Call to Worship based on Jeremiah 33:14-16 and Luke 21:25-36
We look forward to the days that are surely coming,
While we give thanks for the nearness of redemption.
We look forward to the fullness of justice and righteousness
While we give thanks for the reality of the kingdom of God.
We long to see the fulfillment of all that we hope for,
While we give thanks for the promise that gives that hope life,
And for Christ, who is already the fulfillment of every promise.
Let us look forward, with thanksgiving!
Let us worship God!
So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luke 21:31
Image: “Advent 01-12-2012” by Liesel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Matters of Interpretation 
2 responses to “First Sunday of Advent (C)”
Excellent sermon. I also thought your companion piece on Revelation was very good. I think it really is important to remind people of the original context for apocalyptic literature, particularly Revelation and Daniel. I didn’t preach on this text this week for a couple of reasons. We just had Mark’s version of Jesus’ apocalyptic sermon and between the study I’ve been leading on Mark using Binding the Strong Man by Ched Myers and my sermon on Mark’s “Little Apocalypse” I felt I had covered that ground well enough for now. The second reason, though, is that because I’m only 18 months away from retirement I decided to part company with the RCL this year. Instead, I’m using the Women’s Lectionary, Year W by Wilda Gafney. Anyway, great sermon…but then with your great exegesis, it would be, wouldn’t it.
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Thanks, Steve, although I think you might be looking at our pastor’s sermon for First Sunday in Advent! She is wonderful. I was busy driving back from Ohio this week – that conjunction of Thanksgiving and the liturgical calendar 😉
I didn’t know about the Women’s Lectionary – thanks for that. I am always especially interested when I hear about Wil Gafney’s work, because she was a speaker at an early Katie Geneva Cannon lecture, a program of the Women’s Center at Louisville Seminary – back when there WAS a Women’s Center – and she gave a splendid lecture on the way translation obscures the presence of women in the Bible. She is one of my heroes.
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