Peace - a service for the second Sunday in Advent

Welcome and Call to Worship

474 Hail to the Lord’s anointed

Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

At our Explore singing evening Richard Sharpe introduced us to a number of hymns for Advent – some were in a new collection of hymns written by John Campbell, one time Principal of Northern College, where Graham Adams has been acting Principal this term.

The hymns had been written to go with services he had prepared.

We are going to work backwards from the hymn and put together today’s service for the second Sunday in Advent from the verses of the hymn and then sing that hymn together.

As Christmas approaches we turn to Luke 1 and 2 that tell the story of the journey to Bethlehem, no room in the inn and the birth of Jesus to Mary; we turn to Matthew 1 and 2 with the account of the nativity and visit of the wise men.

We turn to John 1 with its wonderful opening words that speak of the Word of God made flesh in Jesus.

But we rarely turn to Mark 1. Mark doesn’t include any account of the birth of Jesus – and yet the opening of Mark’s gospel takes us to the heart of the message of Advent.

The opening verses could be the description of the start of the Gospel … or it could be a title for the whole gospel.

An ancient tradition suggests Mark’s gospel was based on the reminiscences of Peter. It’s usually suggested that John Mark took down notes from Peter while he was imprisoned in Rome.

Another commentary invites us to reflect on the possibility that Mark’s gospel emerges from the church community that met in Peter’s house in Capernaum. Most suggest it is the earliest Gospel. What if it is written as the storm clouds are gathering in Galilee in the 60’s AD. The zealots have won out. Those who want to take up arms against Rome have won the argument and there is about to be a rebellion.

And it is clear the Romans are going to put the rebellion down brutally.

What of the foillowers of Jesus?

They are drawn to Jesus’ way, a very different way, that rejects the violence of the zealots and is built on love for God, love for neighbour nd love for enemy too.

So the life and teaching the death and resurrection are only the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We need always to recall the life and teaching, the death and resurrection of Jesus – and keep the faith, hold to the way of Jesus.

This is very powerful for us, not least this year, with all its uncertainties. The violence unleashed by Trump in Palestine and Israel – hang on there.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We look to the coming of Christ as Advent unfolds. We are to keep the faith, hold on to the way of Jesus.

So what is the basis for our faith.

First, we look to the written word. The opening of Mark’s Gospel echoes the opening of the Torah – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Then Mark quotes from the prophet Isaish

The Written Word

In the beginning – from Genesis 1

First, we look to the written word. The opening of Mark’s Gospel echoes the opening of the Torah – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Then Mark quotes from the prophet Isaish

Reading: Mark 1:2-3

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,

‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,

   who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:

   “Prepare the way of the Lord,

   make his paths straight” ’,

It’s all about preparing The Way.  The Way we are to follow.

These words of Isaiah come from a time when everything has collapsed, the people are in exile in Babylon and everything is devastated. And yet there are words of hope …

 & Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people,

   says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

   and cry to her

that she has served her term,

   that her penalty is paid,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

   double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:

‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,

   make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be lifted up,

   and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

   and the rough places a plain.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

   and all people shall see it together,

   for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

A voice says, ‘Cry out!’

   And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’

All people are grass,

   their constancy is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

   when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;

   surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades;

   but the word of our God will stand for ever.

Get you up to a high mountain,

   O Zion, herald of good tidings;

lift up your voice with strength,

   O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,

   lift it up, do not fear;

say to the cities of Judah,

   ‘Here is your God!’

See, the Lord God comes with might,

   and his arm rules for him;

his reward is with him,

   and his recompense before him.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd;

   he will gather the lambs in his arms,

and carry them in his bosom,

   and gently lead the mother sheep.

In bold:

1.      Comfort,

2.      The Way to follow

3.      Valleys lifted up, rough places smoothed, mountains lowered

4.      The Word of God abides for ever

5.      Here is our God

6.      He will feed his flock like a shepherd.

This is what we hold on to.

We can make these words our prayer

God, who spoke in the beginning,

by your word all life began!

Still, your words in Law and story,

shape our purpose, show your plan.

Ancient words we all inherit,

words of wisdom, help and merit,

teach us how we ought to be:

humble, gracious, endlessly.

By your written words draw near,

let your love sustain us here.

112 God whose almighty word

1          God, whose almighty word,

            chaos and darkness heard,

            and took their flight:

            hear us, we humbly pray,

            and where the gospel-day

            sheds not its glorious ray,

            let there be light!

2          Saviour, who came to bring

            on your redeeming wing

            healing and sight,

            health to the sick in mind,

            sight to the inly blind:

            O now to all mankind

            let there be light!

3          Spirit of truth and love,

            life-giving, holy dove,

            speed on your flight!

            move on the water's face

            bearing the lamp of grace

            and, in earth's darkest place,

            let there be light!

4          Gracious and holy Three,

            glorious Trinity,

            wisdom, love, might:

            boundless as ocean's tide

            rolling in fullest pride

            through the world far and wide,

            let there be light!

John Marriott (1780–1825)

The Fiery Prophet

For Mark it wasn’t just a written word from the past. It was a living word from the present.

And so he turns next to tell of John the Baptist. This goes right to the heart of Advent. The birth of John the Baptist figures large in Luke 1 and 2.

He comes on the scene here in Mark 1:4-8

Reading: Mark 1:4-8

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness,

proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

And people from the whole Judean countryside

and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him,

and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair,

with a leather belt around his waist,

and he ate locusts and wild honey.

He proclaimed,

‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me;

I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.

I have baptized you with water;

but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

A baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Repentance – a whole new way of thinking

Clothing and diet – that of a prophet – reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha.

The prophets had been dormant.

Now a prophet had arisen.

What did prophets do?

They spoke truth to power.

Luke tells us more of John’s message – a radically different message that was opposed to the Roman way and the way of Herod.

Indeed, it is when he speaks out against Herod and his personal dealings that John is arrested. And only then does Jesus minhistry begin – but it is as if Jesus takes up the mantle of John.

Who are those prophetic voices speaking truth to power today. The living prophets we need to heed.

Bishop Angelos of the Coptic Christians challenging us to forgive.

Gordon Wilson’s widow.

Bringing forgiveness into the heart of our way of living.

We can use these words as a prayer …

God, who sent us fiery prophets,

fearless, faithful, all for you,

still, their strident call for justice

speaks to challenge all we do.

Living, present, urgent voices

put before us vital choices:

will we work for God today,

will we follow in your way?

Through such prophets, still draw near;

let your love sustain us here.

277 Hark the glad sound

1          Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,

            the Saviour promised long;

            let every heart exult with joy,

            and every voice with song!

2          He comes the prisoners to relieve,

            in Satan's bondage held;

            the gates of brass before him burst,

            the iron fetters yield.

3          He comes the broken hearts to bind,

            the bleeding souls to cure;

            and with the treasures of his grace

            to enrich the humble poor.

4          The sacred year has now revolved,

            accepted of the Lord,

            when heaven's high promise is fulfilled,

            and Israel is restored.

5          Our glad hosannas, prince of peace,

            thy welcome shall proclaim,

            and heaven's eternal arches ring

            with thy most honoured name.

Scottish Paraphrases (1781)

There’s the power of the written word – do join us in reading together from Fresh from the Word – copies available.

There’s the living word of fiery prophets who are around today – and whose voice needs to be heard.

But then there is the presence of God in Jesus.

The question I will be posing for Year 7’s tomorrow from Pittville – the God we believe in, the God of the Universe, the God of philosophy, of the God made known to us in Jesus.

My usher rang out of the blue this week – and he’s been to Skegness – not sure if it is Butlins any more. A folk festival, Billy Bragg, and Martyn Joseph – had 2000 people eathing out of his hand – this was the first I heard Martyn Joseph – and it’s stuck with me ever since.

What if God was one of us?

God Present in Jesus

This is what we are to hold on to, this is the way we are to follow …

Reading: Mark 1:9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee

and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And just as he was coming up out of the water,

he saw the heavens torn apart

and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And a voice came from heaven,

‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan;

and he was with the wild beasts;

and the angels waited on him.

 Now after John was arrested,

Jesus came to Galilee,

proclaiming the good news of God, and saying,

‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;

repent, and believe in the good news.’

Going to be bpatised by John, Jesus lines himself up with John – he’s with John when it comes to living life under Roman occupation.

And in some way God is in it – something is happening.

And the whole point is that he experiences humanity at its worst – temptation just like any one of us.  HE experiences the wild beasts just like we all do.

Is that a reference to the brutality of the Roman regime as well?

Then comes his message.

The time is fulfilled – this is the moment – seize the moment.

Good News of God.

The kingdom of God has come near – God’s rule is made real.

Repent – have a whole new way of thinking.

This can be our prayer

God who came to us in person,

walking with us here on earth,

still, the way you took in Jesus

shows your wisdom and your worth!

Selfless, sharing, kind and caring,

learning humbly, yet so daring;

for our rescue flailed alive,

spat upon, then crucified.

Living Jesus now draw near,

let your love sustain us here.

And so we look to God present in Jesus and sing that hymn by John Campbell.

God, who spoke in the beginning,

by your word all life began!

Still, your words in Law and story,

shape our purpose, show your plan.

Ancient words we all inherit,

words of wisdom, help and merit,

teach us how we ought to be:

humble, gracious, endlessly.

By your written words draw near,

let your love sustain us here.

God, who sent us fiery prophets,

fearless, faithful, all for you,

still, their strident call for justice

speaks to challenge all we do.

Living, present, urgent voices

put before us vital choices:

will we work for God today,

will we follow in your way?

Through such prophets, still draw near;

let your love sustain us here.

God who came to us in person,

walking with us here on earth,

still, the way you took in Jesus

shows your wisdom and your worth!

Selfless, sharing, kind and caring,

learning humbly, yet so daring;

for our rescue flailed alive,

spat upon, then crucified.

Living Jesus now draw near,

let your love sustain us here.

John Campbell

Prayers of Concern – Sharon

Hymn: God who spoke

Through centuries long the prophets of old

in story and song this promise foretold:

a Saviour anointed, a Sovereign supreme,

divinely appointed to rule and redeem.

In judgment and peace his power shall be shown,

his kingdom increase, his justice be known;

from nation to nation his reign shall extend

the hope of salvation and life without end.

He comes not in state with sceptre and crown,

with panoply great of rank or renown,

but choosing in weakness, his glory put by,

majestic in meekness, to serve and to die.

In mercy he came our burden to bear,

our sorrow and shame, our guilt and despair;

an outcast and stranger, he carried our loss

from Bethlehem's manger to Calvary's cross.

He rose from the grave, exalted again,

almighty to save, immortal to reign;

let sorrows be ended and joy be restored

for Christ is ascended, for Jesus is Lord!

Then honour his Name, rejoice at his birth,

his wonders proclaim through all the wide earth!

the child of our story in Bethlehem's stall

is reigning in glory, our God over all.

Timothy Dudley Smith

Children and Young People return

Lighting the first two Advent Candles

A candle flame takes away the darkness.

As we light our Advent candles we remember that Jesus said,

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

The first candle reminds us of hope in a world that’s often dark and as we light it we remember a verse from Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient when things go wrong and persevere in prayer.

The second candle reminds us of peace. Jesus asked us all to work for peace and to be peace-makers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

We are going to sing the first two verses of the Advent hymn we are singing as we light our candles …

Hymn Your Promises are coming true

Your promises are coming true –

our waiting hopes fulfilled.

Your light has burst upon our world –

the new dawn that you willed.

Your coming gives us hope to live,

and strength, with you, to build.

Come, Jesus, and be with us now,

be with us now,

Come, Jesus, and be with us now!

Our lives are troubled while we wait –

our failure leads to fear.

Great God, we need your healing peace,

both now and ev’ry year.

Come, live and die, that we may live

because you’re always near.

Come, Jesus, and be with us now,

be with us now,

Come, Jesus, and be with us now!

Get the youngsters to share with us what they have been doing.

A Hy-Spirit Song

Words of Blessing