Worshipping at Home 10th December 2023
Home Worshipping 
10th December 2023

Welcome to Home Worshipping 10th December  2023!
Second Advent Sunday

Bible Reading

Isaiah 40: 1-11


Comfort for God’s People

40 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been complete, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling in the wilderness “Prepare the way for the Lord]; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. ”You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.


Mark 13: 24 -37

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”- “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.


Thought for the Day

What a marvellous passage from Isaiah urging the Jewish peoples as a whole to prepare the way for the coming of their Lord God, The Messiah. We can almost imagine the scene to be like a blockbuster movie in modern day terms with all sorts of infrastructures being created, mountains moved and valleys raised to create a glorious super-highway. Pronouncements being broadcast from every remaining mountain and every person spreading the news especially those known to be evangelists of the good news.

But there is another preparation implied and absolutely required and that is in the hearts and minds of the peoples themselves! We cannot welcome the arrival of the Lord unless we have cleared the way within ourselves and almost one thousand years or so further on in time the cries of John the Baptist were intended to fulfil that requirement. The long history of the wandering Jews who finally were guided to their promised land included many periods of time where they lost faith in their creator God only to be pulled up short by their leaders and agreeing to another fresh start in their relationship. Each time God had offered them another start and new promises were made by the peoples in return.

What else could God do to ensure a permanent relationship with his beloved human race including this one ‘chosen race’? The answer was to show the true likeness of himself in the personage of a human being so that the Jews in the first place would have the opportunity to learn about their creator and his will for them. Another covenant with his people but this would be the last covenant and had to be permanent in nature.

From then on the Jews would become a light in the world to show God’s greatness and goodness to all of mankind. But first of all as John the Baptist cried out they had to repent and turn back to God in humility and faith. So much so that a new Baptism in Spirit awaited all those who took steps to make room for the coming of the Christ who would fill their hearts and minds and open up a new life which was far more significant than entering the promised land in history.

Today we have the same opportunity as God forgives us through his Son time after time. One day we have to repent for the final time when we become fully and wholeheartedly engaged with his Holy Spirit and our re-birth takes full effect. It’s never too late! Amen

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus shape us into your image and your likeness so that we may follow you in true faith throughout all of our lives until we are born again into your kingdom at the end of this time and the beginning of eternal life.. Amen

Prayer for the interregnum of the Parish of Beaudesert with Henley and Ullenhall (to be said during intercessions).

Almighty and everlasting God as we travel together through this period of interregnum we thank you for your everlasting love for us. Give us strength to accept this time of change and send us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with encouragement and hope for the future.

We ask that you will help us to share responsibilities growing in faith and love with one another.

We look forward to the appointment of a new Priest and believe you will send one best suited to your disciples in this parish and who will encourage many to join with us on our journey of faith. 
Amen
The Blessing

Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us and scatter the darkness before our path, and make us ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us, always.


Amen

 The Collect Prayer

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Amen

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Henley in Arden The incumbent   (Vacancy)



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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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