Hammer on Anvil – Advent Studies

 “Advent is more the sound of hammer on anvil than carols and bells.”

The four Advent Studies will be run via Zoom, in your lounge or at your church. Even if you did not attend the introductory study you will enjoy these.

The studies are a facilitated Presbytery-wide experience via Zoom. Gereldine Leonard is the first writer and facilitator. After a short introduction to the theme of the day we will break into groups for discussion.

We will re-convene as a single group to draw together the threads of our discussion and a time of prayer. Congregations can choose to form their own breakout group or join with other congregations. Individuals can join in join groups with congregations, or with other individuals. The Advent Studies will run over four consecutive weeks with sessions running in the afternoon and repeated the next day in the evening.

Tuesdays Dec 1st, 8th, 15th and 22nd at 3:00 PM
OR
Wednesdays Dec 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd at 7:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting  https://zoom.us/j/99766384150?pwd=S1Y3WTVFZFhZa3JFUUw2VW5IM1J6dz09
Meeting ID: 997 6638 4150
Passcode: 525076

Worship in the Waiting -Advent 1: Embrace the Suspense

10:00 am Sunday 29th November .  Live: In church or at home on Zoom or on Facebook

This Sunday is first Sunday of Advent (the start of the churches Christmas celebrations)

The experience of waiting for something can cause a lot of different emotions.

The effects of waiting at roadworks for the light to go green when you are late for an appointment or waiting for results from some medical tests are very different from waiting for the Covid restrictions to be eased so we can see family or even the waiting associated with opening Christmas presents.

Waiting can be the source of fear and anxiety, but it can also cause excitement and joy. The emotions are not caused by the person or thing being awaited but by our own anticipation. The results from our medical tests do not come back any quicker because of our impatience and anxiety. The crops do not ripen any quicker for all our fretful checking of the multiple weather apps on our phones and computers. We don’t become gentler, wiser, more loving people overnight. The watched kettle…

Jesus tell us to wait like the farmer waits and to learn from what we see in nature, “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:28-31)

We need to embrace the waiting. For our anxiety and impatience can blind us to the presence of God, the grace of God, that can come as we wait. The long wait for restrictions to end has come. It came not because we wanted it to come, but because we acted with intelligent goodwill and disciple to restrict the transmission of the virus. It came because we incessantly washed and sanitised our hands. It came because we kept our distance, isolated ourselves, wore masks. We waited. In that waiting we have learned something important about ourselves and our community. There is a strength and resilience and overwhelming sense of the common good in our state. And there is joy and excitement as the waiting ends.

The cry of Jesus in Sunday’s Gospel is, “Wait! Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.”

Join us on Sunday as we reflect on waiting.

Rather stay anonymous?

We understand that you may prefer to remain anonymous.  It may have been a while since you went to church, maybe you’ve never been to church and are just curious. We understand that you don’t want to be hassled just because you were curious.

If you want to remain anonymous there are four ways you can do it.

• Choose the “Join without video” option. You will be able to see, hear (and talk if you want to)
• Your name also appears in the bottom left of their picture in Zoom. This name will be the one you entered at sign-up. At any time in the meeting you can right-mouse click on your name and change or delete it.
• You can choose to attend via the Livestream option.
• You can watch the recorded service later on the website