Sermon, 1 Advent, Sunday 2nd December, 2018

Audio Message recorded at St Petri – Jonathan Krause

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down …  Isaiah 64:1

HOW FAR TO COME CLOSE?

Swords and spears …………..………….. rakes and shovels

War ……………………………………………..  Peace

Barren lands …………………..….…….….  blossom with flowers

Weak, trembling and worried ……..  Cheer up! Don’t be afraid!

Blind …………………………………..… .……  see

Ears of the deaf ………………..…..………  healed

Lame ……………………..…………………..….  Leap like deer

Desert ……………………………………….…..  Water will rush

Sorrows and worries ………………………. Celebrate and shout

Old man & barren woman …….…….   Baby

Pastor …………..…………………………………. Lost for words!

What is ………………………………………………..  What will be

God ………………………………………………………  Me

Tear open the heavens ……………………..  and come down

 

God has come close to us.   What next?

Let our lives radiate faith active in love.

How far must we go to come close?

Australia’s Median Household Wealth:  $292922

If you are on the single Age Pension  … you are in the top 7% of richest people in the world!

If you are are first year teacher in SA … you are in the Top 1% or richest people in the world.

How much do Australians spend on  Christmas decorations  $1 Billion

How much do Australians spend on food at Christsmas $20 Billion

How much do Australians spend in six weeks up to Christmas $50 Billion

What about the Boxing Day Sales after Christmas?  another $18 Billion

Australian spending in 9 weeks of Christmas and sales $68 Billion

UN:  Cost to end world hunger:  $41 Billion

They will pound the swords and spears …
… into rakes and shovels (and hoes)  Isaiah 2:4

“In the first year, you gave me    the seeds, tools, and training …”  

“In the second year, you taught me how to harvest and gather the seeds.” 

“Then in the third year, I can help someone else.”

How far will you go to come close?

Young women and young men, together with the elderly, will celebrate and dance, because I will comfort them and turn their sorrow into happiness.

Jeremiah 31:13 (CEV)