the first sunday of advent
the PRAYER. . .
Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection save us from the threatening dangers of our sins, and enlighten our walk in the way of your salvation, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
the READING. . .
[Jesus said to the disciples,] “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father ….”
the DEVOTION. . .
Two thousand years. Twenty-four thousand weeks. Seven hundred thirty thousand days. It’s hard to wrap our minds around numbers that large. But that’s how long – give or take – Christianity’s been around. One hundred generations of wars and rumors of war! One hundred generations of nation against nation, of kingdom against kingdom! One hundred generations of famines and fire and flood! A hundred generations of watching and waiting for the hour, for the day, that after two thousand years hasn’t come.
Truth is, Christ doesn’t come just once … or twice … but, over the centuries, has come time and time and time again! In words spoken! In words sung! In water! Bread! Wine! In each heartbeat and every breath! Whenever two or three are gathered, Christ comes and is there … within, between, among! Maybe, the unexpected hour of which Christ speaks isn’t some uncertain tomorrow … but, maybe, it’s this very moment!
Bob Barndt, pastor