Happy New (liturgical) Year! Today was a celebration of the beginning of Liturgical Year C and we had an energizing celebration. Fall is closing in on winter and people are turning their sights inside, not just people either but critters of all kinds. We had a few winged visitors (not avian) with us, but there was little impact on the service. We celebrate the music offered in preparation for Christmas, remembering that the coming 4 weeks is preparation, not pre-Christmas. We pray you and your families are recovering from Thanksgiving and all the holiday entailed.
In worship we celebrated the beginning of our new year. Our collect served as a waypoint for our journey, painting a picture that describes our human condition – being in a place of darkness (and growing darkness) but knowing that light lies ahead. Our psalmist sang a song of joy and praise to God. We were reminded that God is trustworthy, and God’s power will be with us when we are beset by our enemies. Our Epistle was taken from the first letter to the Thessalonians and was Paul’s reminder that we need to pray for all. Likewise, the sure source of our success is God. The gospel from Luke reminds us that there will be signs that we can see and follow if we look and act when we see the sign. But our ability to follow can be deterred by our being focused on this world as opposed to the next.
Our sermon was based on our Hebrew Scripture from Jeremiah. The prophet reminds us that the branch of the leaders of the believers will come. But the leader is just that, a leader. Our responsibility is to act and follow where we are led. Our life is filled with change which is supported by our actions.
May your Advent journey be fruitful. I invite your comments,
Les+
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36
Video of worship: https://youtu.be/FxFmcC8-4ts
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