Prayers of the People: The Advent-ure Begins; Fear Not ~ 1st Sunday of Advent, WLWC*, '24 Yr C

For Sunday, December 1, 2024, Readings: Jeremiah 8:1-13, Psalm 46, 1 John 4:13-21, Luke 1:5-19 from "A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church"*, Yr C

For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the earth shall yield is produce, and the heavens shall yield their dew…so it shall be that when I save you all, you shall be a blessing. Fear not; strengthen your hands. [Zechariah 8:12a, 13b] 

  God is for us a refuge and strength, a help in trouble, easily found…therefore we shall not fear, though the earth should change…Be still and know that I am God…a stronghold for us is the God of Rebekah’s line. [Psalm 46:1-2a, 10a, 11b]

  By this we know that we abide in God and God abides in us, because God has given us God’s own Spirit…God abides in those that confess that Jesus is the Son of God…God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them…There is no fear in love, rather perfect love casts out fear…We love because God first loved us…The commandment we have from God is this: those who love God must love their sisters and brothers also. [1 John 4:13, 15a, 16b, 18a, 19, 21]

   There appeared to Zechariah a messenger of the Living God…Zechariah was shaken when he saw the messenger and fear overwhelmed him. But the messenger said to him, “Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son for you, and you will call his name John. You will have joy and gladness, and many at his birth will rejoice for he will be great in the sight of the Sovereign God…He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. [Luke 1:11-14]

    Welcome to Advent, a season of hopeful waiting, anticipation, and the beginning of a new Liturgical Year, Year C, in the three year cycle of Sunday readings. Think of it as a time to see and hear the same readings differently; yet here, in THIS time, in this space in this new Liturgical year, to the introduction of different readings and in new translations. As with the immediately prior 7 weeks of The Season of Creation in my parish, in this Year C, I’ll use the usual Revised Common Lectionary marked RCL in its title on one blog space, offering my sense of the readings and personal form of the prayers of the people with the usual lectionary readings. In this blog space each week, I will be using A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church* aka WLWC or, going forward here, WLC, by The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney’s translations. I will post her translations below** with a brief bio and her website link. 

    There is far far more to be gleaned from the Introduction, Text Selection, Proclamation/Text Notes in the book itself that accompany these translations and I cannot possibly offer her explanations for every reading but I will give very brief notes from the WLC when I deem them useful. For one tidbit of usefulness, the opening questions of the WLC Yr C ask, in part, What does it look like to tell the Good News through the stories of women who are often on the margins of Scripture and often set up to represent bad news…when women’s brutalization and marginalization are moved from the margins of canon…held in tension with the stories of biblical heroines and heroes…I do believe that my questions and perceptions invite women, men, and nonbinary readers to engage the scriptures in new ways [to] find themselves and their questions represented. In addition to expansive titles for God to give expression to a new vision of God, Dr. Gafney uses gender-expansive translations and explicit feminine God language. She also says that while the lectionaries are not as androcentric as the Scriptures women are even less well represented than they are in the biblical text. For example there, there are at a minimum one hundred and eleven named women in the Hebrew Testament…not always preached upon or even read…[and] does not account for the numbers of unnamed women and girls. Yet not many of my students or parishioners can name even ten…or even…in entire biblical canon.

   To begin: What is ADVENT to you in a spiritual sense? All too often we seem to focus on the end of it and all the less, or rather more of the non-spiritual preparations that go before. Part of the beginning of contemplation is knowing some of the “why and what” factors. For example, the name advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "arrival" or "coming," especially the coming of something of great importance. Our culture uses the notion of adventure in a variety of ways but mostly as a way for us to experience something unusual and exciting. Using this series of readings from Dr Gafney will be an unusual and exciting way to challenge our sense of the Spiritual throughout the entirety of this Year C. We are to spend the four weeks before Christmas, preparing ourselves and our souls in hope and with repentance for our less than stellar actions, words, and even thoughts [aka sins], as we await the birth of Jesus, our Redeemer Christ. Yet Advent spiritual preparation is about far more than waiting for a sweet baby to be announced by a chorus of angels and welcomed by shepherds. The sacred Birth would have been long forgotten were it not for the Gospel writers as they describe the intervention of God in Creation in the form of Jesus who became the Christ, the Messiah: the Anointed One. The name/word 

Christ, anglicized from the Greek, has more or less become the last or surname of Jesus instead of a “title” or Human-Divine position and role within the Trinity.

    Jesus in his earthly time came to teach us, warn us, and show us how to prepare for the Second Coming, the Parousia [pahr-oo-see-uh, from the Greek for coming], the Last Judgment. It’s not as warm and fuzzy a concept and is much less exciting for many of us to anticipate than the pretty tree with lights, sparkling decorations, beautifully wrapped gifts, and the wide-eyed wonder of little ones.

   Liturgical rituals for this time, in some denominations, include marking the beginning of each week by the lighting of a candle in an Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy [the Mass or the Service] begins. Even at home, families and individuals may use a wreath or an Advent Calendar for daily or weekly reflections and prayers. Each of the four candles represents a theme from the readings of that week.

   This week’s theme is Hope. In a year where our world has seen terrible earthquakes, massive fires, and hurricanes all decimating the lives of millions, and then the horrific gun or knife or worse weapons of violence wrought by humans in malls, schools, neighborhood streets, and now, again and still, in new and ongoing terrible wars in too many places, killing tens of thousands, and holding too many others hostage. It does give pause and perhaps a deep inhalation of breath and wonder.

    Our Hope truly is in the name of the Lord, and, in our willingness to turn the thoughts and actions of our lives toward the light of God's enduring, continuous presence. It's definitely not easy to get back on the right course, especially in these times, and at this of year with all the glitter and shopping that can be a welcome distraction from woes and worries. One clear theme from these readings is to Fear not expressed explicitly and in other ways in each reading. We are to keep those distractions from obscuring our inner vision and diverting us from our good intentions. The cloud cover on our path forward begins to lift when we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our lives to Christ, always as ready as we can be, to be gathered in an unknown time and claimed for eternity.

    Just as a New Year's resolution starts well and means well, Advent is the opportunity to be intentional about preparing for and renewing our commitment to Jesus as our Savior. Each season of the Liturgical Year is designed to help us to remember, continuously renew, and re-commit ourselves to our faith and to Christ. Here's a new beginning to get back into good habits of faith building and faith in action. It’s time to begin anew with an Advent-ure in faith, in hope, in Jesus, the Christ. 

*Readings for our Parish in this Year C are from The Rev. Dr. Wilda [Wil] Gafney, Womanist biblical scholar, and is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church Yr C and translator of its biblical selections. Learn more about her and her work at her website: https://www.wilgafney.com/

**Readings for Advent I, December 1, 2024:

Zechariah 8:1–13:  1 The word of the SOVEREIGN of heaven’s legions came to me, saying: 2 Thus says the COMMANDER of heaven’s vanguard: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and with great wrath am I jealous for her. 3 Thus says the RULER of the multitudes of heaven: I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called “The Faithful City” and the mountain of the SOVEREIGN of the vanguard of heaven shall be called “The Holy Mountain.” 4 Thus says the HOLY ONE of heaven’s armies: Elder women and elder men shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of girls and boys playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the MAJESTY of the Heavens: Though it seems miraculous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem miraculous to me, says the COMMANDER of winged warriors? 7 Thus says the SOVEREIGN of heaven’s legions: It is I who will save my people from the east land and from the west land. 8 Then I will bring them to dwell within Jerusalem; they shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. 9 Thus says the COMMANDER of heaven’s legions, “Strengthen your hands—you all who hear in these days these words from the mouths of the prophets, female and male, who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the RULER of the Multitudes of Heaven. 10 For before those days the wages of human [labor] was nothing and of animal [labor, less]; as for those coming and going, there was no security from the enemy and I set every single person against their neighbor. 11 Yet now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the SOVEREIGN of heaven’s legions. 12 For there shall be a sowing of peace: the vine shall yield its fruit, the earth shall yield its produce, and the heavens shall yield their dew; and I will inherit the remnant of this people with all these things. 13 And it will be that just as you have been a cursing among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so it will be that when I save you all, you shall be a blessing. Fear not; strengthen your hands.

Psalm 46: 1 God is for us a refuge and strength, a help in trouble, easily found. 2 Therefore we shall not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains quiver in the heart of the sea; 3 its waters roar and churn, the mountains tremble with its swell. 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her when the morning unfurls. 6 The nations roar, dominions quiver; God puts forth her voice, the earth melts. 7 The WARRIOR PROTECTRIX is with us; a stronghold for us is the God of Rebekah’s line. 8 Come, behold the works of the FIRE OF SINAI; see what desolations she has set on the earth. 9 She makes wars cease to the end of the earth; she breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, she burns chariots with fire. 10 “Be still and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” 11 The WARRIOR PROTECTRIX is with us; a stronghold for us is the God of Rebekah’s line.

1 John 4:13-21: By this we know that we abide in God and God in us, because God has given us God’s own Spirit. 14 And we have seen and so testify that the Father has sent the Son of God as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and have believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in order that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as God is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, rather perfect love casts out fear, for fear relates to punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because God first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates their sister or brother, they are a liar; for those who do not love a sister or brother whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from God is this: those who love God must love their sisters and brothers also.

Luke 1:5-19: And it was in the days of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the lineage of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living according to all the commandments and righteous requirements of the Sovereign God blamelessly. 7 Now they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were advanced in age. 8 And it happened that when Zechariah was serving as priest and his order had the service before God, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to offer incense and he entered the sanctuary of the Holy God. 10 The whole assembly of the people was praying outside at the time of the incense offering. 11 There appeared to Zechariah a messenger of the Living God, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Now Zechariah was shaken when he saw the messenger and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the messenger said to him, “Fear not, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to a son for you, and you will call his name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many at his birth will rejoice, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Sovereign God. Wine and strong drink he must not drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb. 16 He will turn many of the women and men of Israel to the Holy One their God. 17 He will go before the Holy God with the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to prepare for the Redeeming God a people made ready.” 18 Then Zechariah said to the messenger, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my woman is getting old herself.” 19 The messenger answered him saying, “I am Gabriel. I stand before God and I have been sent to speak to you and to proclaim to you this good news.”

For Further Reading: Compare these readings with a Bible version of your choice ~ using several translations/versions is even better to discover differences and similarities. Google the often used: The Lord of Hosts for its actual definition, and then look at the Rev. Dr. Gafney’s use of titles for God. Think about which translation speaks to you most clearly. Why? There are no right or wrong answers! For a larger variety of interesting translation and paraphrase versions of the Bible, without overloading your shelves and wallet, check out this link to:  www.BibleGateway.com

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader:  ~ O God, our Refuge and our Strength, awaken the eyes of our souls and keep us calm.  Remind our hearts to call on Your Name, to trust and not to fear, to be still and know that You are God, our stronghold.

                                          O Holy God Who is Love          
                     RESPONSE:      Cast out our fear          

~ O God, our Refuge and our Strength, enlighten the minds and steady the hearts of all who govern across this Earth. Straighten the path to peace and unity with local, national, and international friends and adversaries alike, guiding the path to justice, mercy, humanitarian, and planetary care. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Holy God Who is Love
                                                       Cast out our fear

~ O God, our Refuge and our Strength, embrace and sustain all who are seriously ill or facing desperate times, that they, and those who give support, may know Your warmth, light, and encouragement within. We now join our hearts to pray for those in need…add your own petitions

                                                       O Holy God Who is Love
                                                       Cast out our Fear

~  O God, our Refuge and our Strength, console and inspire us with the knowing that all those we love are welcomed into glory as they enter Your gates, as You embrace and await all who will soon transition from this life. We pray especially for… add your own petitions

                                                       O Holy God Who is Love
                                                       Cast out our Fear

~ O God, our Refuge and our Strength, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials…add your own petitions

                                                       O Holy God Who is Love
                                                       Cast out our Fear

~ O God, our Refuge and our Strength, rekindle our hope in this waiting time, especially in all who are anointed in Your Name to lead us to Your Truth, guiding us to prepare the way of and to the Holy One that is our Christ. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

                                                       O Holy God Who is Love
                                                       Cast out our Fear

The Celebrant adds: O Sovereign of Heaven’s Legions, we know that as we abide in You, You abide in us. Help us, in these difficult times, to honor Your Commandment to love You and our earthly brothers and sisters, as You love us each and all. Keep our spirits alive with joyful anticipation of Your sowing of peace, as we prepare our souls through continuing prayer and repentance. Guide us to be still and know that you are God, as we await the sudden yet unknown time of the return of Your own Spirit, Jesus, Your Son. We ask through our Messiah Christ; the Holy Spirit, our Divine Advocate; who together with You reign as One God, forever and for always.  Amen.

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