WAITING, Remembering, Preparing and Readiness

This Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. So here is the first of the Advent liturgies we will be using in Dundonald Methodist Church this year.

Voice 1: Advent is a time for waiting… [PAUSE]
Voice 2: Advent is a time for waiting;
Voice 1: for the postman;

Voice 2: for the end of school;
Voice 1: for family members to come home;
Voice 2: for standing waiting in a queue;

Voice 1: for waiting for santa for Santa to come and go.
Voice 2: Advent is a time for waiting for God;
Voice 1: for God who came in Jesus the Christ child,
Voice 2: for God who came unexpectedly.
Voice 1: We wait for God, who will come again in a new and surprising way.
Voice 2: We light the first candle to remind us to wait.
[THE FIRST CANDLE IS LIT]
Voice 1: In Luke chapter 12 we read
Voice 2: "Be dressed and ready for action and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
Voice 1: It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
Voice 2: I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
Voice 1: It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night.
Voice 2: You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."
Voice 1 & 2: Let us pray:
All: God, in whom we hope, we wait for your coming to us once again. Help us to stay awake and watch for the signs of your coming, always being ready to open the door and let you in. Amen.

Selah

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