Advent 1

This Sunday, Nov. 30, is Advent 1. Advent 1 is always a very special Sunday for me, as, nineteen years ago now, it was on the first Sunday of Advent that I experienced a call to ministry, completely out of the blue, up in the balcony of Dublin St. United Church in Guelph. I did not know where that call would lead me at the time and couldn’t have imagined that it would lead me here, doing what I do in this very special place.

We will all be exhaling a sigh of relief this Sunday, some of us likely stumbling in, bleary-eyed, after the St. Nicholas Bazaar on Saturday. It makes sense that on Saturday we feed the community with such good things, and then on Sunday head to the sanctuary to be fed – by being together, by the special hymns and liturgy of Advent, by lighting the first Advent candle – Hope -- and by receiving the bread and ‘wine’ of Communion.

Yes, on Advent 1, we ponder hope. Big sigh, there… So, we’ll start with the prophets of old. Sometimes, we forget that cultures before us also faced trying times. Where did they find hope? Rather than a traditional sermon, we’re going to engage with our text from Isaiah this week via an ancient form of illumination called “lectio divina.” And following worship – lunch! Surely there will be soup left over from the bazaar. And following lunch, for all those who are able to stay, let’s decorate the sanctuary!

To prepare: Find a quiet moment between now and Sunday morning. Just sit, close your eyes, and breathe. Listen. Clear your mind. Give thanks to God.