Advent in our Hearts

 

1 All earth is waiting to see the Promised One,

and open furrows await the seed of God. 

All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty; 

it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.

                               Voices United # 5

Today marks the beginning of Advent, the beginning of the Christian year, and I think it's accurate to say that after more than 40 years of observing Advent in the United Church there are many members who find it to be a curiosity of sorts, rather than a beloved time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Sure, most congregations have Advent wreaths and may sing a few of the hymns for the season. Most clergy try to observe Advent with sincerity and employ the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. At the same time they're feeling the pressure to "Christmas it up", both from parishioners and society as a whole..

This is a year like no other for the Advent season. 

A season of waiting? What are we waiting for? A vaccine of course, but when will that come. Yesterday our five-year-old grandson told us, authoritatively, that COVID-19 won't be over until there is a vaccine. It broke our hearts that someone so young would have to even think about this.

A season of holy patience?  Even as the numbers of those infected with the coronavirus grow across the country and in many other nations some are growing restless and belligerent about lock-downs and distancing. Wearing a mask in some circumstances is such a simple thing, yet there is a baffling push-back against this basic public health measure.

We've also been experiencing a less than holy irritation about the mixed messages of leaders when it comes to what we're supposed to do and when. Advent blue and rose are being challenged by the  green, yellow, orange, red and...grey of pandemic alerts. How did they decide that grey was the colour for lock-down?

Perhaps we need Advent more than ever in 2020. God is with us, always, yet we await God-With-Us in Jesus, the Christ. There is a paradox here, to be sure, but life is like that. Our faith can help us to take a deep breath and live with expectancy rather than dread. 

This morning we'll attend worship because we're in a zone where this is still permitted. We'll mask up and observe the new liturgical precautions of physical distancing, and not singing, and...blah,blah, blah.It's not ideal, but there is profound meaning in gathering as the body of Christ. There will be smiles beneath our masks as we wave our greetings to the others who have come together at what promises to be a lovely late November day. 

We'll also experience hope, on this Hope Sunday, because two children will be baptized, including that same five-year-old grandchild. Two baptismal fonts will be used, one for each child. I can hardly wait. 

May the blessings of Advent be with you all today and all through this season.  

God of all wisdom,

our hearts yearn for the warmth of your love,

and our minds search for the light of your Word.

Increase our longing for Christ our Saviour,

and strengthen us to grow in love,

that at the dawn of his coming

we may rejoice in his presence

and welcome the light of his truth.

This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

                Advent Prayer -- Voices United #11