As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Luke 3. 4, 6

O, Come.   Let Us Worship.

Gathering

Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have Mercy Upon Us.

Collect for Today

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open.
You sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare your people to welcome the Messiah. Inspire us, the ministers and stewards of your truth, to turn our disobedient hearts to you; that when the Christ shall come again to be our judge, we may stand with confidence before his glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Isaiah 40.1-11

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Mark 1.1–8

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

"Where Are They Now?" 

Most of you, through our electronic communications, will know that Flo and I have been on a recent trip to Europe, to take in some of the Christmas markets.

As our trip was coming to an end, snow began to arrive in Germany, and particularly in Munich. Consequently, our flight home, and our way home, was changed; some ways feeling a little bit like the Magi.

I am sure Tina was asked many times, and more often than she may have enjoyed this past week, ‘So, where are they, now?’      

The answer today: WE ARE HOME! PRAISE GOD!         

Each year, the global Christian community, by some mysterious arrangement, finds a specific emphasis for Advent and Christmas.          

Early in November, Flo and I attended the latest Christmas movie, ‘Journey to Bethlehem.’

As I shared with the Parish in a Thursday Reflection, how the movie opens with the Magi in discussion about this 'mysterious message' they are reading from the heavens in the alignment of the stars.

Journey to Bethlehem is a 2023 American Christian musical film, directed by Adam Anders in his feature-length directorial debut. Written by Anders and Peter Barsocchini, the film stars Milo Manheim, and Fiona Palomo, as Joseph and Mary, with Antonio Banderas, as King Herod.         

In some ways, the movie is serious. In other ways, it’s very humorous; and, particularly in some of the discussions that we are able to look into, that the three Magi are having on their journey. And as you can imagine, there were sometimes some disagreements about continuing on that journey to Bethlehem.

As the various 'AI Sites' started to post about Christmas 2023, along with several of my colleagues who I follow on our electronic devices, there was this recurring theme of a 'journey with the Magi'. My first response was one of curiosity.

So often, we do not see much of these three individuals until after Christmas, and at Epiphany. We leave them out of the story until after the Nativity. After all, most of the story we are told, the gifts brought by these gentlemen from the Far East were presented following the Birth.         

In reality, as I rethink and review the Scriptures, I have come to the realization: the Nativity of our Lord without the Magi, would be like Easter without Good Friday. Recalling how we say, 'No Good Friday, no Easter.'         

Last week, one of the images I took note of was showing three Magi and one camel. I thought, ‘that’s not the way the movie showed it! There were three camels. Now how is this going to work, if there is only one camel?'

The question, ‘Where Are They Now?’ is not so much about where the Wise Men are today, but more about where are we, the people of the world, at today?         

Isaiah opens with this familiar greeting of Advent: ‘Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.’

This I believe has one focus, a focus directly translating to the world today. The words may be ancient; at the same time, they could not be more appropriate, or closer to the reality that we live in today.

We are all mindful of the various perilous situations in the world. Without going into detail, I think of how the world needs these words of comfort, and how we are called to give comfort to the people.         

Then, upon my return to the Parish this week, as I came into the Sanctuary, I observed two realities, two observations:

• The Angel Tree, which is a tree that appears each year about the beginning of Advent, as a way for us to be angels to children in the community by providing anonymous gifts.

As I looked at the tree, I thought, ’Wow! In two weeks, so many angels have visited the tree!’ I rejoiced in thanksgiving.

• Then I observed the stack of 'gift bags for those in need' in our meeting room;
  all the angels who have assembled them, and the distribution which will take place with Deacon Trish and her ministry with the Community.

Bringing comfort—comfort, O My God!

The prophet Isaiah comes with a great message, not only for the people living in exile in Babylon, but a message the world needs to take heed of. The prophet brings greetings to a group, probably angels, or possible prophets, to speak tenderly to the hearts of the people. The city may be in ruins, or if we are looking through our half-empty glasses: the world is in ruins.

What the world needs is a message of comfort. A message of not our glass being half-empty, but half-full. Or, as we may say picking up with our 2^nd Advent candle: a message of PEACE.

I believe we are called to say to the people we encounter, ‘our time of sorrow is over. People will be comforted; a new era is on the way.’

Certainly, this is the message the ancient astrologers were reading in the stars so long ago.         

The prophet shares with us, today, a message coming from a heavenly Voice “Prepare the way of the Lord.” The prophet is told to “Cry Out,” and the prophet, not unlike us today, who are to be the modern-day prophets, to cry out; to tell the good news, to bring great tidings of comfort and joy. To tell the people, 'here is your God! This God will come as a 'king who really cares.’         

What does this birth bring to the world?         

This Birth, this Nativity, brings a message of redemption, restoration; and he will be like ‘as unto us a shepherd'.

The shepherd imagery is significant to the Nativity of our Lord. We recall how the shepherd, although depicted as one with a ruddy appearance, is one who could not be more tender in caring for their flock. One who gathers the lonely, who brings the strayed back to the family. The shepherd makes us each one with the other.         

Remember, the shepherd leads the flock; the shepherd does not chase the flock from behind.         

There are moments (just as an aside) in large festive gatherings of the Church, and I ask, 'how long will it takefor us to get it right? Why do the “chief shepherds” stand at the back and follow the people in?'

It is obvious, when we do attempt to lead the people in at an Easter Vigil, we are most disorderly.         

Today, the Forerunner enters onto the scene with what we may find an affirming message of what the ancient prophets were telling us for generations. There is One to come, One who will come with a message of repentance to prepare us for our role in this great gift of faith. Faith which today we recognize as our Christian faith.

Today, we visit John in the wilderness, who has three distinct messages for us.

I am not sure how—none do, except John knew, God was about to shake the foundations of the earth and the world needed to be prepared.

John does this with three basic maneuvers.

1. John challenges the forces of corruption.

   John is totally committed to his role in announcing the coming of One Greater. Just the image of ‘one in the wilderness’ is about to attract attention. I am sure there was a curiosity about this person, which simply attracted people to him.

2. John challenges the world to repent.

   This Advent, we salute the Forerunner who prepared the way by challenging the people. He was not after the popular vote. He had eyes only for God.

   Are we ready to share his work and mission? Where are we, today?

3. John comes to us today pointing to the Christ.

Brett Blair, a contemporary theologian, writes, ‘And it was John’s crowning glory, that he saw something which no other had recognized. It is true that others had anticipated that God would intervene in human affairs. They had predicted that the Messiah would come, as the head of a conquering army, the Lion of Judah to the fight!

But this wild man from the wilderness saw into the heart of his nation, and into the mind of His God. This insight he has left for us and our children forever. “Behold,” he cries as he sees Jesus approaching the river, “Behold....not the Lion who will conquer and destroy; but behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

So, where are they today? Where are we, today?

The Magi are beginning the next leg of their journey. We are preparing for the next phase of our journey, in this Advent season; but more importantly, for the next phase of our life as Christians.

We are being called to join with the Prophets, with the Magi and, with John, on the Journey.         

And the leg is one of bringing comfort, which for the purpose of our 2^nd candle in our Advent wreath, is to be 'proclaimers of peace'.

Thanks be to God.

Amen. 

Let Us Pray

Father,
Prepare our hearts to celebrate Your birth joyfully. We thank You for faithfully doing what You promised long ago,  when You sent Your Son to earth, so that we might have the chance to become part of Your family. Let the promise of Your second coming inspire us to live with hope, and purpose.

O Wisdom, from the mouth of the Most High, you reign over all things to the ends of the earth: come and teach us how to live.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Lord, and head of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and you gave the law on Sinai: come with outstretched arms and ransom us. 
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Branch of Jesse, standing as a sign among the nations, all kings will keep silence before you and all peoples will summon you to their aid: come, set us free and delay no more.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Key of David and sceptre of the house of Israel, you open and none can shut; you shut and none can open: come and free the captives from despair, abuse, addiction, homelessness, prison, and war.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Morning Star, splendour of the light eternal and bright Sun of righteousness: come and enlighten all who dwell in shame, suffering, and death.
In our Parish, we pray for: Roy & Gail; Jay; Sue; Sheila; Rita; Roberta; Joan; Cameron; John; Wendy; and the Sipkas; and all those on our hearts.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O King of the nations, you alone can fulfil their desires: Cornerstone, you make opposing nations one: come and save those you fashioned from clay.
Lord Jesus, come soon!

O Emmanuel, hope of the nations and their Saviour: come and save us, Lord our God.
Lord Jesus, come soon!  Amen.

As we wait for Your plan to unfold, give us the patience that we need. Remind us of the peace that we can expect when we take time to still ourselves before You, and remember that You are God.
We thank You that You are both sovereign, and gracious; help us to find rest in the midst of, in what feels like, chaos in our world. Amen.

As our saviour taught us to pray, we say:

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

Help us always, Lord, to hear your prophet’s call to turn our hearts to you; in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.

The Blessing: 

And the Peace of God, 
which passes all understanding, 
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge
of the love of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. Amen. 

Blessing in this time of Advent.