In the 1960's people were urged to turn on, tune in, and drop out to leave the material world behind in favor of an alternate reality. In today's gospel, Jesus also urges us to tune into an alternative to the material world, one he called the coming of the Son of Man. In Jesus' person, the dominion of God comes into the world, and the risen Christ continues to give us abundant signs of its presence. Jesus commands his followers not to drop out of the world, but to be on the lookout for him in it.

Christians await the second coming of Christ, the parousia, when we believe we will experience God's reign in its fullness. In the meantime, we live, in the words of some theologians, "already, but not yet." We look for glimpses of the dominion in the here and now. The season of Advent, and today's readings, are designed to help turn us on to the excitement and anticipation of God's reign in our lives and tune in to the infinite opportunities we have to participate in it. In other words, they want to wake us up!

St. Paul exhorts us in Sunday's second reading to lead lives of faithful obedience until the final day. He also challenges us to participate in God's dominion in the here and now, calling us to wake from sleep, to "put on Christ." Eyes wide open and wrapped in Christ, we are called to a new day. Isaiah describes his own vision: gathered by God, learning and teaching God's ways, walking in God's paths, beating swords into ploughshares and spears to pruning hooks. Wide-awake, active, and ready for encounters with Jesus, we may find God's dominion when and where we least expect it. [Sundays and Seasons, 2016]

Watching and Waiting...

Bill+

P.S. This week I give thanks for all of you and was thankful for the presence of All the Saints musicians and worshipers at our Community Thanksgiving Service Tuesday at St. Katherine Drexel Roman Catholic Church.

Wolfeboro Reads

For December we will continue to gather Tuesdays, December 6th, 13th and 20th 4:00-5:30 pm at First Congregational Church Wolfeboro. We will not read one book, but each week a collection of things (provided) to allow people to participate as they are able at one, two or all three sessions. Join us as Pastors Bill and Gina guide our reflection and preparation for the incarnation during these Advent days.

Why should you have an Advent Wreath?

To prepare for the incarnation of Jesus during the season we call Advent, which comes from a Latin word and means "coming." Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year for the Church and begins this year on November 27th (think of it as the Church celebrating its New Year's Day). It begins each year on the Sunday closest to November 30th, which is the feast day of Saint Andrew the Apostle. 

Some people mistakenly think that Advent is part of the Christmas celebration. But actually, Advent is a time of preparation all its own. For the Church, Christmas doesn't begin until the first Eucharist is celebrated on Christmas Eve, and the Twelve Days of Christmas continue until the Feast of Epiphany on January 6th. Advent is given to us as a time to prepare and quiet our souls for the coming of the Lord during a very busy secular season of shopping and selfishness.

Each week we light one more candle on a wreath of four candles to wait for Messiah, Jesus the Christ, Emanuel-God with us. The growing light in the darkness of late fall and early winter centers us and brightens our kitchen tables and hearts as we mark time with spiritual reflection and anticipation. If an advent wreath is not part of your preparation the month before Christmas, consider adding it and welcome the light!

P.S. The color of the candles or fanciness of the wreath is not important.