"Preparing" Matthew 24:36-44 Advent - lA 11/28/04

Thanksgiving is over. The last of the turkey has left the refrigerator or resurfaced as turkey soup. The guests have gone home, we have cleaned the house yet another time and taken a long winter's nap. The stores have announced that as of 5:00a.m. the morning after Thanksgiving that the journey to Christmas has begun. The calendar says 27 days till Christmas.

This is a time of the year packed with many expectations and hopes. A time full of both positive and negative emotions. Generally at this time of the year we have too much to do and too little time to do it in. We may have dreams of a white Christmas with chestnuts roasting on an open fire and tots with their eyes all aglow, only to find that we have times of loneliness and miss people who once gathered at our holiday tables. We may visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads, a finely decorated Christmas tree, gifts for all of our friends and relatives only to acknowledge that financially we are putting ourselves further into debt. The commercial advertisers seem to push us to the limit in the quest for the perfect Christmas. Then for us as Christians there is the added expectation that this is to be a spiritual time. A time when we prepare for Christ's birth. How is this all possible?

Before we get into the throws of the rush to Christmas I want to invite us to reflect this evening upon what we want this Advent season to be like for us as individuals and as a faith community. Before Christmas we have the season of Advent in the life of the church. The season of Advent begins tonight as we light the Advent wreath, put out different altar covers, and is to be marked by a time of preparing for Christ's birth a new this year. What do you want your Christmas to be like this year and how will you prepare for Christ's coming?

There was a great book out a number of years ago called Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Puttinq Love and Joy Back into the Season written by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli. The focus of the book is helping people to plan the Christmas they want to have, that meets their needs and values, and how to make that a loving and joy-filled experience. The first exercise in the book asks you to give three words that best describe the previous Christmas celebration. What they found in their workshops was that people gave responses that reflect the mixed feelings common to the season. Here are some of the responses: "terrified, hopeful, frantic," "joyful, exhausted, church," "stressed-out, anxious, family." Think of some of the words you would use to describe past Christmas holidays. What was good about that and what do you want that to be different this year?

This is indeed a season of preparation, how do you plan to create the Christmas that will fill you up, that will meet your needs, and help you to truly experience Christ's presence anew during this Advent season? I would like to make some suggestions.

Take a look at where you are in your life right now. Are you tired or experiencing physical or emotional challenges that limit your energy? It's okay to plan times of rest, scale down the physical activities that take time and energy and do those things that fill you up. Reading a good book, going to a musical performance, listening to Christmas songs at home, or soaking in a bubble bath after a shopping trip. Speaking of shopping. Maybe this is the year you need to take a look at your gift giving habits. Do you spend too much money? Do you give gifts out of obligations? Do you really want to get one more fruitcake that you don't eat? This might be the year you want to give time to a local charity. Join us when we make the food baskets for Shepherd Wellness. On the other hand you may enjoy gift giving. Making gifts, taking the time to get the gift that will give some one joy can be a filling experience done for the right reasons. This might be a year that you don't want to spend so much time at parties. Go out to Borders and get a cup of coffee and just sit for awhile. Plan time everyday alone so that you can refresh your soul. But this just might be the year you need to spend time with special people in you life. Others can fill us up with laughter and warm feelings when we're feeling Iow. As you prepare for Christmas what do you need this year? It's really up to you to plan the season that will bring you love and joy. Both as you give and as you receive.

In our spiritual lives this can be a wonderful time of the year to prepare for Christ's birth a new. The scripture reading for tonight talked about getting ready because we don't know when God will appear in our lives. Be alert this year for God's coming to you in unexpected ways. In the laughter of children, the sounds of Christmas songs, in the joy of being with friends, or during a walk in the new fallen snow. Come to church each Sunday expecting God to be in the sights, sounds, symbols, and presence of others at worship together. Begin or carry on some tradition in your home, such as lighting an Advent wreath, using a special devotional, or just sitting in silence. God will come to us in the peace and quiet that we make this season as well as in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations if we keep watch. Look for God as you give some time to remember others - those in need, the lonely, those who have just experienced a loss. Make the time to be with friends that are dear to you. People are one of the most wonderful ways that God's presence is made know to us. Be open, alert, and watchful for God's coming to you in new and filling ways this Advent season.

I close with a poem written by Ann Weems entitled "The Coming of God."