WEBVTT 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:12.240 The Gospel of John speaks of Christ as the true light coming into the world. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:19.279 In commemoration of that coming, we light candles for the four weeks leading to Christmas and reflect on the coming of Christ. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:27.600 It is significant that the church has always used that language, the coming of Christ, because it speaks to a deep truth. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:29.519 Christ is coming. 00:04:29.839 --> 00:04:34.319 Christ is always coming, always entering a troubled world, a wounded heart. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:42.720 And so we light the first candle, the candle of hope, endear to express our longing for peace, for healing, and the well-being of all creation. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:34.480 Show us the creative power of hope. 00:05:34.800 --> 00:05:41.279 Prepare our hearts to be transformed by you that we may walk in the light of Christ. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.959 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.959 And blessed be God's kingdom now and forever. 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:49.759 Amen. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:50.959 Let's pray together. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:59.279 Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:11.759 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:12.560 Amen. 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:13.920 The Lord be with you. 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:15.360 And with thy spirit. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.120 Let us pray. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:30.399 Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility. 00:06:30.720 --> 00:06:38.319 That in the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:43.360 Through him who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.240 Amen. 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:48.720 As you're being seated, our children are invited to children's church in the Christ hall with Mr. 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:50.000 Alex in the back. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:06.639 The word that Isaiah, son of Amos, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:18.000 In days to come, the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills, all the nations shall stream to it. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:30.319 Many people shall come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his path. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:36.879 For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:42.800 He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate over many peoples. 00:07:43.439 --> 00:07:48.959 They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:56.079 Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:07:58.240 O house of Jacob, come. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:08:00.959 Let us walk in the light of the Lord. 00:08:01.839 --> 00:08:04.560 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.639 Praise be done. 00:08:10.480 --> 00:08:13.279 The Psalm today is Psalm 122. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.720 We will read responsively by the half verse. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:28.639 Now our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:34.720 Jerusalem is built as a city and is a unity with itself. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:43.679 To which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, the assembly of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:49.120 For there are thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:51.919 I pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:54.559 May they prosper who love you. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:00.159 Peace be within your walls, and quietness within your towers. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:06.000 For the sake of my kindred and companions, I pray for your prosperity. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:12.000 Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek to do your good. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.360 How it is now the moment for you to wake from the sleep. 00:09:45.919 --> 00:09:49.919 For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers. 00:09:50.320 --> 00:09:53.440 The night is far gone, but the day is near. 00:09:53.759 --> 00:09:58.480 Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:08.000 Let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling in drunkenness, not in debauchery or licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:14.960 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires. 00:10:15.279 --> 00:10:18.080 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:36.720 Jesus said to the disciples, About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:41.039 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:54.799 For as in those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:58.879 Then two will be in the field, one will be taken and one will be left. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:03.679 Two women will be grinding meal together, one will be taken and one will be left. 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.360 Keep awake, therefore. 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:18.159 For you do not know on what day your Lord is coming, but understand this if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:24.639 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.039 The gospel of the Lord. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.399 And of course, it is the coming, not of the guy in the red suit. 00:14:02.559 --> 00:14:06.080 We're trying to get ready for the birth of the Lord. 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:08.480 And this is a pretty solemn time. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.799 This is new in sort of human evolution. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:16.960 Consider that a hundred years ago, before electricity, the days were really short. 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:19.519 And candles are relatively expensive. 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:27.360 So this was naturally a contemplative time of the year when there was, frankly, less time for being productive. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:38.320 So people used this time historically to meditate, to think about how to adequately prepare themselves for the Lord coming on Christmas. 00:14:38.399 --> 00:14:44.879 In that sense, this is pretty similar season to Lent getting ready for Easter, and hence you've got color similarity. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:51.679 In general, you'll often see Advent as purple with the rose candle, although it has softened. 00:14:51.759 --> 00:14:54.399 We're fortunate that we have a Marian blue set. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:14:57.360 That's the name of this color, like the Virgin, right? 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:04.240 Little bit softer than purple, but still a color of royalty and turning inward in preparation. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:09.600 Now, good news, and you heard this in the introduction, Jesus is coming again this year. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.159 And we say this is coming. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:19.039 And we ended last week when we thought about the stations of the cross with frankly, how we need that in the world. 00:15:19.279 --> 00:15:23.919 How we need God's kingdom as God imagines it. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:26.480 And so we're invited in the next four weeks. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:33.519 Even though Jesus is coming, he will not need diapers this year, nor will he need a car seat or a crib. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:49.440 Instead, we're invited to prepare for his coming by cultivating within ourselves and our community hope, peace, joy, and love so that when the Christ child arrives, he will find a ready welcome. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:55.679 Now the text today is a little bit jarring because it's about when do you know? 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.000 How do you know? 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:07.120 And for about 150 years, a very small group of Christian folk have decided that there's this thing called the rapture they need to get ready for it. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.720 I want to make sure you hear that. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:12.159 150 years, that's how old that made up word is. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.480 It shows up nowhere in the Bible in this passage, has nothing to do with a rapture. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:17.440 Nothing. 00:16:17.679 --> 00:16:24.879 In fact, what we often don't get is that the Caesars called themselves sons of God. 00:16:26.320 --> 00:16:28.399 Jesus calls himself the Son of Man. 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.759 Do you notice that? 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:36.399 In direct contrast to the Caesars, Jesus says, here's where you'll find God. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:42.240 Not in high and lofty things, but in ordinary things. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:46.159 And I suspect this is why we hear this on week one. 00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:51.600 Get ready, because Jesus shows up in a food trough. 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:56.399 He doesn't show up on a velvet cushion on top of the birj khalifa in Dubai. 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:59.679 He shows up under an overpass. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.360 Don't miss it. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:07.200 If you're like me, you usually do. 00:17:08.160 --> 00:17:09.119 You usually do. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:23.519 And I want to suggest that part of the reason we might miss the Christ, at least this week, because we misunderstand the difference between hoping and wishing. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:25.680 Wishing. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:29.279 We use these words so synonymously, don't we? 00:17:29.839 --> 00:17:32.559 Gosh, I hope the sermon's short today. 00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.440 That's a wish. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:37.119 You can't change that. 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:40.319 Gosh, I hope the weather is nice. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.200 That's a wish. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.960 You can't do anything about that. 00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:44.000 Nothing. 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:44.640 Nope. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:46.480 Brene Brown's been really helpful. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:56.160 She says quite frankly that the difference between, or really a helpful way to think about hoping, is with this little acronym that many of you in the business world have heard before. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:59.039 Wishing is about wanting stuff to happen. 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:05.920 Hope is about setting goals, like smart goals, and working toward them. 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:07.599 SMART goals. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:09.039 I don't want to bore you. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.799 Does anybody not know what that is? 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:19.119 Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, timely, goals. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:32.559 You could say, I would like to run a marathon next year, and if you just show up on race day, it probably won't go well for you because you wished for that. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:37.359 No, when you hope to complete a marathon, you will incrementally train. 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:41.680 You will say, aha, I know what it takes to attain that goal. 00:18:41.759 --> 00:18:44.079 That's running 26.2 miles. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:45.920 That's what it takes, right? 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:47.279 Time, that's up to you. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:49.759 Some races disqualify you if you take too long. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:56.160 But of course, you understand that if you'd like to work up to that goal, you will have to start by running some. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:58.240 And then some more. 00:18:58.480 --> 00:19:00.640 Until you can get up to at least 22 miles. 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:01.839 That's what everybody says. 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:08.240 I do know a guy who only ran 18 and then tried to do the marathon and then he he hit the wall in mile 22. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.119 Finish the race. 00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:10.240 That's me, by the way. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:14.720 So really it's a good idea to do 22 miles if you want to finish the race running. 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.119 Yeah? 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:16.640 So this is a thing that we do. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.599 We set smart goals. 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:19.039 Goals toward what? 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:25.039 And this I submit to you is what we're, I think, being asked to contemplate this week. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:30.000 What is it we hope for, and how is that different from what God hopes for? 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:38.319 Again, out there we might conflate the word wish with hope, but in here, hope is about the world as God imagines it. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:44.000 And I want to tell you in general, I don't always hope for that. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.640 I wish for something less. 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:51.599 So if you want to know what hope looks like, read the Isaiah passage. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:58.559 God hopes that we will take weapons designed for destruction and turn them into tools for cultivation. 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:05.119 The languages turn the spear into the pruning hook. 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:12.000 You know, I met a Mennonite guy about four or five years ago at a clergy conference. 00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:20.079 Part of his ministry was actually taking guns that he uh people donated and turning them into things like this. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:29.839 He even took automatic guns and put like a hoe spade at the end and an extension so you could hoe with an AK-47. 00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:34.960 Of course, that's crazy sounding, and it's what God hopes for. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.680 If I asked you, well, I'm gonna just talk about myself. 00:20:39.839 --> 00:20:47.440 If you asked me, what do you hope is going to happen in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia? 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:52.400 I would probably tell you a wish instead of a hope. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:57.519 I'd probably tell you, I wish side Q would lose. 00:20:58.079 --> 00:20:59.599 That's a wish, it's not a hope. 00:20:59.759 --> 00:21:00.720 What does God hope for? 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:06.000 God hopes that they'll turn their weapons into opportunities for making peace. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:15.759 The fact that I would be happy to settle the conflict in favor of one side instead of the community of the other means I need Advent again. 00:21:16.160 --> 00:21:23.680 I will probably need it again next year because there'll probably be some other conflict in the world, or with people I can't get along with in my own family. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.200 What do I usually wish for? 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.559 I wish they would change their mind to my own or just leave. 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.839 That's wishing. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.000 It is not like hope at all. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.240 I hope you hear this. 00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:40.799 This is what we're asked to think about with less daylight. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:46.000 This is what we're asked to imagine with less daylight. 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.759 What do we wish for? 00:21:50.640 --> 00:21:52.480 What does God hope for? 00:21:52.720 --> 00:21:56.880 And can we convert our wishes into God's hope? 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:01.680 Because what we're being told is be Be ready. 00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:04.880 And I'm not ready. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.559 I'm not ready. 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.160 I would miss the Son of Man in the Russian army like that. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:16.640 I don't know. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.799 Where your wishes and hopes are different. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:23.519 But I suspect we've all got some room. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:29.920 And this is the holiness of Advent is to swap out our wishes for God's hopes. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.599 Now, I want to tell you there's this lovely thing up here that I think is really helpful. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.799 That's a great blue heron up there, and it arrived this week. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:44.079 A parishioner donated that in memory of a couple of folks in their life anonymously, and there it is, it's a great blue heron. 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:47.920 And I love it for a few reasons, if you didn't mind me saying. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:51.519 Of course, you see them all the time in the bird sanctuary we live in. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:53.920 It's a great blue heron, it's not a pelican. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.680 I want to make sure you know. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:56.720 That's that. 00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:00.960 It's made out of all kinds of things. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:06.799 It's a little bit hard to tell from where you're sitting, so I'm going to walk you through some of the things it's made from. 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:12.319 The artist was inspired when somebody donated to her a church organ. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.920 Oh, that's similar to us. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:17.920 Instead of making it playable, though, you'll notice she turned the keys into the wings. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.400 This was an unplayable organ. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:25.440 This was junk that she turned into wings. 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:34.079 I don't know if you can tell, but that leg coming out is actually a drum stand, like that would hold a cymbal or a snare drum. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:37.039 And right where the hip comes in, it's a baseball. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:41.039 And if you look carefully, you'll see a Texas license plate over there. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:46.079 And some of that glittering metal are some old shoehorns. 00:23:47.839 --> 00:23:54.640 Around the neck are little picture hangers, you know, like you put on the back of a picture when you want to hang it on a nail. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:24:01.279 And there's some earthquake straps for a water heater up there, too. 00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:05.680 On the bottom are some old keys and a bicycle chain. 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:13.519 And of course, the thing you can't really see from here is that there's some gray army soldiers. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:17.279 In case you're wondering about the feathers, those are zip ties. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:22.640 Some of the feathers are just pieces of an old screen with staples in them. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:26.559 When you get up close, you can see all that from where you're sitting. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:28.160 Maybe you can't. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:34.640 Of course, what I love about this, quite frankly, is that I think it represents God's hope. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:40.319 All kinds of, well, stuff we might be done with. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.440 People we might be done with. 00:24:44.079 --> 00:24:49.119 God is able to knit together into the body of Christ on earth. 00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:51.039 That's our hope. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.599 There's even army people up there. 00:24:54.079 --> 00:24:59.680 God would like to knit them in to the kingdom of God on earth. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.680 What doesn't fit? 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.359 Well, nothing. 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.480 Isn't that great? 00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:16.000 A master artisan is able to take what seems like junk and put it together into something beautiful, and of course, that artisan is God, and if we're so willing, we can join God's imagination as well. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:24.480 Do we need folk who help protect resources and natural disasters like hurricane straps for a water heater? 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:27.039 Absolutely we do, and I hope for those people. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:35.599 Do we need people that help hang lovely images in the world that hold them up? 00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:39.279 Images of the Son of Man being born under an overpass. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.359 Heck yeah, we need those people. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:53.680 Do we need people who have keys that can open locks or can lock people into places of isolation and despair and prejudice? 00:25:53.839 --> 00:25:57.680 We do need people with keys and we need to turn them open, yeah? 00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:00.319 That's what God hopes for. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:16.480 God hopes that we will work with seemingly disparate and maybe at some times junky folk to turn into a beautiful body of Christ on earth. 00:26:17.200 --> 00:26:19.039 I don't usually hope for that. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:22.000 I hope people will just go away or be quiet. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:24.880 I should say I wish for that. 00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:32.960 It's not like God's gonna zap you when you wish instead of hope. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.680 It's not like that. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:41.440 It's just that we won't be ready to see the Son of Man when he shows up right in front of us. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:44.160 And that's our loss, not God's. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:46.720 God can play the long game. 00:26:47.200 --> 00:26:51.119 We're invited to consider that our time is short. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:56.079 So why would we want to waste it on wishes when we get to hope instead? 00:26:57.119 --> 00:27:00.240 This I put to you is what Advent's all about. 00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:03.680 I'll tell you, sometimes I don't even know what I really deeply hope for. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:12.799 Often before I go to sleep at night, I start thinking about things I wish for, like the work I'm gonna do tomorrow and the notes that I need to write and the calendaring and this sort of business. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:15.599 I fall asleep thinking about that stuff. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:26.799 And I have an opportunity, this Advent, to fall asleep hoping with God instead of wishing for tomorrow. 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:41.519 And we say this, and I think this is what I love about this piece up there, because whether you think you're an organ key or an old key or a drum stand or an old baseball or a license plate, we can do more together. 00:27:42.160 --> 00:28:16.160 And this is our invitation from God with God is to put ourselves together into a body of Christ on earth and to re-engineer our military technology or our weapons of war, whether they're physical or words that we say to other folks, to create a sustainable future, to nourish one another, to be the body of Christ on earth. 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:31.759 Please join me as we pray our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. 00:28:33.519 --> 00:28:42.079 We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:58.559 We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, light from the light, true God and true God, begotten made, of one being with the Father. 00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:00.960 Through him all things were made. 00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:05.599 For us, he became now from heaven. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:12.160 By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became according to the birth of Mary, and was made man. 00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:18.480 For our lady between God and Father, he suffered and was buried. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:27.839 On the third day he rose again, according to the scriptures, heaven in heaven, and in speaking at the right hand of the Father. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:34.000 He will come again and glory to touch the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:41.519 We believe in the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.359 With the Father and Son, he has worshiped and glorified. 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:47.759 He has spoken to the prophets. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:51.599 We believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:55.359 We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:59.359 We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the Lord. 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.039 Amen. 00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:42.400 And for calling us to serve you and among your people. 00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:52.559 Continue, we pray, to equip us with all we need to tell others of you and glorify your name in all we do. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:56.640 Lord, Lord, in your compassion, hear our prayer. 00:30:57.200 --> 00:31:05.920 We pray for the leaders of all nations that they may seek to do your will for the welfare of the people they lead and serve. 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:15.440 We pray for those holding public office in our nation, that they may be guided by your gifts of wisdom and charity. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:32.960 We thank you, Creator God, for the beauty, majesty, and abundance of your creation, especially for its manifestation here around Clear Creek, Clear Lake. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:47.200 Keep us mindful of the holiness and fragility of our earthly home and all creatures who dwell therein, that we may rejoice in being stewards and peacemakers. 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:50.799 Lord, in your compassion, hear our prayer. 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:59.119 O God, giver of all things, we thank you for the abundance of grace poured out upon us. 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:15.519 May we with grateful hearts show compassion through our thoughts, words, and deeds for those who are hungry, homeless, neglected, abused, exploited, or in any other need. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:30.880 Lord Jesus, healer of bodies and spirits, may your healing hand touch all who suffer in mind, body, or soul. 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:39.200 May those who attend to them use their God-given skill, wisdom, and compassion to restore them. 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:54.960 We pray especially for Chris, Sue, Kevin, Jan, Miriam, Celia, Derek, John, Pam, Nick, Robert, Valerie, and Mona. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:05.920 You are invited to name your own celebrations or petitions silently or loud. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:39.200 Trusting that you are able to do more than we ask or imagine, we give you thanks, Lord Jesus, for graciously restoring those who have battled and survived serious illnesses and near-death situations. 00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:49.279 That by your help and the help of those sent to them, they may continue to serve you in this life according to your will. 00:33:50.079 --> 00:33:52.559 We are especially grateful for. 00:35:55.519 --> 00:35:56.079 Amen. 00:35:56.320 --> 00:35:58.320 Almighty God, he have mercy on you. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:36:06.639 Forgive you all your sin through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.840 Amen. 00:36:14.800 --> 00:36:17.119 The peace of the Lord be always with you. 00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:19.039 And also with you. 00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:59.519 If you're new to us or haven't done this before, in the room right behind the one we're sitting in, we call that the Narthex, there's these little cards that say welcome. 00:36:59.599 --> 00:37:03.679 And we'd be tremendously grateful if you'd fill one out so we have your a record of your visit today. 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:05.119 And thanks for worshiping with us. 00:37:05.599 --> 00:37:11.760 There's a little handout in the Narthex that has some December announcements, but I want to go over a few opportunities. 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:14.000 Some of them are on that and some aren't. 00:37:14.320 --> 00:37:16.719 The first is that today at 4 p.m. 00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:20.239 we're having an Advent Reef Making workshop. 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:26.000 It'll be a tabletop version of this with four lovely candles. 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:28.639 And in my home, we use this every night when we have dinner. 00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:37.119 We light the candle for the week, and by the end, the hope candle is like pretty much burned out, and the love candle is pretty high. 00:37:37.199 --> 00:37:43.360 But this is a thing we do, and there's a little prayer tab that goes with it if that's a way to help guide your piety through Advent. 00:37:43.440 --> 00:37:45.599 So again, that'll be at 4 o'clock in Christ Hall. 00:37:45.679 --> 00:37:49.679 And the only thing you need to bring if you want to come are some hand trimmers. 00:37:49.920 --> 00:37:53.199 We we trim real greenery and we sort of pin it to a wreath. 00:37:53.679 --> 00:38:04.639 And if you choose about$5 in a donation for the supplies, and you you get a lovely Advent wreath at the end, like I said, that hopefully is meaningful to your family this holiday season. 00:38:05.039 --> 00:38:10.480 This coming Wednesday, we're hosting an artist reception for Tobin Bortner. 00:38:10.719 --> 00:38:13.519 We've enjoyed his work in the hallway for about two months. 00:38:13.679 --> 00:38:18.719 It's coming down on Thursday, and so he's having a reception at the end instead of the beginning. 00:38:19.199 --> 00:38:30.079 The benefit, of course, is that you get to hear like what Tobin was thinking when he made these and his sort of technique, and he'll walk you through some of the hidden messages because you don't have to look very hard. 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:31.920 There's hidden messages in all these portraits. 00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:34.159 So that'll be from 6 to 7.30. 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:38.800 Come enjoy a glass of wine and uh little nibbles and get to meet with Tobin. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:44.320 He'll also have some 2023 calendars of his work if you're interested in those. 00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:52.000 Uh this coming Saturday, there is a fresh food distribution, uh, 7.45 till 9.30 in the morning. 00:38:52.159 --> 00:38:54.719 You don't have to sign up, and those times are reliable. 00:38:54.800 --> 00:38:55.440 That's when we start. 00:38:55.519 --> 00:38:56.639 We're always done by then. 00:38:56.719 --> 00:39:03.679 Uh we'll probably give food out to about 90 cars, uh, representing 375 people. 00:39:03.840 --> 00:39:06.239 So it's it's lovely work to do in the morning. 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:07.760 That's on Saturday. 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:10.400 Next Sunday, there's a lot of things. 00:39:10.559 --> 00:39:14.159 Next Sunday, Bishop Monterosso will be visiting with us. 00:39:14.320 --> 00:39:17.760 This is his annual visit, and we'll be confirming nine folk. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:19.760 That'll be here at the 10:30 service. 00:39:19.840 --> 00:39:34.000 It's a lovely thing, and you're going to hear this opportunity when somebody's coming up to get confirmed, if you know them, or you'd like to know them more, or you would just like to uphold them in their confirmation vows. 00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:40.159 Get out of your seat and come put your hands on their shoulder or the shoulders of the person behind them. 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:47.119 This is a lovely practice that we do in the diocese to stand in solidarity with one another in confirmation. 00:39:47.280 --> 00:39:51.440 So that will be next Sunday at 10:30. 00:39:52.639 --> 00:39:58.960 Um the following Sunday, this will be the 11th of December, is our lessons and carols. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:04.639 That'll only be at the 10:30 service, and our choir will be leading us through a series of Advent carols and readings. 00:40:04.800 --> 00:40:07.280 Um the 18th is St. 00:40:07.440 --> 00:40:09.280 Thomas Day, and you know St. 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:17.039 Thomas did go to India, so on the 18th we'll enjoy music from the sitar at the 10:30 service only. 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:20.079 Uh, so that'll be on our patronal day, the 18th. 00:40:20.159 --> 00:40:23.119 And then you'll see on that handout our Christmas services. 00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:25.840 So uh Christmas Eve, that's a Saturday. 00:40:26.079 --> 00:40:30.480 3:30 is a family service with a spontaneous Christmas pageant. 00:40:30.639 --> 00:40:31.840 It's 40 minutes. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:34.159 You get the Eucharist, you go home, it's lovely. 00:40:34.320 --> 00:40:39.679 5 o'clock and 9.30 are our high holy kind of solemn masses. 00:40:39.760 --> 00:40:47.679 And if you come at 9 on Christmas Eve, you'll have a chance to sing uh Christmas carols till about 9.30, and then we'll start the service at 9.30. 00:40:47.840 --> 00:40:51.039 And it's midnight mass, but it's it's midnight somewhere, right? 00:40:51.280 --> 00:40:52.639 So we'll start at 9.30. 00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:58.320 And if you come to that service, we'll have champagne and chocolate after the service to celebrate uh the birth of the of the Lord. 00:40:58.400 --> 00:41:01.039 So that'll only be after the 9:30. 00:41:01.199 --> 00:41:05.760 Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year, and we'll have one service at 9 a.m. 00:41:06.159 --> 00:41:09.679 So uh that's the schedule, and and you'll see it. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:14.320 Um I also want to raise up to you two more two more opportunities. 00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:15.519 I know that's a lot. 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:17.199 Uh we could do more together, right? 00:41:17.360 --> 00:41:17.920 That's what we say. 00:41:18.079 --> 00:41:19.599 So, two more opportunities. 00:41:19.760 --> 00:41:28.800 On Lessons and Carol's Day, that's the 11th, um, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will be here accepting donations and and look, they're down. 00:41:29.039 --> 00:41:33.599 Every time I go, they say, please give us whatever you can. 00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:37.280 Uh blood, platelets, plasma. 00:41:37.519 --> 00:41:39.440 It's kind of the easiest thing to do. 00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:44.559 I mean, just to be honest, I can't talk about this enough because I hit my five-gallon mark this year. 00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:46.639 I don't know what to do about the Ukraine. 00:41:46.719 --> 00:41:49.360 I don't know, but I do know I can give blood. 00:41:49.840 --> 00:41:50.960 And people need it. 00:41:51.119 --> 00:41:56.400 So if you're not sure what to do and you're able to give blood, I really want to encourage you to take advantage of this. 00:41:56.559 --> 00:41:58.960 There's a QR code because they ask you to sign up. 00:41:59.119 --> 00:42:07.599 We'll have it in Christ Hall from eight at from nine till about one o'clock on the 11th, the blood drive. 00:42:07.760 --> 00:42:09.760 Last push is it foyers. 00:42:10.079 --> 00:42:13.519 This is a potluck dinner group for eight people. 00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:17.679 Is uh we're the deadline to sign up for that, I think, is next week. 00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:20.239 You can do that with either Lila or myself. 00:42:20.320 --> 00:42:21.840 And again, I just want to encourage you. 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:28.880 This is a really easy way to make potentially lifelong friendships within the congregation by going to a potluck or two. 00:42:29.039 --> 00:42:30.239 Well, four, actually. 00:42:30.320 --> 00:42:33.679 Um just want to encourage you to think through that. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:35.920 Continue to walk in love. 00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:41.280 As Christ first loved us and gave himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:32.400 And almost for an apple, an apple that he talked, as glorious when the apple taken, had the apple taken. 00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:45.119 All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee. 00:44:45.360 --> 00:44:48.559 This is the table not of the church but of Jesus Christ. 00:44:48.800 --> 00:44:52.159 It is made ready for those who love him and those who want to love him more. 00:44:52.320 --> 00:44:55.760 So come, you who have much faith and you who have little. 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:00.880 You who have been here often and you who have not been for a long time or ever before. 00:45:01.199 --> 00:45:04.639 You who have tried to follow and you who have failed, come. 00:45:04.960 --> 00:45:10.320 Not because the church invites you, it is Christ, and he invites you to meet him here. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:15.039 The Lord be with you. 00:45:46.400 --> 00:46:02.960 It is very meet, right, and our bound and duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father Almighty, everlasting God, because thou didst send thy beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and make us heirs in him of everlasting life. 00:46:03.199 --> 00:46:11.119 That when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing. 00:46:11.519 --> 00:46:19.760 Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name, evermore praising thee and singing. 00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:23.599 He made there a full and perfect sacrifice for the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that, his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. 00:47:23.840 --> 00:47:26.960 For in the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread. 00:47:27.119 --> 00:47:32.400 And when he given thanks to thee, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat. 00:47:32.559 --> 00:47:34.800 This is my body which is given for you. 00:47:35.119 --> 00:47:36.960 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:47:38.880 --> 00:47:41.840 Likewise, after supper, Jesus took the cup of wine. 00:47:42.239 --> 00:47:45.840 And when he given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you. 00:47:46.239 --> 00:47:50.719 This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all, for the remission of sin. 00:47:51.039 --> 00:47:54.239 Do this as oft as ye shall drink it in remembrance of me. 00:47:55.920 --> 00:48:17.280 Wherefore, O Lord and Heavenly Father, we thy people do celebrate and make with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy son hath commanded us to make, having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming again with power and great glory. 00:48:17.679 --> 00:48:30.320 And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and with thy word and Holy Spirit to bless and sanctify these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ. 00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:42.480 And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this, our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, whereby we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies. 00:48:42.800 --> 00:48:53.039 Grant, we beseech thee that all who partake of this holy communion may worthily receive the most precious body and blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ, and be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. 00:48:53.280 --> 00:49:03.840 And also that we and all thy whole church may be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom and in whom. 00:49:04.000 --> 00:49:10.079 In the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. 00:49:10.719 --> 00:49:11.360 Amen. 00:49:11.679 --> 00:49:26.400 And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to pray, our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:49:26.639 --> 00:49:45.360 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we free of those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever. 00:49:45.760 --> 00:49:46.400 Amen. 00:50:24.400 --> 00:50:27.840 These are the gifts of God for you, the family of God. 00:50:28.000 --> 00:50:34.559 Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith and with thanksgiving. 00:50:34.719 --> 00:50:39.840 And I invite you to the rail for intention that's dipping to your left, my right. 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:49.199 If you prefer to drink from a chalice, that will be to your right, my left, and reminder that you can skip either element and receive a blessing by crossing your arms. 00:58:17.840 --> 00:58:51.280 Almighty and ever-living God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us in these holy mysteries with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and thou securest thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us, and that we are their remembers incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people, and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom. 00:58:51.519 --> 00:59:05.199