We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Advent 1, Nov. 27, 2016

November 27, 2016 (full size gallery)

Two services today – 7 at 9am and 40 at 11am. A beautiful Sunday with a bite in the air with plenty of sunshine on this Thanksgiving Sunday. The great Sycamore colors were possibly at their height. There was a stillness on the river.

We dedicated a new frontal and stoll crafted by Susan Tilt. Catherine provided an extended homily on the use of blue which is becoming more popular than the traditional purple. Blue is the color of Mary, the color of heaven, the color of hope and for St. Peter’s the most prevalent color on the restored altarpiece. 

We were glad to have Susan Onderdonk and her mother Shirley to help with 11am offertory. Susan sang "Christians all, your Lord is coming". In honor of her birthday today the choir sang one of her favorite hymns – "Song of the Saints", a All Saints hymn we did not do. Catherine presented Susan and Shirley with gifts. 

The first Sunday of Advent is one of change. A change to the altar in color; a change in the year – Advent is the first Sunday in the church year where this year we shift in the lectionary from Year C (Luke) to Year A (Matthew). A change in focus since Advent means to come:

  1. The Coming of God to the world as a human baby
  2. The Coming of God to the world in His glory at the end of time where God’s purposes will be fulfilled
  3. The Coming of God into the world today. Jesus comes to us now in word and sacrament, in prayer and praise, in his Body, the Church. By the work of the Holy Spirit, the Jesus who was born in the past in Bethlehem and who will come in the future is present to us and in us now.

In a timing of coming, the scripture the Gospel this week emphasizes the need to prepared for future events.

In our scriptures, particularly in Matthew’s Gospel the season of Advent begins with a look to the future coming (parousia of the Son of Man. While we typically live with a fairly linear view of time — one event coming after another — the church’s liturgical and lectionary calendar is cyclical — patterns of events repeating themselves. For this reason, the church year that begins in Advent puts in front of us passages about the end of history before moving in later weeks to prepare us for the coming of the Christ child and the dawn of a new age.

There are many ways to group the lectionary. Here we look at it as a form of invitation to await the Christ child

Another way is group around the 5 candles on the Advent wreath.

  1. God’s people -The Candle of Hope.
    Hope is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the hope we have in Jesus Christ.
  2. The old testament prophets – The Candle of Peace
    Peace is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the peace we find in Jesus Christ.
  3. John the Baptist – The Candle of Love
    Love is like a candle shining in a dark place. As we look at the light of this candle we celebrate the love we have in Christ.
  4. Mary the mother of Jesus – The Candle of Joy
    Joy is like a light shining in a dark place. As we look at this candle we celebrate the joy we find in Jesus Christ.

The fifth candle represents the birth of Christ. The flame of this candle remind us that He is the light of the world and that if we follow Him, we will never walk in darkness, but will have the true light of life.

The sermon concentrated on coming, hope from the first candle and being prepared. 

"Today’s lectionary passages provide us with some thoughts about how to keep this Advent hope awake, long after the season of Advent has ended, and to stay on watch for Jesus to show up, usually when we least expect him, and to bring in God’s reign. The sermon did this by looking in Catherine’s Mother in Law’s purse to find a clock purse, a ticket, pair of shoes, coffee cup, flashlight

The conclusion: 

  1. Know what time it is!
  2. Put on the armor of light!
  3. Get up the nerve to use that ticket and go on that journey to the house of the Lord!
  4. Walk in God’s paths!
  5. Stay awake and alert and be ok with the mystery of God’s timing!
  6. But most of all, carry the light of Christ with you at all times, the light that shines in the darkness –and the darkness cannot overcome it.

One last thing—now that Advent is finally here, let’s give a shout out to this season of hope—“our assured shout of cosmic hope…” “Come, Lord Jesus!”

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