St Clement Church Third Sunday of Advent
Community Service
Good morning to you all
Today is the third Sunday of Advent where we continue to look at John the Baptist. Last week he was a voice crying in the wilderness; this week, he is threatening wrath, fire, and axes.
But what is his challenge to us?
My love to you all
Liz
In this Advent of expectation draw us together in unity, that our praise and worship may echo in these walls and also through our hearts.
In this Advent of expectation draw us together in mission, that the hope within may be the song we sing, and the melody of our lives.
In this Advent of expectation draw us together in service, that the path we follow may lead us from a stable to a glimpse of eternity.
Amen
We say together:
God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time.
Amen
Hymn: 362 Glorious things of thee are spoken
We say together our Prayer of Penitence:
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; turn your face from my sins and blot out all my guilt; create a pure heart within me, O God, renew an upright spirit deep within me.
Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Amen.
The Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent
O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Readings:
Zephaniah 3. 14 - 20
Philippians 4. 4 - 7
Hymn: 15 The Lord will come and not be slow
Gospel: Luke 3. 7 - 18
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’
And the crowds asked him, ‘What then shall we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’
Even tax-collectors came to be baptised, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’
He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’
Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered them all by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Last week John the Baptist was a voice crying out in the wilderness. This week he is a name-calling zealot for repentance, threatening wrath, fire and axes.
“You brood of vipers, you sons of snakes. I don’t want to hear about Abraham. I don’t care who your dad is. I want you to do something.”
He doesn’t want excuses, he wants action. “Bear fruits worthy of repentance,” he says.
“What then should we do?” That question is asked of St John three times. The crowds ask it. The tax collectors ask it. The soldiers ask it. It’s a question many of us are asking these days.
How many of us have asked that question as we look at the world today. My guess is that most of us have.
How many of us have had circumstances in our personal lives or relationships that left us asking that question. I suspect we all have.
“What then should we do?” We know that question all too well. It’s the question we ask when life is complicated and difficult, and the world has gone mad. So, let me ask you this. What’s behind the question? What’s it really about? I think it’s more than a request for information. I don’t think people are saying, “Tell me what to do. Give me an answer.” I think that question points to and reveals our sense of powerlessness. When we ask that question, I hear us saying that we’ve come up against something bigger than ourselves. We’re scared and overwhelmed. Life is out of control. We feel helpless to fix the situation.
Why do I say that? Well, most of the time we know what to do. Every day we make hundreds of decisions, big ones, little ones, important ones, unimportant ones, life changing ones, some with long lasting consequences, and others with temporary effect. Think about all the decisions you have made since you got up this morning to this moment. You knew what to do. I’m not saying we always get it right but that we generally know what to do. But, when our world gets turned upside down, when life feels more than we can handle, when we feel powerless, that’s when we cry out, “What then should we do?”
If that question comes from a deep place within then our response must also come from that same deep place. Our response to that question must begin not with what is happening around us but with what is happening within us. It must begin with our sense of powerlessness. If we focus only what is happening in the world around us our reponse is basically limited to fight or flight, neither of which are “fruits worthy of repentance.”
On the one hand our words and actions take on a violent tone. We stereotype, blame, and act against all Muslims, all refugees, all poor people, all police officers, all members of political parties. When we do that, we become just a bit more like the evildoers against whom we are fighting. On the other hand, we can become silent and passive and deny any responsibility and declare it to be somebody else’s fault. When we do that, we’re standing dangerously close to the border of indifference, one step away, and the only thing worse than the evil we are fleeing is our indifference to that evil. Either way, fight or flight, nothing changes, least of all us.
Powerless is the middle ground between fight and flight. We are powerless to fight the world’s situations on our terms and we are powerless to get away from them. That’s the source of much od our fear, anxiety, anger and frustration. That powerlessness, however, is our way forward. Our powerlessness opens us to a new and different source of empowerment. Instead of limiting possibilities our powerlessness now creates new possibilities with “the one who is more powerful.” Powerlessness doesn’t mean we have no choices it means that we must make different choices. We may be powerless to change the world but we can choose to change ourselves. We may be powerless to escape the world but we can choose to live a different way.
Isn’t that what John is telling those who come to him? He doesn’t ask them to change the world but to change themselves. He doesn’t tell them to quit their jobs but to live a different life. The crowds who came to him could not eliminate poverty, but they could share what they have with the cold and hungry. The tax collectors who came to him could not overhaul the tax code, but they could be honest. The soldiers who came to him could not end the Roman occupation, but they could act with integrity and not abuse their power. In each of these situations John focuses on people and relationships. His answers are simple, concrete, practical.
So, what should we do? This probably won’t come as a surprise to you, but I can’t tell you. I can’t answer that question for you. It’s your question to ask and yours to answer.
- We regularly have a collection for the Food Bank. That is an act of repentance. It won’t eliminate hunger in Truro but we refuse to be indifferent. It’s a way we realign our lives and values with the life and values of Christ.
- We started our Pencalenick Coffee Morning. This is an act of repentance. It will not change the world’s attitude to difference but it does show the children how they are valued and accepted for who they are.
- When there were riots and looting some months ago after the stabbings by a ‘supposed’ Muslim refugee, who was it who came out to help clear up and support those whose property had been damaged? It was the Muslim community. That will not eliminate prejudice or hatred but it is a reclaiming, recognition and return to a shared humanity.
- Someone told me that he had restricted the amount of time he watches or reads the news. This is not because he is ignoring or denying the events of the world and it’s not running away. It’s repentance. He is turning away from what is toxic for him, making space, and opening his heart to hear a different voice.
Each one of those is a simple concrete, practical act of repentance. Each one arises from powerlessness. They may not change the world, but they continue to hold the door open for the coming of “the one who is more powerful.”
What then should you do? Better yet, let me ask you this. What then will you do?
Amen
Let us affirm our faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God.
Though he was divine, he did not cling to equality with God, but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave, he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself and was obedient to death, even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high, and given him the name above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Amen
Hymn: 11 O come, O come, Emmanuel
Our Intercessions
Mighty God, as we contemplate the teaching of John the Baptist on our Advent journey, give us courage to be faithful and “to bear fruits worthy of repentance” until your promises are fulfilled.
Help us to look forward in hope to the coming of our Saviour. May we live as he taught, ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God, we pray for people in parts of the world where life is precarious, whether through terrorism, disaster, poverty, disease, drought, flooding, or war. We pray that the time may be hastened when there is peace on earth and goodwill between all people.
Especially we pray for our precious world; help us all to be good stewards so that we can pass on our world in good order to the generations yet to come.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, as we approach Christmas we so often fail to hear you; we are busy with so much that we go about the things we do as though trapped in household routine, hardly giving a thought to what our lives and the season of Advent are all about. Our spirits grow tired and you, Father God, can seem far away. Help us to hear your voice today and be with every gift we buy, every one we wrap, and with those who receive and open them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the gift of life and we pray for those whose lives are troubled by illness, grief, poverty or injustice. We pray that to the darkness of their suffering and pain your Advent light will shine To bring them the assurance and hope of the coming of your Son, Jesus. We remember at this time those known personally, and we remember especially: Ken and Reverend Diane, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Maureen, Pam and David, Barrie and Sandra, Roger and Helen, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, William, Jane, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Andy, Anne, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Jane, Carrie and John Paul, and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. We now commend the departed to your merciful love.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, who sent John the Baptist to proclaim the Good News help us as we go from this church to be true heralds of the coming of Christ and to proclaim the Gospel through all we do and say.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Let us pray with confidence as our risen Lord taught us;
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
An Advent Poem
Where do we find hope Our world so desperately needs? The Christmas story uncovers It belongs to teenage mothers And brown skin boys And poverty line families of diaspora And natives of colonized nations And refugees from tyranny And victims of religious scandal And all who gaze at the stars The hope that is with us The hope that inhabits The hope that is our very lives Emmanuel
Notices
The Peace
God has called us to live in peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 136 Tell out my soul
The Blessing
May the Father’s hand keep us from stumbling, the footprints of Jesus give us confidence to follow, and the fire of the Spirit keep us warm and safe in our walk with God this day.
Amen