Federated Church of Port Byron Ny

Mark 1:1-8 "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way." Mark 1:2 (Malachi 3:1, Isaiah 40:3)... Preparation for the Messiah seems to be a big thing for God. God's not going to just drop the Messiah in the middle of Jerusalem and let him fend for himself. No, God sent someone, John, to prepare the way, to get things ready. He sent John to make sure people were ready to listen to the "good news". The Scriptures from the Old Testament reflect the preparations for a king traveling through his kingdom. Servants were sent ahead to make sure the roads were smooth and free of obstructions. Literally to "make the hills low and raise the low places up." In that way the king and his guards and those who traveled with him had a smooth journey. John came to herald the new kingdom. He came to convict the people of their sins and to baptize them into new life. And people flocked to him! He was the "every man's" hero. So much so that his followers were found all through Israel and into the land of the gentiles. Paul even encounters them at Ephesus years after John's death.( Acts 19:1-7) But John was just the one who would prepare the way for Jesus, the Messiah. God still sends people whose ministry is to prepare the way for the Messiah, the Christ. People who remove obstacles to belief through grace and love. People who smooth out the rough places so God can more easily come in. People who are open to listen and truly hear what may keep someone from belief and not judge but accept them anyway. God still uses "prepares" for the Kingdom. Amen Now would be a good time to sing a few favorite Christmas carols!

If you would like to participate in communion this Sunday, please bring your own bread and juice. Thank you.

Mark 13:24-37 "Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come." Mark 13:35... When I was a child Christmas eve was a most magical time for me. We had a large dinner of the 7 fishes (as all our neighbors did.) my grandparents were there and there were presents under the scraggly tree. We didn't know it was a "Charlie Brown tree," it was just the leftover that my pop-pop Movsovich made a deal for at the last minute. After dinner Santa visited (my pop-pop Movsovich) and finally it was time for bed. "Keep alert" was in my blood. I slept next to a window and kept keenly alert for any signs of reindeer until I could no longer keep my eyes open. I just did not know the time he would come but I did my best to be awake to meet him (Santa, not Jesus) I wish I could recapture the excitement and certainty of those young years and apply it to him, Jesus. But as an adult it seems the stories of his return are not as exciting as I wish they were. Yes, I truly believe that Jesus will someday return, but "someday" isn't as imminent as Santa's yearly return was when I was a child. As adults we have let go of the wonder and excitement of our childhood mysteries and replaced them with facts and figures. I want to be as excited about Jesus as My child self was about Santa. I want to keep awake as long as I can to be there to welcome him and have milk and cookies with Jesus on Christmas Eve. And maybe I'll just try this year. Maranatha (come Lord Jesus!)

Mark 13:24-37 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory." Mark 13:26... Most of the early Advent scriptures come from either the prophets or the Gospel stories of the end of time and Jesus' return. This is because we are waiting for the "Advent" of his return to earth to claim his kingdom. The earliest churches thought that was imminent. It was about to happen momentarily. And while Jesus said only the Father knows the timetable, people have spent years looking for clues in Scripture. Sadly, God is really, really good at keeping a secret. The only worthwhile clue is to "watch and wait". So there is no need to waste time on speculation. So how would your life be different if you knew for certain that Christ would return on a given day, say Wednesday, December 2nd? Really. What would you do? There would be no reason to wash clothes. You probably have enough clean ones around. Would you call in to work "sick" on Monday and Tuesday? Or would the return coming so soon upset you? There wouldn't be enough time to do all those things you still want to do. Just one more day, please! Do we really want time and space to end now? Well, don't worry about it. No one really knows but the One who created all "this." And that One is not talking. Really, I guess it's for the better not to know. If we live our lives as if we were a part of God's Kingdom now it would make no difference. Jesus calls us to wait and watch, and to follow him in our daily lives and that is enough. In fact that is all you can do. Hymns can be "O come, O come Emmanuel"" and any Christmas hymn you like!