Preparing for Worship November 27th
Advent takes us to Christmas. Three of our Sundays will be “regular” worship services, with special seasonal “add-ons” such as decorating the tree on the third Sunday of Advent. Worship themes will be centered on characters at Christmas: first John the Baptist – someone you would prefer not to have at your holiday parties. How do we deal with unpleasant folks who tell us the truth but make us uncomfortable? Then we have Mary, a teen age mom who reminds us of the passion and search for justice that most adolescents share. Mary gives those desires on to her son. Finally we have Joseph, who wants to do the right thing but is not sure how to figure out what the right thing is. Is it possible to be righteous without being self- righteous?
Focus Reading
Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
3the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5And 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. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He 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. 8I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Focus Questions
1. To what or whom do you look forward?
2. Have you ever gone out to hear a street preacher or a political speech in which you were chastised and assaulted? Did you stay and listen or get mad and leave?
3. What makes you get up in the morning, and move through your day, and, at times, struggle against discouragement, injustice, and despair?
4. If you could describe your greatest longing for your community, for this nation, and for the world, what would it be?
5. What sort of leadership do the church and society and families long for?