Working Notes
by
Sylvia Dooling
*Ecclesiastes 3:7a; Isaiah 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37; I Corinthians 1:3-9*
*1.* Place a particular emphasis on the reading of these Scriptures. They
are not lengthy. Make sure all the passages are read at the beginning of the
lesson — commenting on the message of the passages that remind us of the
meaning of Advent.
*Isaiah 64:1-9*
‘With eloquence Isaiah pleads with God to make His presence unmistakably
clear, especially in the fires of judgment.” (Taken from the _Geneva
Study Bible_ notes)
From the Old Testament prophet we hear the cry, _’O that you would tear
open the heavens and come down”_ This scripture opens our study to the
season of Advent. During Isaiah’s time, Israel longed for a Redeemer.
Today, the church longs for our Redeemer’s return. Israel’s hope was
realized in the incarnation 2000 years ago; hope is now focused on
Messiah’s arrival these two “comings” form the bookends to the Advent
season. (Mark 13:24-37) As the author states, ‘The Advent season is not
just about the incarnation through the coming of the Christ child; it
also heralds the second coming of Christ at the end of time.”
Meanwhile, as we ‘watch” and wait for Christ’s return, we have already
received the ‘grace of God that has been given (us) in Christ Jesus..”
(I Corinthians 1:3-9). Christians have referred to the time in which we
live as ‘the already, but not yet.” Christ’s work of salvation has been
completed on our behalf. We have been reconciled to God. He abides
within us through the Holy Spirit. However, we wait for the fullness of
his reign.
*2.* The four themes of Advent (P. 16) help to guide us as the community of
faith through this season. Here are some additional points to think about
under each of the themes:
*First Sunday of Advent,*
*Hope Sunday*
What were Israel’s expectations of Messiah?
· He would come and reign on earth as kinglike King David
· He would restore the glory days of Israel.
Jesus shook up the people’s expectations and preconceived notionsthe
author points out.
What are our expectations when Messiah returns?
Are there places where our expectations and preconceived notions
need to be ‘shook up?”
*Second Sunday of Advent,*
*Peace Sunday*
‘We find the theme of peace, initiated in the coming of God’s realm,
intertwined with repentance.” Think about this statement. How do
peace and repentance go together?
*Third Sunday of Advent,*
*Love Sunday*
How does the incarnation display God’s immeasurable love for us?
*Fourth Sunday of Advent,*
*Joy Sunday*
‘God is engaged in what is happening, not distant from it.” Many
people today are questioning, ‘where is God?” because of all the
suffering they see around the world. How does the church proclaim
‘joy” in the midst of a world that is ‘groaning?”
*3.* The next section of the lesson (P. 18) is focused on Scripture and how
it is used the four Sunday’s of Advent. The author writes, ‘The scripture
readings exemplify the two-edged sword of the seasonthe coming of the Christ
child and the coming of God’s final realm.” This provides an excellent way
to teach this part of the lesson.
Think about the words _hope_, _ready_, and _watch_. These three words
are imbedded in the lectionary readings the author has provided.
You might want to ask the friends in your circle to each read a portion
of Scripture listed from the Old Testament, the Gospel, and the
Epistles. Then emphasize how these verses teach us about the three words
listed above.
*4.* Time to blend in the Ecclesiastes passageEcclesiastes 3:7a
Seamstress and Tailor are not biblical metaphors. However, this
description of sewing and mending is a picturesque way of describing the
season of Advent.
Another suggestion, would be to use the Isaiah scripture passage for
this lesson, Isaiah 64:9, in addition to the imagery that the author
uses.
‘Yet, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our
potter; we are all the work of your hand.”
To use the imagery of the potter and the clay during Advent, reminds us
that our hope, our peace, our love, and our joy comes from the potter
who is in the process of molding us according to his precise design,
preparing us for the future when time shall cease and we shall dwell in
the presence of God for all eternity.
_”See, the home of God is_
_among mortals,_
_He will dwell with them as_
_their God;_
_they will be his peoples,_
_and God himself will be with_
_them;_
_he will wipe every tear from_
_their eyes._
_Death will be no more;_
_mourning and crying and pain_
_will be no more,_
_for the first things have passed_
_away.”_ Rev. 21:3-4