Sermon - Advent Sunday

ADVENT SUNDAY

Jeremiah 33:14-16

(1 Thessal’ns 3:9-13)

Luke 21:25-36

Psalm 25:1-10

Here comes Christmas!

It is a general rule that if we spend longer in the preparation for something it usually turns out better. I know this to be the case for so many things. I used to have a terrible habit of turning up to a school, church, meeting or group without anything written down to say. Walking through a door and being greeted by 400 little cherubs and thinking, what shall I talk about today, is not the best thing to keep stress down! I have got better now honest….I prepare when I am walking to the school…(hahaha).

Advent should be only preparation, a time of preparation for us to enjoy a good Christmas. As we shop-till-we-drop, we should be thinking about the things in our faith that give us that Christmassy feeling too – It might be getting involved with charity, a Christingle Service, midnight mass, or going to a carol service? What do we need to prepare, so that when we sit down to enjoy Christmas Dinner it feels like Christmas.

In the weeks of Advent, I think we can see signs – I thought about this morning – What do you think? It is almost as if everything gets exaggerated beyond its’ normal level.

1. If you have fallen out with friends – it seems worse at Christmas.
2. If you think of the homeless – at Christmas it seems even worse that they are on the streets.
3. If you think about those starving in Africa, it seems terrible when we sit down to a large meal.
4. When we hear those Christmas songs, especially the one about the soldiers playing football, “stop the cavalry” isn’t it? We hum along without really thinking about the words. Last year a man died in Scotland aged 107; he was the last surviving soldier who played football with the Germans in the Great War, on Christmas Day 1915 or 1916. When the fighting stopped for Christmas enemies could see the senseless loss (and we were told it was just for one match for) - the truth is that the fighting stopped all across the frontline, and it didn’t resume in some places for a week or more. The Generals needed to order people to fight again or threaten to shoot some for cowardice. At Christmas the futility of war was magnified to such an extent that people could see it!

At Christmas issues come to an ultimatum, relationships are either fixed or broken. The thing you always wanted to tell someone either happens or you decide not to bother. The New Year brings resolutions, and people want a fresh start.

In preparation for Christmas, I usually do the most selfish thing I do all year. I begging money from various organisations to give to those who otherwise wouldn’t have a good Christmas. I am usually mischievous and cheeky to many people. I will raise around £1000. I say that this is selfish, because I do it so that when I sit down to dinner, I am not worrying about the people I know who are having a bad day for want of a few quid. As I said some prayers this week, I wondered whether I shouldn’t be doing it every week. Such is the nature of Christmas…the feeling that things must be put right!

In Advent, whether Christian people like it or not, they are preparing for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus – they are looking for the signs and hoping that wrongs can be righted, and life will be clearer for them when 2006 starts. Isn’t that wonderful?

As people are searching, we have a job to do as a Church - we need to explain to the millions of shoppers that THIS is where you can get an AUTHENTIC Christmas – this is where we celebrate the birth of the Man who started the whole thing – This is the latest must have lifestyle accessory – JESUS! Their lives aren’t complete without faith, and it is excellent value for the returns they will get. I want to get a new banner…Come to Church this Advent - 20% extra happiness free.

I had a think about an interest-free sign (but that sort of says that there is nothing of interest in church).

Enough already! The readings today are a story in itself…firstly, God is promising that there will be a messiah, then we are being told that the love of God will grow strong communities full of care and love, then the Gospel reading.

This part of the Gospel (Luke 21:25-36) describes the confusion at the end of time, and how we need to keep our head, when all about us is falling to bits. This year we will hear more from Luke’s Gospel, with its’ rich and colourful descriptions of the life of Jesus – and this particular passage is a good example of this – the confusion and the turmoil, the worry and the upset. The Gospel reading is dealing with ‘fear’, not the fear of planes crashing, bombs in buildings, people with hoodies or radioactive Russians, it is dealing with the ‘fear’ of the unknown, the ‘fear’ that cannot be named. The only remedy is being prepared! So that whatever happens, we won’t miss out. (The Green Book reading for last week was the one about the ten foolish maidens – who weren’t prepared and missed the wedding).

A Bishop was staying at a hotel. A nervous young bellboy was told to wake him up with the words, 'My Lord, it's the lad. It's time to get up !'

As he climbed the stairs the petrified boy kept repeating the words. He knocked, went into the room with the words, 'My lad, it's the Lord, your time is up !'

Part of our preparation to meet the Lord once again this Christmas, and into the next year is all about us telling others about what actually happens here….don’t give them too many details, we don’t want to put them off! J

How do we let people? In a few meetings I have mentioned a Vicar from up North, Bob Jackson who attended our diocesan conference a couple of years ago. He said some interesting things that are true about all churches, especially at advent.

He said;

1. Non-Christians are more open to Christianity than post-Christians (those who have gone when they were younger)
2. Telling real stories is better than clever theology
3. We should have a ‘missionary mentality’ – being out there talking to people.
4. Quantity follows quality
5. Christianity –v- Churchianity
6. Changing with the times ends in growth
7. Growing Churches led by the people NOT the minister

All these things we can think about as we approach Christmas, in this reflective and thoughtful season of ADVENT. God is saying “People get ready”, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN