Merredin Uniting Church

Over the past two weeks we have been looking at what Advent means. We have seen that it is a time of preparation – a metaphorical “waiting place”; and we have seen that it prepares us for change, because when Jesus enters in to our lives everything becomes different. Today we look at the kind of change which happens, and what we must expect when it does. Jesus has a radical effect on our lives, He changes our world and He gives us a new future. This change is however, not without its struggle.

For most this struggle is about leaving an old world behind; a world of familiarity and comfort. Sometimes it is the struggle of dealing with our sin; the struggle to confess and actually reach the point of repentance. We find it hard to understand the forgiveness which Christ brings, and we find it even harder to own up to our sin. At times it is the struggle of a crisis which grabs hold of us until we feel almost suffocated; freedom only comes when we grasp out to the saving hand of Christ. And then it is sometimes a struggle to escape a culture and/or a life which is so different to the one which Jesus offers to us.

Our hesitancy to take hold of the unknown is understandable. It requires a launch of faith. A friend of mine always says that faith is spelled r-i-s-k. Faith is a risk endeavour, it requires us to step out of the dark into the light, from the desert into the river, from blindness to sight and for us to leap up from our lameness. Without rising to this challenge we simply remain in the old world and all the promises of God are just “wishes” and “could-have-beens”.

Jesus enters into creation to turn the promise into reality. He came as a baby born in a stable in Bethlehem; He moved through this world, changing, restoring, renovating and healing; and He ended His life with a cruel death at Calvary. In His death He redeems us from the one thing which holds us back – the selfishness of sin. He sets us free in His resurrection and He pours out His Spirit, saying I will never leave you nor forsake you. Everything which Jesus did, He still does. He still restores, He still heals, He still forgives and He still gives us our life back. All He asks is that we come to Him in faith, and He will pour out the grace: “For it is by grace that you are saved, by faith (the “risk” step) – this is not of your own works, it is the gift (freely given) of God, so that no-one can boast (of his own achievements.)”

In this season of preparation for the Advent of our Lord, take the time to reflect on your own struggle (and resistance) and contrast it with His great offer of grace; yield yourself to Him and let Him bring the fullness of life alive in you.

While the year is winding down for most in the world, it has, in fact, already started for those who follow Christ. Our year begins with Advent – the four weeks before Christmas. This is why the season is so important. If we wait for the secular beginning of the year, the promise of new beginnings gets lost in the holidays, new year, new jobs, new budgets and so on. Instead we enter the secular year already prepared to go there with Christ. Advent is a spiritual season; one which we must not neglect. It is easy to get caught up in the cycle of the secular world … schools close, harvest ends, holidays are taken – yes, things do wind down in our secular lives as well but we must nonetheless be winding ourselves up in our spiritual walk with Jesus.

A similar thing happens in the weekly cycle. The world sees Monday as the beginning of the week. For us, it’s Sunday, the celebration of the Resurrection. Our week ends on Saturday, the day of rest and begins on Sunday, the day of worship. We begin with God; not in the workplace. If you begin your week at work rather than at worship then your priorities become misplaced. Your salvation becomes focussed on your effort rather than on the grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

So …. our year has started and we are looking forward to all the things which will happen from now on.

Today we have the last opportunity to bring food items for the Christmas Hampers but the opportunity to make donations for the Leprosy Mission via the Christmas Tree Envelopes goes on. Anne Sutherland will give us an update this morning.

On Wednesday we pack Christmas hampers at the SDA Hall for distribution to the less fortunate in Merredin and surrounds. All are welcome to assist.

Next Saturday evening is the Carols by Candlelight Service at the Rec Centre – we are hosting on behalf of the Merredin Churches Fraternal. It is also the Nukarni Christmas Tree event. Carol services will be held in Bruce Rock and Southern Cross next Sunday evening and in Mukinbudin on Christmas Eve.

Next Sunday Colin Chapman from the Gideons will share with us at Merredin Church on the activities of the Gideons and their commitment to get the Word of God into every hotel, school and hospital. There will be a Retiring Offering and offers of other means of support for the Gideons. We will also have a special morning tea to farewell John Rutherford who is leaving Merredin to live with his daughter.

We will have a Christmas Service in Merredin on the 25th (conveniently on a Sunday this year) and a New Year’s Service on the 1st (also Sunday). For the rest of January we combine with the other churches (as indicated in this Newsletter). On January 29th we will launch the Alpha Course at a Combined Parish (and town) service in Bruce Rock. The LentEvent program begins on February 22nd and we will start the E100 Bible Reading Challenge on May 13th.

Lots to look forward to as we journey on with the Lord in the wonder of His grace.

Shalom

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