2014 advent 2

Peace

The theme of the second Sunday on Advent is Peace. What are some things that describe peace for you?

Quiet

No violence

…

…

[PPT Slide]

Peace - it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart. (unknown)

 

Other ideas on peace - peace within our own lives, in our community, in creation.

[stable and unstable equilibrium]

This week I have a dove to give each of you to take home.

 

In our candle lighting song :Peace is a prayer that starts with me.

Think of a time when you were aware of God’s peace in your life.

 When you look at the dove, I want to think about God’s peace in your life.

 In what ways might we offer peace to those who do not have peace?

Hand out doves.

 

...

 

Proclamation of the Word

**Idea of writing a Chirtmas list, imaging Christmas Day and relooking at the list is taken from David Lose at working preacher.

 

 Each of you will have a piece of paper, please write down at least 5 things you have/need/want to do before Christmas. Shopping, house cleaning, cards, …..

 [space]

 

Put it aside for a few moments, and we will come back to it.

 

The passage we heard read from Isaiah this morning is similar to last week’s passage. Isaiah was a prophet, this doesn’t mean he was foretelling the future. He was challenging people to return to the essence of their faith. To live as the people of the covenant, to trust in God, to live in ways that were just.

In chapter 10, the people of Israel are told not to fear the Assyrians when they beat and you end up being enslaved to them, for God will deal with them, just as God dealt with the Egyptians. Part of that is that trees will be cut down, and the lofty brought low. He will hack the forest with an axe, and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall.

And a shoot come from the stump of Jesse…..

When the people of Isaiah’s time could see the rise of the Assyrians, when they were concerned about the impending danger, Isaiah, the prophet, wrote of the judgement of God leading to destruction, and the mercy of God leading to renewal.

Sounds similar to John and his message of repentance.

Repentance isn’t confessing sins and receiving forgiveness. Repentance is “about a re-orientation, a change of perspective and direction, a commitment to turn and live differently.” [ii]

Isaiah gives an image of what a renewed creation might be like. Again in this passage, as with last week’s passage, the idea of complete harmony within nature seems impossible.

 

The wolf shall live with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den..[from Isaiah 11]

 

Sounds bizarre!

As part of the workshop on Matthew I was at yesterday, we looked at this passage from Matthew, as if we were travel reporters on the ABC or SBS.  

We imagined we were reporters with a film crew, reporting on the crowd of people in the desert, flocking to hear this man, John was his name, who was telling people to repent, to return to living in the ways of the faith of the ancestors. He was standing in the middle of a river, and people would walk out to him, and he would put them under the water. In asking the locals about this, we were told this was part of the process for new converts to Judaism. But here was John baptism Jews as if they were gentiles. He railed against the religious leaders, and spoke of one who would come after him, who is more powerful, and will baptise with the Holy Spirit.

Sounds bizarre, unless you have heard the story so many times you start to switch off and think of what else to add to your Christmas list. J

Isaiah gives us an image of a peaceable kingdom.

I invite you now to think about what you would like Christmas day to be like – it doesn’t have to resemble reality. In your dreams, what would Christmas Day be like, see it in your mind, smell it, taste it.

 [space]

 

Now look at the list you wrote earlier, do any of the things on the list prepare the way for the kind of Christmas you would like to celebrate?

[space]

This Season of Advent are we in need of repentance, to see things from a different point of view? Are we in need of conversion, as if we were gentiles?

 

John tells the people : “ the axe is lying at the root of the trees: every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Sounds like the prophet Isaiah, the trees will be cut down, but…

Like a green shoot sprouting from a tree stump,
........the family of David will again produce a king.

The Spirit of the LORD will be with him,
........giving him wisdom and insight,
........making him strong and perceptive,
........filling him with knowledge and respect for God.

Treating the LORD with due respect
........will be the new king’s greatest delight.

©2001 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net

Where are the green shoots in your life?

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[ii] David Lose working preacher