 November 2021

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27 November, 2021

READ Ephesians 6:10-17, Jeremiah 33:14-16 & Psalm 25:1-10

When we read these passages, the theme of ‘anticipating’ emerges a sense of prophetic – the signs in creation, a sense of looking forwards, towards the branch that is sprouting, towards a future of hope and salvation, towards the community of love that is created by the Kingdom of God. This first week of Advent is an opportunity to think about the anticipation of Advent – what does follow Jesus mean that we can hope for? This week, we are picking up on the imagery of the branch sprouting out of the line of David (in Isaiah, it is referred to as ‘the stump’) and using this as the foundation component of the Nativity display.

REFLECT, TALK & DO

It’s the first week of Advent! And is an opportunity for us to spend a whole month thinking about and anticipating Christmas! Anything that drags out Christmas is a good thing, right?

  • What does anticipation mean?
  • What things do you start looking forward to in the lead up Christmas? Gifts? Food? Family you don’t see very often? Special traditions?

Advent is an opportunity for us to really ramp up the anticipation! The Bible tells us that the lead up to Jesus’ birth was full of anticipation!

  • Can you think of any reasons why?

 The Bible is full of prophecy, and a lot of it pointed towards there being a big, important event, a moment where God would intervene and save the people of Judah from oppression. The people were really tired of living in other countries as captives, or living in their homes, under the rule of someone else. The people living in Judea were living and hoping and anticipating something great happening. And the closer it got, the more they saw the signs and the more they anticipated that something big was coming.

In Jeremiah, God tells the people that He will make good on his promises, and that a branch will grow out of something that everyone thought was dead – the stump of an old tree. It’s a metaphor – the nations around Judea didn’t see them as powerful or important like they had once upon a time… The great nation of Israel wasn’t really great anymore, it was small, and it was in the hands of the powerful Roman Empire. Over the next few weeks in worship, we are going to build an Advent and Jesse tree – each week we are going to add some things to it as we think about different parts of getting closer to Christmas. 

This week, we are thinking about anticipation and hope. The Psalmist talks about trusting God for new paths and hopeful future things. And in Jeremiah, it talks about anticipating something new growing out of something old – a new branch growing out of the stump. This reading often gets included in Advent readings because we believe that it was pointing towards Jesus. So here is a stump, to start off our Advent tree that we will add to over the coming weeks. Take time to think about things you anticipate:

  • What do you hope God will bring new life to?
  • What do you hope to do or new things you want to learn?
  • What faith things do you look forward to God nurturing and growing in you?
  • What do you look forward to God disrupting in you? in others?

During worship today, you are invited to add to your own branches and leaves to the tree, while you think, write and pray for the things you anticipate God bringing new life to. You can use branches, leaves, pipe cleaners, florist wire, crepe paper or other things.

PRAY

Dear God, thank you for the Hope that we have in you. Please help us to hold on to that hope and remember it as we anticipate your coming at Christmas, and your second return one day. Amen


Watery Advent 1. HOPE

Usually during Advent, we do an advent candle wreath, however this year we are doing a water wreath! Especially in the hot Australian Summer water is something that we anticipate, that we hope for. A cup of cool cup of water on a hot summer’s day, rain for our farmers and lawns, water to swim in, water for baptism! Water is a powerful symbol. 

So each week, just like we would with a candle wreath, we’re going to fill a new cup instead of lighting a new candle as we reflect on Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy. Each week we will be adding more to the Jesse tree and to remind us of life growing out of the stump.

1: As we pour the water for our Advent wreath, we remember our deep thirst for God’s hope.

All: We long for your hope, O God. [Pour water into the first glass.]

2: Hope which revives us like that first icy cold drink of water gulped down from the fridge when you’ve trudged home from school on a 36-degree day.

All: We long for your hope, O God.

1: Hope which transforms us, like drought-breaking rain on parched land.

All: We long for your hope, O God.

2: Hope which carries us forward in its mystery, as the endless waves which connect us to the rest of the world.

All: We long for your hope, O God.

1: I invite you to name aloud people and places which are in particular need of God’s hope at this time e.g.: People dealing with long-term illness; In war torn places; facing the loss of their homes; Long-term unemployed; battling addictions; Asylum seekers and refugees; Australia’s indigenous people; People facing famine; Friends and relatives of missing persons; Parents of children in hospital; People dealing with the effects of drought in Australia and other places.

1 & 2: Advent God, we worship you with hope.

All: We long for your hope, O God. Amen.



Materials adapted from: https://intergen.org.au/product/advent-series-something-is-coming/ & https://sa.uca.org.au/documents/intergen-docs/resources/Engage-Together-Advent-2020.pdf      


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