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This Sunday we begin the season of Advent that will lead us right up to Christmas. It is a season of expectant waiting as we get ready for the coming of Christ. Practicing waiting WITH each other is so important. We are all already in a waiting place right now – waiting to see people, waiting for a vaccine, for the PHO orders to change, to get back together, waiting for life to return to normal! Therefore, this Advent season might be one of the most important Advent seasons of our life. If this season is about practicing waiting together, then let us help each other learn to wait with Strength, Shalom (peace/wholeness), gratitude and faith in the Gospel! Let us learn to wait together!
First a story about waiting that can help us set the tone:
Monica was anxiously awaiting the news that would change her life forever. She knew that by the end of the week she was going to get a call from the company where she had been promised a position, but she did not know where that position was going to be or exactly what she would be doing. There were three options and the “comfortable” one was just an hour away from her parents’ house and nearby many friends that she looked forward to connecting with again. Another position was a great resume building, overseas position that excited her but scared her, too. The third position was on the other side of Canada, far from her school and family, and while it was a great opportunity to get her foot in the door at a place she wanted to work, it was not ideal in pay, duties or location. She found herself vacillating between joy and fear and was struggling with stress and impatience. She hated waiting!
She was not the only person who was struggling to wait! Her mom kept texting her, “Any news yet?” “Can’t wait to have you closer!” “Aunt Julie said there was an apartment open near her, should she go take a look?” Then the most annoying type of Mom text, “Did you hear Reggie (two heart emoji’s, smiley face) moved to the city, too. Maybe you guys could reconnect! Hoping!!” This all made Monica think that maybe the overseas position would be best!
Around three o’clock Thursday afternoon, just about when Monica had reached the breaking point, she heard the doorbell ring. At the door were two friends from her Bible study group – who were not quite as anxious as Monica, but were excited for her. One of them already had a graduate teaching position lined up and the other was going to travel for a few months before starting her pursuit of the next stage of life. They pushed right past her saying that they knew exactly what she needed to get through the day! In their hands was a big bag of Chinese take out, three drinks from Starbucks, and a laptop which they said was “begging to be used for some Ryan Gosling, Netflix watching!” “And that is just what we are going to do until you get that phone call. We are staying until Friday if we have to!”
Monica’s mood lightened immediately. She was so thankful to have someone there with her to distract her from the stress. It is always good to have someone to wait with – and it is good to practice waiting with others, too.
That is what we are doing in Advent – we are coming together (electronically) to wait with each other. To help each other get through this time. To point us away from our stress toward the future. We are busy in “the waiting place” right now, and probably a little stressed about it. So, we are going to practice waiting with each other. We are going to practice encouraging each other and pointing to something bigger and better in the future. We are going to wait with the assurance of the prophetic promises. We are going to wait with the strength of the Lord. We are going to wait with the shalom that only God can give. And we are going to remind each other how to wait with faith in the gospel. That is the outline for the sermon series that will guide our worship. We will be “waiting with…” this Advent season. Join us on this journey – it is much better to have others to wait with. We will get through this. We will see the future! And the promise of a future is what sustains us!
