Preparing for Advent

Nine years ago, while worshipping at St Augustine's (Bradford) I led prayers immediately prior to Advent. I used an online article I'd found to frame my intercessions which included prayers for Iraq and Sudan. In preparing for Advent this year I've been prompted to seek the same article out, and I found it here.

I've decided to reproduce the piece in my blog as well, which I invite you to read in a spirit of prayerfulness. I've added some guides and prompts to help you take the theme on and into Advent.

I think the message of this piece is so important:

Do not get so sucked into Christmas preparations you lose yourself, that you become emotionally drained and emptied. Advent is a season where we reacquaint ourselves with HOPE, but all too frequently we're obsessed with guaranteeing the JOY of Christmas we fail to remember that when the great food, loving family and thoughtful presents are a memory, we're still in need of a Saviour. Hope speaks to our real, true, deep selves.

I pray you are blessed this Advent, and that you'll pause (however briefly) beforehand to prepare yourself.

Preparing for Advent

Getting in touch with myself

One of the best ways to prepare for the very special season of Advent is to 'get in touch with ourselves'. It may sound odd, but one symptom of our contemporary lives is that we can often be quite out of touch with what's going on in our very own hearts. We are about to begin Advent, right at the time our western culture begins Christmas preparations. It is a busy time, and our heads are filled with details to remember. And, it is a time of emotional complexity that is part of this holiday season - with all of the expectations and challenges of family and relationships: who we want to be with and who we struggle to be with. So, our hearts are a bit tender, if not completely defended from experiencing anything deeply.

[Take time to slow down, relax and think about the coming weeks. Imagine those scenarios with friends and family. Recall how previous Advents/Christmases have left you feeling]

We are about to hear some very powerful and stirring readings from Isaiah, the Prophet. We will re-enter the ancient tradition of a people longing for the coming of a Saviour. We may remember the days of our childhood when we longed for Christmas to come, because it was a magical time of receiving gifts. As adults, we have to ask ourselves: what is it I long for now? The answer won't come easily. The more we walk around with that question, and let it penetrate through the layers of distraction and self-protection, the more powerfully we will experience Advent.

[Set yourself the challenge of 'walking around with a question in your mind': what is it I long for now? Maybe you could keep a trinket or note in your pocket to remind you about the quesiton during the day. I've sometimes used a Duplo brick, or a small stone. Share any thoughts you might have with a loved one. Pray about answers that come to you]

Salvation from...

We are about to read and pray about the expectant hope of Israel, as expressed through Isaiah. The images we will be using are about darkness and gloom - about thick clouds covering the people - and about hunger and thirst. They are images that attempt to capture a sense of what we feel when we are distant from God. There are many images about war and conflict. They express the powerlessness and anxiety we experience when we feel vulnerable and defenseless. Most of all, there are images of a future day - a day that can only be called the Lord's - when all the tears will be wiped away, when there will be plenty to eat and drink, and when there will be no more conflict and no more war. God's salvation will be made known. God's victory will be complete.

[In what ways are you spiritually hungry and thirsty? Do you feel distant from God? Cut off? Alone? Do you feel like you've been in a battle spiritually? Tell God about these feelings. Bring them to mind during Advent as you hear of the promised Saviour]

These are very precious days for us to come into intimate contact with our own need for salvation. It is a time to make friends with our tears, our darkness, our hunger and thirst. What is missing? What eludes my grasp? What name can I give to the 'restlessness' in my heart? What is the emptiness I keep trying to 'feed' with food, with fantasy, with excitement, with busyness? What is the conflict that is 'eating at me'? What is the sinful, unloving, self-centred pattern for which I haven't asked for forgiveness and healing? Where do I need a peace that the world cannot give?

[Use these questions to examine your walk with God. What do you need, right now, from God? Ask]

Coming to know where I need a Saviour is how I can prepare for Advent. I am preparing to listen to the promises, listen to these rich texts announcing the liberation I can tuly long for. When my heart is open, when my hands are open, when my mouth is open and ready to ask for freedom, healing and peace, then I am ready to begin Advent.

True Ministry (for the masses)

"Don't receive God's grace in vain"

"Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation"

"Having nothing, and yet possessing everything"

"Open wide your hearts"

I'm loving the current series at church on Sunday mornings - 2 Corinthians. We're simply following the lectionary readings, but it gives a greater sense of purpose knowing we're familiarising ourselves more with some slightly less well-known books of the New Testament. The series is called, 'Making True Disciples'.

Yesterday, 24 June, 3rd Sunday after Trinity, we read 2 Corinthians 6:1-13.

As I approach the passage I think I might have taken a very straightforward approach: God is seeking to be reconciled to each and everyone of us (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17-21). This great grace is on offer now - receive it. Have you received it? If not - receive it. If you have and you've blown cold, why? Step back into God's great plan for you. Perhaps you've encountered hard times - great! That's the moment when we most realise what we have in Christ. Open your hearts to the life God has for you.

Evangelistic and Encouraging - and probably shallow. Sure...these themes are here.

However, I was really rather taken with Phil Arnold's approach (Phil is our curate).

1. URGENCY (vv.1-2)
2. AUTHENTICITY (vv.3-10)
3. VULNERABILITY (vv.11-13)

Paul's purpose in writing is (in part) to justify his apostleship - the church in Corinth (that he helped found) considers him a less than impressive specimen of apostleship in comparison to others. In fact, some might suggest Paul's experiences of hardship are signs he was not a great apostle at all.

[As I write this, I can see how easily even I think this of certain leaders. How quickly I judge a person's success based on the relative ease with which they maintain their ministry]

Phil argued that the passage showed three ways in which Paul's ministry was characterised, and so in turn should mark all Christian ministry.

1. Urgency (vv.1-2)
So often in our lives we use all manner of excuses concerning our service to God. We can't find the time, or make sacrifices...or particular tasks will take too much time.

Or we are easily distracted from a legitimate task: that suddenly urgent chore, or the latest news article about this-or-that celebrity, or a website we've meant to look at for some time, and so the procrastination goes...

Or we are enslaved to the tyranny of the urgent. We are forced to fire-fight, to prioritise the urgent but sadly unimportant...

Paul was NOT a procrastinator, was NOT distracted, nor was he prone to focusing on the unimportant.

GRACE-FAVOUR-SALVATION

This is Paul's focus. Is it ours?

2. Authenticity (vv.3-10)
Real ministry is often done in secret. Either it's the tasks we do that are unseen, or the challenging people we chose to tolerate. Inauthentic ministry is marked by the tendency to put obstacles in other people's way. I was challenged to think that my bitching about another Christian, or work colleague could in fact be a cause of stumbling to another true friend.

I watched Frasier recently (Episode 17, Season 3, 'High Crane Drifter') in which he bemoans perceived rudeness of people around him. Something he says struck a chord, "Your rudeness will in turn cause me to be discourteous to another, and so on..."

Real ministry seeks to stop the chain-reaction of rudeness and discourtesy.

This happens because we see ourselves, always, as SERVANTS of GOD (v.4).

A life of service commends God's grace because real lives are marked by a balance between struggles/challenges and blessings/provisions.

There are, Phil contended, two problems if you see life as either only blessings, or stuggles:
i) if life is ONLY happiness and blessings, well you're either in denial or else likely to be very disappointed, or
ii) if life is ONLY struggles and challenges, well life is nothing but an endless stream of mishaps and soul-destroying battles.

The first is in plain denial of the experiences of every man, woman and child.
The second is in plain denial of the truth of the resurrection. God comes to bring life, joy and peace now.

Christian's are most attractive when they possess both (challenges and blessings)...in balance. I am more able to draw others to God if they see an authentic life... [I LOVED this point by Phil...] How many of us try to hide what God is doing...do we stress the struggles, or do we ignore the pain believing that Christians can't see us in need?? One is a problem about witness, the other is a problem with fellowship.

3. Vulnerability (vv.11-13)
Which is why, perhaps, Paul ends this passage with a reference to his own emotional needs. He is no superhuman, who faces the slings and arrows of life with a mere shrug of the shoulder. We might find his list somewhat intimidating - giving the impression of a hero (vv.4-5; cf. 11:23-27). Instead, Paul says - please love me?!

We may be called to a tough life - but this should weather us - not harden us [great point!]

We never get to the point where we don't need the love of other people.

True ministry involves all three elements: a life or urgency, lived with authenticity, and in relation to others in a spirit of vulnerability.

This is - after all - the life Jesus lived. He strained for the gospel, being with those around him in the good and bad, never pretending to be happy when he wasn't...our great servant King.

Phil's final point was simply to say that in ministry (a task that isn't actually for the professional Christians, but for all) we are commending ourselves to others. When we reach out to others we are saying - Accept me...my life, my message, my love.

For when another accepts me, they are, in fact, accepting Jesus.

HOPE & GAMBLE

At a loose end this weekend? Feeling a bit listless?

You should check out: Hope and Gamble.

Starting tomorrow night, at Bradford Cathedral, and throughout the weekend there is going to be something special happening.

Sue Hope and Robin Gamble are presenting three evenings of what they are calling ‘Christianity with a Light Touch’. This is an opportunity for us to hear the good news of Jesus for ourselves and for our friends. An opportunity to hear afresh the challenge and comfort of the gospel.

The evenings are a mix of worship (brought by yours truly), performance (the legendary John Froud), interview, media, and talk.

This event was held in 2010 to much aclaim. See here for 2010's flier...

This year's theme is: More Than Gold

Each night starts at 7.30pm

Friday 18th May - The Race of Life

Birth, childhood, adulthood and growing older. It's all one big adventure, a journey, perhaps even a race against time.

Saturday 19th May - Not a Sprint, but a Marathon

Day after day, year after year, uphill and downhill, great times and difficult ones. And somehow, Jesus being alive and sharing the journey with us, offering healing, strength, inner peace and direction when we get lost.

Sunday 20th May -More Than Gold

Can we all win medals, or something even greater?
And if we can all be winners then why is Jesus the loser?
This is the time for the real you, the deep down you to draw close and receive something more than gold.

The event starts at 7.30pm each night...but (and I exaggerate not) you should come early to avoid bad seats!


About Robin and Sue:

Robin Gamble is Priest-in-charge of Idle and Bradford’s Diocesan Evangelist. Prior to that he was Canon Evangelist for Manchester Diocese. He is well known for leading St Augustine’s Church in Bradford from a congregation of 30, worshipping under a leaking roof to over 300 people worshipping in a completely renovated building, incorporating a cafe and public library. Robin was the originator of ‘The Gospel according to Queen’, ‘Bart Simpson meets Jesus’ and the Da Vinci code events.

Sue Hope is Priest-in-charge of Shipley, St. Paul’s and is also Adviser in Evangelism to the Bradford Diocese. Prior to that Sue was in parish ministry for nearly twenty years before becoming Sheffield Diocesan Missioner. She was a Canon of Sheffield Cathedral and is a member of the College of Evangelists and a Six Preacher of Cantebury Cathedral. Sue has vast experience both as a parish Priest and Rural Dean.

Countdown to Pentecost - Day 2 of 9 - JOY

Upon reflection I do not think it is possible to argue that a Christian can be joyful on the inside without displaying some of the gladness of spirit on our face! Joy is not a spiritual form of happiness - it is the deepest and most real happiness. It is temporal and emotional. Joy should be written on our faces.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

When did you last get asked why you are so cheerful?
When did someone last ask why you face difficulties with joy?
Do you smile much?

I've often found it helpful to think of the fruit of the spirit in terms of their opposites. For example, the opposite of love is obviously hatred. Joy is far less easy to polarise. It would be easy to describe anti-joy as unhappiness, or sadness, but somehow this feels weak, perhaps? Surely joy is more serious than happiness, more spiritual?

I'm constantly troubled my desire to systemise all the lists in the Bible, but I wonder if there is a progressiveness to Paul's list of fruit? After all, he clearly states in 1 Corinthians that love is the greatest, which implies that all other fruit is an outworking of love. This makes more sense when we reflect on Paul's injunctions that without love our acts are nothing. It is entirely possible to be kind and patient and self-controlled without recourse to love, and (as explored yesterday) this love is rooted in our response to God's mercy.

So joy is a response to the love God shows and gives. In making sense of this I think there are a number of prompts for our joy:

Firstly, we become joyful when we learn move of God's nature and his design for our life. We encounter God as our redeemer and saviour. He saves us, purifies and cleanses us from sin, and provides the energy to live a life of devotion. He doesn't remove us from the trials of life, but asks that we endure suffering as a constant reminder of what God passed through to achieve our redemption. The Psalmist speaks of God's presence as place that fills people with joy (Psalm 16:11), a place that the Psalmist longs for (Psalm 27:4). The Bible also speaks of our God as the one "who will not yield (his) glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). We read in the Bible of our awesome God, who is entirely worthy of our worship, and this in turn helps us see that we are made to worship Him.

Secondly, we see how God sought to bring us back into his design. God displayed his love for us on the cross, the Spirit seeks to enable us to offer a response that befits such sacrifice. Furthermore, the cross did away with the necessity for the law, which was master at squeezing out joy. Our abundant lives are marked by freedom: freedom from sin, from the law...indeed, the Easter motif in the church is about our redemption from slavery. As Moses, we should be filled with joy, not only that God is worthy, or we are made to worship, but that God chose to intervene so decisively.

Thirdly, we can be assured of his work in our life by suffering, which is a cue for praise. Much of the New Testament is an encouragement to those who are suffering (Heb 10:34; 1 Peter 1:6,8; Romans 5:3; James 1:2). Jesus himself indicates that persecution is a mark of walking with Him (Matthew 5:11f.), but that in response we should "rejoice and be glad". This is no mere flippant cheeriness, nor a pollyanna complex which says things are fine when they are not. It would be immoral for a rape victim to smile through the pain stating that 'it's all fine, no really, I'm happy!' The joy that accompanies suffering and persecution is related entirely to our knowledge of the benefits of the cross, the example of Jesus himself. [On a personal level, I cannot quite explain the joy I now feel as I look at my son, who came after my wife and I lost a child, Thea, at 22 weeks or a pregnancy. The pain and sadness that accompanied the loss of Thea is somehow purified in the joy of Elijah's arrival. It doesn't say that Thea's death was a happy event, just that the inexpressible joy Peter speaks of often comes through the pain.]

Finally, joy comes as we are assured of His return. Paul speaks of joy that comes from "the hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:2). The Bible speaks openly of Jesus' return - does this fact cause us to worry or rejoice?

So joy comes as we see who God is, what we're made for, what He has done for us, the life He calls us to lead, and the promise of eternity in His presence.

Therefore, when we think of the fruit of joy, what might we expect to see in our life?
- Joy in worship
- Joy in demeanour

Joy in worship
The Spirit's fruit of joy is seen in corporate gatherings. Worship is often maligned as time-wasting. It is the support act to the real job of Evangelism. This position totally minunderstands the enormous benefits worship can bring to helping us feel (yes, feel) more joyful! Man's first, chief and highest end is to glorify God. When we act in ways to fulfil this purpose we begin to experience an intensity of joy, hitherto unknown.

Pentecost represents the moment, from which “the worship of the new age had been ushered in. The church, the assembly for worship, was praising God...Reverent corporate worship, then, is not optional for the church of God…Rather it brings to expression the very being of the church. It manifests on earth the reality of the heavenly assembly” (Clowney)

Paul asks the Colossians to sing. So should we. I am deeply suspicious of those who do not 'get' worship. I realise it is not the be all and end all, but it can effect such profound change. I blog elsewhere on worship, but a few pointers here.

Are you consciously adoring God in your heart, when you come to church?
Are you engaging with praising with your voice (speaking or singing)?

Joy in demeanour
Knowing that we are to live forever, do we give the impression that we'd sooner die and rot? I think too many Christians are appalling advertisements for God, his character and his work, by the grumpiness with which we operate. Some translations of the word joy in Galatians 5 include: gladness, happy, or even "exuberance about life".

So the challenge this day, concerning this fruit has to be about our outlook:
- Are we failing to be who we're made to be?
- Are we failing to obey God's word?
- Am I unwittingly marginalising the importance of joy becuase that's not my personality type?

Some verses to end:

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glopry and honour and power.
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being"
(Revelation 4:11)

REFERENCE
Clowney, E. (n/a) 'The Biblical Theology of the Church'. In: Carson, D.A. The Church in the Bible and the World. pp.17-19