Calling in the Wilderness Knox Bayfield Rev Dolson Dec 6
Greetings to my church family and friends. May the grace of God be with you.
Announcements
We express our appreciation to Vi Miller for her wonderful efforts in decorating the sanctuary. We are thankful to Jean Walker, organist, for her efforts in performing the hymns for the YouTube video. Remember to go to the end of the printed material for the lyrics to the hymns. This worship service is on our website https://pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYgIPqvkMsDNal0b1gCiPg
The focus of the Mission Moment … Youth Clubs Make a Difference
In Malawi, 20-year-old Layton had been engaging in unsafe sexual behaviours. Several of Layton’s friends attended Presbyterian World Service & Development-supported youth clubs, where they would get together and discuss how to achieve a world without AIDS. His friends warned him about the consequences of his actions and shared information they learned at the youth club. Layton never thought to attend these meetings until one day when his friends persuaded him to get an HIV test. Anxious about the results—which eventually came back negative—Layton knew he needed to change his life. Deciding to join the youth club himself, he reflected, “I think my friends from youth club saved my life. I joined them so that we can save many from such behaviours.”
Did you know the Advent book study has begun? I hope you are able to join in this week. We will explore the second chapter of the book “Light of the World, A beginners guide to Advent”. We will meet at 2 pm Sunday on Zoom. Join in the conversation regardless of whether you’re reading the book. The Zoom link will be re-sent on Sunday. Questions? Contact Rev Lisa (519) 572-8529 [call or text]
Income and Expense Update
Your contributions to the church and its ongoing work are appreciated. Your regular offerings allow the church to continue its good work. The Knox Bayfield Session and Finance committee are diligent in their efforts to minimize expenses and meet financial commitments. Our updated financial reports indicate November income $4,001 and expenses in $4,859 with a year-to-date deficit of $5,840.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Second Sunday in Advent: PEACE
Reader: In this season of Advent, we celebrate God’s peace.
All: Jesus Christ, born the Prince of Peace, calls our community to justice and leads us in the way of peace.
Reader: We call one another to honesty and humility and respond to each other with abundant grace and forgiveness.
All: Our community values relationships. We live in harmony with one another even when we disagree, and strive to glorify God in everything we do.
Reader: Our community longs for unity. We work together with other churches and organizations, and live out God’s reconciling love for all the world to see.
All: Together, we are a sign of God’s peace in the world.
The candle of peace is lit.
Unison Prayer: God of all people and all nations, you break through the cynicism of our world and lead us like a gentle shepherd. Open our eyes to see the signs of your coming kingdom and inspire us to participate in all you are doing in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn #109 All earth is waiting
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of wisdom, soften our hearts and direct our minds as we discern your holy scripture. May we be like fertile soil in which to plant your living Word. Amen.
READINGS:
Isaiah 40:1–11, Psalm 85:1–2, 8–13, 2 Peter 3:8–15a, Mark 1:1–8
Hymn: #299 Holy, Holy, Holy
Calling in the Wilderness
On this second Sunday of Advent we pause to reflect on those who proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ, those who paved the prophetic way to prepare the people for the new beginning. John the Baptizer cried out in the wilderness. He was a preacher and baptizer, calling to all who will listen … he calls to those in the country and the city. John tells of the arrival of the Messiah and the need to confess and be baptized.
We discover that he succeeds as “people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem” went to him. When we read the scriptures we are provided with many accounts of God’s influence and presence throughout time. The gospels provide four different accounts of the disciples time spent with Jesus. In some ways, the biblical stories remind me of gathering with family and sharing our stories with one another. Each of us understand the same event from different perspectives. Each of us holds onto specific information, emotions, and memories in unique ways. Each of us will share our stories differently. When we encounter different versions of the stories we are able to better understand each other and the impact within our own lives.
Mark is brief in his writing. This shortest gospel starts with, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” When Mark proclaimed the life of Christ, he begins with the prophetic voices who foretold of the arrival of the Messiah. Here John the Baptist shared the good news to prepare the way for Jesus. John does this with the early prophetic teachings from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Malachi, and others. There is a joy-filled urgency shared by John the Baptist. An urgency to share the good news, to tell of the Messiah that was proclaimed by Isaiah. An urgency to make straight paths for him.
In this brief passage, Mark reminds the reader to look back as they move forward. We look to the Jewish roots of the Christian faith to better understand this passage. Mark sees the connection between what Malachi and Isaiah foretold with John the Baptist.
The prophet Isaiah was looking for signs of God’s intervention during the Jewish exile and captivity in Babylon around 700 BCE. Mark was writing during the first century when Jews were not in exile but they were living under Roman occupation. Although they lived in their homes within their cities, their lives were not their own. Their culture was not their own as the occupation changed how they lived. Perhaps during this pandemic, we may have a better understanding of how the familiar can become the unknown. Perhaps this time, now, is a different form of exile. We are in a type of exile or wilderness within our own communities as we practice social isolation to thwart the pandemic. I wonder if we might discover ways to listen more closely to God during this time. How is the Spirit of God moving within you, around you? How do you see God’s presence in everyday life? Last week as we shared communion we were mindful of Christ in the everyday. The everyday elements of bread and wine. The presence of Christ in our everyday relationships and in the ways that we interact in the world. How is God moving us during this time? We have discovered a new sense of shared responsibility for one another as we wear masks and take precautions to protect the more vulnerable among us. Many have developed a deeper insight into the needs of others.
How can we shake off unhelpful ways of being and turn toward the way of Christ? How can we repent of life limiting ways and turn toward life giving ways? Mark teaches us to see God by looking to Jesus and to look back to the prophets of Israel. Perhaps we are like the crowds listening to the prophet John, seeking direction in our present time and for the future. Isaiah proclaimed, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'” How is God calling to you now in this second week of Advent, in this time of anticipation of the birth of Jesus? During this advent season we are called to live out our faith with one another in new and different ways. Be attentive to the Spirit nudging you to share your abundant blessings. Praise be to God.
# 749 Be still my soul
THE OFFERING OF OUR LIFE AND LABOUR TO THE LORD
QUOTE: And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Come with gratitude and joy to the table of the Lord.
Bring the works of your hands and the gifts of your lives as an offering of praise.
BLESSING OF GIFTS & PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Join me in prayer:
O holy One, we lift up our voices to you, the One who comforts, restores, and heals. We pray for all leaders and people of the world. You created one human family to live in peace. We pray for the wisdom to live according to your loving purpose.
We pray for your church. You have given us the gift of the Messiah to show your church the way to be steadfast and true. Help us to see the strength you provide for us to follow your Son until all are reconciled by his love.
Guide us to discover our compassion to love our neighbor and to be patient in caring for those in need. Ever-living God, one day in your presence is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. We pray for those who are sick, who suffer, are exiled or in danger. Almighty God, you have made us for a holy purpose, to comfort and care for each other. There are many within our church family in need of your care at this time. We lift up Ron, Sandy and their family as Ron continues to struggle in his healing. We lift up Peggy, Betty Lou, Jane, Bonnie, Jessie, Marlene, Rob, Courtney, and Grace’s daughter Lisa. We lift up all those who prefer to remain un-named as they face immense challenges of health and finances.
We lift up the care-givers and those who receive care during the pandemic. We pray that your Spirit will linger with your people during this challenging time. A time of isolation that has left many feeling fragmented and in despair. May they sense your protective love.
O holy One, we pray for clarity, passion, and true fellowship to awake us to your presence. May your face shine upon the church and all this weary world. We pray
in the name of the One born in a manger, who taught his disciples to pray…
Our Father who art in heaven, hallow’ed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Amen.
# 133 Go tell it on the mountain
BENEDICTION
2 Pet. 3:13–14 Ps. 85:11–13
May faithfulness spring up from the ground
and righteousness look down from heaven
as you walk in the way of peace,
May the blessing of God, the Living Word, and Holy Comforter,
be with you now and always.
Postlude
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Questions for Reflection
The prophet Isaiah announces good news: God comforts and strengthens a wearied and exiled people in preparation for their homeward journey. Mark’s Gospel announces the good news of God in Jesus Christ: God comes to turn the world right side up and baptize us with the Holy Spirit. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, what is the beginning of God’s good news in your life, and how will it change the way you approach this season of expectation and hope?
Morning Prayer
Lord, how I love this season of new beginnings, the opportunity to turn toward you and start again. Empower me to be a messenger of good news, as I seek to be one with you in smoothing out the rough places I encounter. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Lord, you have comforted me throughout this day and rescued me from my exile.
Where I have flourished, I give you thanks; where I have erred, I ask your forgiveness. Protect me through the night that I may rest in your realm of peace
where righteousness makes a home. Amen.
Daily Prayer Mark 1:3–4
Loving God, you sent your prophet John to prepare your way among us, to call us to repentance and make our pathways straight. Strengthen us to live lives of steadfast love and faithfulness as we await the Messiah’s return, that all may see your reign of peace through your just and gracious rule. Amen.
Scripture readings next week:
Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24; John 1:6–8, 19–28
#299 Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! all the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea,
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert and art and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide thee,
though our eyes in sinfulness thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
all thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Let There Be Peace on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGoEJyV7Snw
Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Chet Akins, Michael McDonald
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With ev’ry step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me