Sun Worship 1 Dec: Advent 1 - Shhh! Can you hear it? Listen...

This morning we shared together in the bread and wine of Communion.
Our Advent theme today: hope...
And, due to Communion and Advent candles, and such, a slightly shorter sermon.

READINGS Ps 122; Isaiah 2:1-5; Matt 24:36-44

SERMON 
Let’s pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,our strength and our Redeemer, Amen.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead…nah, let’s be blunt,
sometime a wee while back about the beginning of October
the relentlessness of the ‘Greatest hits of Christmas’
begins blasting from every shop –
a continuous loop of musical kitsch
with a wee backing track
of people passing by who chorus:
‘it’s waaaay too early!’

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead, not too far ahead,
a symphony of ‘pings’ on the pc
confirming purchases made,
and the rattle and hum of vans
with deliveries on their way.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere a little way ahead,
the rustle of paper as objects
are surreptitiously wrapped and hidden,
and ends with a flustered ‘phew’ of the giver
as they tick another name off their list.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead,
underneath the noise of tacky tunes,
of clicking keyboards,
of vans groaning under the weight of oh-too-many things,
even underneath the subdued whisper
of paper puckering at the touch
of small probing hands quietly exploring
the not quite so hidden depths of cupboards…
maybe
there’s something else for ears to hear.

Shhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere ahead,
below the rustle of wings,
and a star’s glimmer –
to the ‘clink’ of coins being counted,
an Emperor takes stock of his empire,
of his lands,
of his subjects,
of his power…
And, in a backwater of that empire
in a crowded town,
footsteps sound
as a couple seek shelter for the night.

Shhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere further along the road,
there’s the sound of impending birth –
a young woman groans with the pain of it,
her man holds her hand
tries not to look panicked,
and offers quiet words of reassurance
while animals look on in a stable
and a mouse scuttles past in the hay.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere, ahead in the distance,
sounds:
the bleat of a startled sheep,
the quiet gasp of shock from shepherds in a field;

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere, up ahead,
there’s a vast choir of angels
singing in the heavens –
if you stretch yer ears,
you might just catch
a snatch of hallelujah’s song;

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
Somewhere a wee bit further,
there’s the pad of camel hoof on sand,
a Wise Man yawning
as he watches heaven’s sign
and cradles a gift fit for a king.

Shhhhh!
Listen…
Can you hear?
these are the noises
alerting us to get ready,
to wake,
prepare.
These are the sounds –
for those with ears to hear –
that tell the beginnings of
a story stirring:
a story of a life –
the great story of new life.
Within the story
after the waiting,
after the watching,
there will be other sounds,
adding to the story
of the One born in the manger.
If you listen,
you may just hear
the crackle of crusty bread
being broken and shared,
the gush of wine
poured into cup...
and a little further on,
after more waiting,
and a little more watching,
the crack of a stone
rolling back
as a breath is taken
and death is done forever.

Shhhhh!
Can you hear it?
Listen…
Can you hear?
Time itself, is ticking
and the story has begun –
the story of hope
and of light in the darkness;
a story where we need not go up
to the House of the Lord,
for God, in Jesus,
has come down to us.
Rejoice,
...and prepare for his coming.

Let’s pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, 
we await your coming,
We wait filled with hope,
knowing your light 
will shine in the darkness.
We wait anticipating your peace,
believing that one day 
it will fill our world.
We wait, embracing your love:
may we reach out to share it 
with our neighbours.
We wait with joy bubbling within us
in expectation of your birth.
Lord we wait –
Come soon and fill us with your life. Amen.*
                                              *prayer - Christine Sine