But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3.8–9

Advent is sometimes referred to as a time of waiting. We are waiting for Christmas. We are waiting for the kingdom. We are waiting for Jesus’ return. In reality, it is more of a reminder that the Christian life is one of waiting. Just like the readers of Peter’s second letter, we are waiting for the day of the Lord, for a new heaven and a new earth.

But key to this waiting is how we wait. This week’s readings give us a few pointers. In the gospel, John calls people to repentance, to a change of mind and behaviour to be more in line with the coming kingdom. In Peter’s letter, he calls people to lead lives of holiness and godliness, reflecting the will of God in both thought and deed.

How we live lives of holiness and godliness in the twenty first century is something for us all to work out together. What is the right response to wars and conflicts in the world? How do we work to minimise the effects of climate change? What is a just response to the cost-of-living crisis? These are things we need to discuss and reflect on in the light of what we read in the bible and what we know of the love of Christ.

There will be opportunities to hear more about this in our services this Sunday. In addition, the Advent series on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday afternoons allows us to reflect some more about what the Sunday readings are saying to us.

There are the following services this Sunday:

8.00 am – All Saints – Holy Communion (said)

10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

10.30 am – All Saints – Morning Worship (in the Link room)

4.30 pm All Saints – Nativity service

The 10.30 service at All Saints will be in the Link room as the Junior Church will be practicing for the Nativity service in the church.

There are the usual mid-week services. Next Sunday at St Mary’s is Creative Church in the morning and Carols by Candlelight in the evening. All Saints has Holy Communion in the morning. This gives the following pattern for the coming week.

Wednesday 13^th – 9.00 am – All Saints – Celtic morning prayer

Thursday 14^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Holy Communion

Sunday 17^th – 10.00 am – St Mary’s – Creative Church

10.30 am – All Saints – Holy Communion

6.30 pm – St Mary’s – Carols by candlelight

And as we wait, let us pray in the words of the collect for the second Sunday of Advent:

Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
Amen

Yours in Christ

Mark