Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, and also the second coming of Christ at the renewal of the heavens and earth. This service included two periods of silence as we reflected on these themes.
Between the Old and New Testaments there are 400 years without word from God.
When there is silence from heaven, how do we wait amid noise on earth?
Silence in heaven; turmoil on earth
a dramatic piece, ending with questions to reflect on
to be projected onto a screen that will gradually fade into
darkness
Silence
Voices from the Christmas story
- starting with angel to Zechariah, ending with John 1
lighting eight candles in homage to Hanukkah
- more words from the life of Jesus to end with Great
Commission
Corporate prayer
- thanks for Jesus being born in our world
Meditation – how do we wait for the second coming
Silence
- during which people will be invited to light a candle
as a sign of wanting to participate in bringing in God’s
kingdom on earth
As candles fill the church with light, turn lights down
Prayer – recognising that people wait for different things
and with different feelings
Corporate prayer – we choose to wait in hope
For both of these see here
we are all waiting, lord
some of us are waiting for minor things
that only trouble the corners of our minds from time to time
some of us are consumed by waiting, unable to live fully
until our hopes and fears are resolved
none of us know how things will turn out
but we know that you do
but we know that you love
how do we know how to be faithful, when we don't know how things will work out?
how do we prepare?
what will we do in the meantime?
will it make a difference to what happens?
should we prepare for the best or the worst?
can hope and faithfulness encompass both outcomes?
none of us know how things will turn out
but we know that you do
but we know that you love
how do we wait serenely, when our imaginations get in the way?
how do we wait for god to act, without cooking up strategies for self-defence?
how do we accept uncertainty?
how long should we be prepared to wait?
how do we fill in the time, without wasting it?
none of us know how things will turn out
but we know that you do
but we know that you love
how long does faith last when nothing happens?
why do we expect answers within a certain time?
why do we think the answer will be different, if it doesn't come when we expect it?
do we think that delay means something has gone wrong?
can we think that delay means something is growing, like a flower,
or cooking, like a cake?
none of us know how things will turn out
but we know that you do
but we know that you love
we are all waiting, lord
in hope and in fear
but the difference is often in ourselves rather than in our prospects
when heaven is silent and earth is noisy
help us not to be distracted or misled
help us to be active shapers of the future we long to see
even if we cannot make the future
we will prepare its place
even if we cannot cook the feast
we will lay the table and invite the guests
even if we cannot sing the song
we will make the silence in which it will be heard
even if we cannot see the dawn yet
we will live by the light that we have
we will remember the stories
of how you rewarded those who dared to wait
we will wait in the knowledge
that waiting is not in vain if it is waiting for you
you are the one who holds our future
you are the one who was, and is, and will be
walk with us tonight, and for ever
amen