Sunday service for 4 December 2022, 2nd Sunday of Advent

Sunday 4 December 2022, NL1-14, Advent 2
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143 
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music

Welcome and Announcements

*Sanctuary Hymn 472: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Lighting the Advent Candle
One: In the midst of this world, here and now:
All: God is with us.
One: In the astonishing
and in the impossibly hard;
in the shadows
and in the absolute clarity:
All: God is with us.
One: Take heart, for even now
All: a new thing springs forth!
One: In the midst of this world,
All: God’s word is fulfilled.
One: Because Emmanuel, God is with us:
All: We have courage to tell the truth, even if our voice shakes.

*(Sanctuary) All Sing:
As we light the advent candle,
with the light of truth burning bright,
faithfully we wait for his coming,
faithfully it shines through the night!
In our humble hearts, a fire burns as well;
hear the prayer these flames would tell:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel.

All: God, you have given us what we need to live faithfully,
whoever we are, wherever we are.
From the highest rank to the most marginalised, and everywhere in between,
you call us to use what power we do have to play our part in your kingdom.
In prayer, in protest, in service, even in strategic silence,
may we follow your way.
Amen.

Online Hymn 274: Comfort, Comfort Now My People
*Sanctuary Hymn 273: O Come O Come Emmanuel, vv 1 & 3

Prayer
You’ve brought us this far, O God.
Every step has been learning,
and now here we are in this place, this moment.
Perhaps we are here for just such a time as this.
But we confess that we do not feel equipped.
We don’t feel ready for the holidays,
let alone for facing the situations that keep arising around the world.
We admit we would rather lock the door and pull the curtains,
hoping no one will ask of us
something we aren’t sure how to do.
Forgive our timidity,
and our unwillingness to trust your word.
You have promised to be with us,
to strengthen and uphold us,
to equip us for every good work.
And we admit we have taken your gifts and let them languish,
or used them for our own purposes.
Yet still you have intentions for your world,
so forgive our closed minds and hearts,
and help us to step outside the lines we have drawn for ourselves.
Remind us that you have given us what we need,
and that you have given us as the gift to meet the needs of the world in this moment.
Make us your blessing again today.
We ask in the name of the coming Christ. Amen.

Sanctuary Sung Prayer hymn 303 v.3
But with the woes of sin and strife
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angels hymn have rolled
two thousand years of wrong;
and warring humankind hears not
the love-song which they bring;
oh, hush the noise and still the strife
to hear the angels sing.

Sanctuary Children’s Time (O Little Town verse 4)

Reading: Esther 4 (New Revised Standard Version)
The scripture reading today is from the book of Esther, the fourth chapter. Since this is the middle of the story, allow me to recap what has happened up to this point.
The Book of Esther opens with an enormous 180-day party thrown by the King of the Persian Empire, ruling over 127 provinces. As the days of feasting draw to a close, he summons his wife, Vashti, to show off her beauty by appearing wearing only her crown. But Vashti refuses, so the king banishes her. After a while, he begins to miss his queen. His officials propose an elaborate beauty contest of all the kingdom’s beautiful maidens, from whom he can choose a new queen. From all over the 127 provinces, beautiful women are brought to the palace, trained in ways that please him, given lessons in clothes and makeup, and one by one introduced to the king for a night.
Esther is a Jew who lives in the capital city. She is an orphan who was raised by her uncle, Mordecai, one of the leaders of the Jewish people in exile. When they come to take her to the palace, Mordecai insightfully instructs her not to reveal who her family is or that she is Jewish. After a 12 month process, Esther is deemed the fairest of them all. “The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she carried charm and favor before him more than all the other virgins, so he placed the royal crown on her head, and made her queen in place of Vashti.”
Mordecai doesn’t tell anyone he is related to the new queen, but he does frequent the palace gates to hear news of Esther’s well being. One day he overhears two men plotting to murder the king and he quickly sends word to Esther, who reveals the plot to the king in the name of Mordecai. The plotters are caught and executed, and Mordecai’s name and deed are written in the king’s Book of Chronicles.
In the meantime, the king appoints Haman as Prime Minister and issues a decree that all should bow to him. Mordecai refuses to bow down before Haman. Mordecai’s refusal infuriates Haman. Already driven by his family’s historic hatred of the Jewish people, Haman goes to the King at the beginning of the year with 10,000 silver pieces and asks for permission to destroy the Jews. He presents the issue to the king as a matter of loyalty, saying “There is a certain people, scattered and spread out among the peoples in all the states of your kingdom, their laws are different from other peoples and they do not observe the king’s laws, so it is not worth it for the king to leave them alive.” The king agrees and issues an edict to all 127 provinces saying that on the 13th day of the 12th month, the Jews in all the provinces are to be exterminated and their property kept as plunder.
Upon hearing this vile edict, Mordecai dons sackcloth and ashes. He quickly sends word to Esther that she must go to the king and stop this horrible decree from becoming reality. We pick up the story today in chapter 4, and I am reading from the New Revised Standard Version.
~~~~~

When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went through the city, wailing with a loud and bitter cry; he went up to the entrance of the king’s gate, for no one might enter the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth. In every province, wherever the king’s command and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and most of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

When Esther’s maids and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed; she sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth; but he would not accept them. Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what was happening and why. Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther, explain it to her, and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people.

Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, ‘All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden sceptre to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.’ When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’ Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.’ Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

For the word of God in scripture,
for the word of God among us,
for the word of God within us,
thanks be to God.

Sermon: We Are the Ones
This may seem like a strange story to read during Advent, the season of looking and waiting and preparing for Christ to come and reveal God’s kingdom in the flesh among us. But then the news this week was full of stories that frankly feel like they would fit right in to this one. A former president of the USA invited noted white supremacists and christian nationalists to share a meal. A popular American musician said such bonkers anti-semitic things that even two other celebrities known for their white supremacist views had to cut him off from their platforms. A palace event hosted by the Queen Consort made news not for its topic, violence against women, but for the racist behaviour of one staff member, which then caused much social media conversation about whether or not her behaviour was actually offensive or not. And there have been several news stories this week about disabled people not being able to get housing — including the news that a number of cities don’t actually have any accessible housing in their plans at all.

As I was thinking about all these stories and the story of Esther, something they all have in common really stood out to me: how it’s the minorities, the people being marginalised, the people most in danger, who end up having to advocate for themselves while the majority just accept things because they’re not really affected. The palace event trying to raise awareness about violence against women was…hosted by a woman. The charities and organisations represented there to talk about their work were almost entirely run by women. The people of colour who are tired of being made to feel they can’t possibly belong here are the ones who have to continually speak up and ask the rest of us not to assume they’re outsiders. It’s wheelchair users themselves who are having to go public with the fact they can’t get a house and how humiliating it is to have to crawl from room to room or to rely on carers they don’t really need simply because their home doesn’t have wide enough doorways for them to get around. And it’s the Jews, both today and in the story of Esther, who have to cry out about the rhetoric and plans for extermination that non-Jews just shrug off.

All those marginalised people who have to spend all that energy and time and effort advocating to be treated as equals also means there’s something else in common: a majority culture that doesn’t notice or care much about these things until it affects us. Or worse, a majority culture willing to go along with what is obviously wrong, simply because it’s easier to go along, or more profitable, or less dangerous. I want to believe, despite the evidence I see every day, that surely the average Persian would have recognised the king’s decree as terrible. In the capital city they may even have recognised the hand of Haman behind it, one man’s narcissistic dreams manipulating the political system to get his way and raise himself up. And yet the story doesn’t say anything about people standing up and saying no, they won’t do this thing. It’s only the Jews, who are at risk of death, who mourn and cry out and try to raise public awareness of what’s happening to them.

Maybe the people felt it was too dangerous to defy a royal decree, better to just follow orders no matter what. Maybe they secretly didn’t care what happened to their Jewish neighbours. Maybe deep down they agreed with Haman that they didn’t want those people who had different customs and hard-to-pronounce names and weird traditions to be their neighbours. Maybe they thought it didn’t matter because the day appointed for the slaughter was still eleven months away and they’re too busy to think about something so far off. Maybe they figured they were just one person, it’s just how it is and even though everyone knows the king is an unstable ruler surrounded by greedy opportunistic advisers who manipulate him, it was too scary to try to stand up to the powers that be or to change the system.

Whatever the case, the ones in danger don’t have that luxury. They have to do something. Mordecai sends word to Esther, and she quickly learns that even though she is passing as Persian, she doesn’t get to say she’s just one person. Instead Mordecai reminds her that she is exactly the one person needed. And yes, it will be dangerous, but that’s a risk she will have to take.

Actually, Mordecai points out to Esther that the danger is really the same no matter what her own decision: she can do nothing and hope that her privilege will protect her, but the truth is that will only work for a little while. She’ll be found out and she’ll die with the others. Or she can do something…if it works, she’ll have saved countless lives, and if her attempt is unsuccessful, she’ll die with the others anyway. But if she does nothing, certain death is ahead. If she does something, there’s a chance that new life might be ahead.

Since the risk is the same whether she does a new thing or the same old thing, it’s time to put aside the fear of death.

Esther is just one person. One scared person. One scared person whose background and current circumstances combine to make her exactly the person needed.

But also, she wasn’t alone. She asked the whole community to fast for her, so they could have that moment of solidarity before she took her stand. Even though she was isolated in the palace, she renewed her connection to her people — God’s people. And in that strength, she spoke the truth to the king, and that one small voice turned everything upside down. The one who had plotted for the demise of others while raising himself high was brought down low. The one who had been the lowly man at the gate in sackcloth and ashes was lifted up to favour and status. The people who had been at risk were equipped to defend themselves, and the people who tried to do harm were the ones harmed. It’s a story of reversal, of shaking up the world as it is and trying a new way.

Doesn’t that sound like an Advent story, after all? One small voice, turning everything on its head. One person from a marginalised community bringing down the systems of an empire. One young girl, saying yes to her calling to do something dangerous and impossible…because Emmanuel, God is with us.

What if, instead of just letting things happen because they aren’t happening to us, or because we’re too scared, or it’s too big…what if we too said yes, because Emmanuel?
What if we really believed that we are exactly what is needed? Not that someone else will do it, someone else is better equipped, not waiting for some superhero to swoop in and save the day, but you and me and us — we are what the world needs.
When we look at everything going on around us…when we see that people are still targeted because they’re different, still marginalised, still at risk, still vulnerable…when we see that the way things are and the dreams of the way things could be…
how might we respond differently if, rather than waiting for someone else to be the hero, we knew that we are the ones who are in this place for such a time as this?
What could we do when white supremacy and christian nationalism and antisemitism and ableism and sexism and violence raise their ugly heads…
what could we do when faced with difficult changes in the church…
what could we do when our politics or culture or economy intentionally divides and disadvantages…
What could we do if we understood that the danger of doing nothing was the same as the possible danger of doing something, but that doing something could also change everything?

We often talk of Advent as a season of preparation, and we mean that we are preparing for Christmas. But Advent is also a season when God prepares us to participate in the arrival of Christ and his kingdom.
We are the ones God has been preparing and putting into place for just such a time as this.
We are the ones God has equipped and when we, the people of God, stand up and speak truth, even if our voice shakes, the world will begin to turn.
And we can do it, because Emmanuel.

May it be so. Amen.

*Hymn: Canticle of the Turning (the Magnificat, adapted by Rory Cooney, tune Star of County Down)
My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
there are tables spread; every mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around. (Refrain)

Offering (Sanctuary only)

*Sanctuary Offering Response Hymn 324, verse 5
All creation, joining praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to the eternal Three-In-One:
come and worship Christ,
the newborn king.
Come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn king.

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
Creator God, your world is not as you intended.
So much is upside down, and our priorities are out of order.
We pray today for those who find themselves the target of the resulting anxiety,
who are blamed and scapegoated as a way to avoid the bigger issues.
We ask your help for all who are under the thumb or the boot of the powerful,
that they may have the strength and courage to stand,
and that we may have the strength and courage to join them.
We pray today for those in danger, who have to look past fear to possibility,
who protect others and who long for a rest from their vigilance,
that they may experience peace and safety,
and that we may work toward justice that leads to peace on their behalf.
We pray today for those who believe they can manage alone,
who do not see that the fate of all creation is tied up in our ability to reach across lines of privilege,
that they may recognise the value of community,
and that we may reach across too.
We pray today for those who have been told they are not good enough, or not needed or wanted,
for those who have learned to keep themselves safe by carefully following the rules,
that they may be set free to fulfil their potential,
and that we may support them as they step out of their comfort zone.
As Esther said yes to your call, knowing the risks yet choosing to serve;
As Mary said yes to your call, knowing the risks yet bearing your word;
give us courage to say yes to your call,
knowing the risks yet speaking the truth and living your way,
that all may see your kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven,
turning everything upside down.
We ask in the name of Christ who changed everything,
and who taught us to pray together
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

*Sanctuary Hymn 279: Make Way

Benediction
Go to use the power you do have, in the place you are. For just such a time as this, God has given you what you need so that you can be just what the world needs. May you know the blessing of being a blessing in the world waiting for your light.
And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you, to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Go in peace. Amen.

*Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Postlude Music

Announcements

* Our Advent Appeal this year is supporting “A Little Box of Love” for Mind Mosaic Child and Family therapies. They are asking us to fill a shoebox or gift bag with items such as winter clothing, small toys or arts-and-crafts items, perhaps a few sweets, gift/food vouchers, baby items, gift sets, etc — there are three age categories: babies and toddlers aged 0-3 and their parents, children aged 3-12, and teens aged 13-18. If you would like to fill a shoebox (with NEW items only please), label it with the age and gender child it’s for, and bring it and place it under our Christmas tree up until the 15th of December, please do.

* The Christmas Post is being carried out by our youth organisations — you can bring your cards between December 4 and 18, though the earlier the better please! The cost will remain at 30p per card, with all proceeds going to support ministry with young people at St John’s.

* Gourock Schools and Churches Together will host a carol service TONIGHT Sunday 4 December at 6pm in Old Gourock & Ashton’s sanctuary, with music provided by all our local schools, carols to sing together, and refreshments afterward.

* Bubblegum and Fluff, the Christmas workshop for Primary 5 pupils, is taking place this week. If you’d like to volunteer please come to OGA at 8:55am on Monday and/or Tuesday, and St Margaret’s on Wednesday and/or Thursday. We finish each day before noon. Thanks!

* The next Bowl & Blether in St John’s is TOMORROW Monday 5 December, and the next one in St. Margaret’s is this Saturday 10 December. Both days the doors open at 11:30 and soup is served from 12. Come for a lovely meal in a cozy hall, with friendly faces! In St. John’s we now also have toasties and board games!

* The Pastoral Care group will meet on Tuesday the 6th of December at 7:30pm in the small hall. Anyone interested in helping with pastoral care in the church is most welcome.

* Greenock Philharmonic Choir are holding their Christmas Concert on Saturday the 10th December at 7:30pm, in the Lyle Kirk, Union Street. The choir will be joined by the very talented and entertaining Riverside Youth Band. Tickets are priced £15, and this includes refreshments. Tickets are available by calling Calum on 07847 250529 or by emailing info@greenockphilharmonic.co.uk. Tickets are also available at the door on the night.

* You are invited to join in reading the Bible in a year for 2022 — immersing ourselves in God’s word throughout the year. We get together to discuss each week on Wednesday at 7:30pm in the manse at 6 Barrhill Road. All are welcome, no experience necessary! Feel free to invite a friend, too! Anyone who has ever wondered just what the Bible actually says and what it has to do with us is welcome. We are reading Isaiah and 1 Corinthians just now.

* Young Adult Bible Study meets in the manse on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 7pm for a meal and a study of the gospel according to John. If you’d like more information, for yourself, a family member, a friend, or neighbour who is in their 20s, please contact Teri for the dates/times and other information.

* The Contact Group is having an Advent Celebration of carols and readings on Tuesday 13th December at 2pm. This will be an informal event with participation from members of other local churches. All are welcome to attend and we ask that a donation to Starter Packs be brought along to help people in our local community. 

* The Christmas concert/service with the Stedfast Silver Band and the Connect+ singing group at Westburn on the evening of Thursday 15 December.

* Reely Jiggered and the Voices of Argyll choir will be doing a Christmas Concert in the sanctuary on Friday 16 December at 7:30pm. Tickets are £12 and available on their website https://reelyjiggered.com or at the door.

* The service for the Longest Night — like a Quiet Christmas service, on the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, when we are in shadows and yet turn toward the light, will be on Wednesday 21 December at 7:30pm in the sanctuary. This contemplative Christmas service is perfect for those who are looking for a reflective opportunity, who need a little space this season, or who just enjoy the less raucous carols.

* The Choir Brigade Christmas Concert will be in the sanctuary on Friday 23rd December at 730pm. Tickets are £10 and available at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/the-choir-brigade.

* Christmas Eve worship services will be on Saturday 24 December at 7pm in St John’s and 11:30pm in Old Gourock & Ashton.

* Christmas morning worship will be on Sunday 25 December at 10am in the St. John’s sanctuary. Bring a gift you received to share about it during the children’s time!

* New Year’s Day worship will be on Sunday 1 January and will be a New Year Communion shared with Old Gourock & Ashton and St Ninian’s (Larkfield). The service will be at 10:30am in OGA.

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and all Sunday worship is also online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print). If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door. If you feel unwell, please worship online, to protect both yourself and others in our community.

* Did you know that it costs us about £10,500 per month to do the ministry we currently do at St. John’s? That includes heating and lighting the building and keeping it in good repair for church and community groups, programming and pastoral care for people of all ages, our contribution to minister’s stipends, and other ministry costs. The Kirk now has online giving! If you have not already set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Peter Bennett, our treasurer, or Teri and she can give you his details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. Remember: no one is coming to your door to collect your envelopes, so please be safe!

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email devotions! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email. Feel free to share with your friends, too!

* The Church Notes, which will celebrate what has been going on at St John’s for the past few months, will be coming soon. If you have stories to share from an organisation or group or ministry from the summer or autumn activities, please send them to Seonaid Knox as soon as possible.