So far today, I have sat around more than a bit, waiting for a delivery van to arrive, at time unspecified bearing gift unknown.  The only reason I am doing this is that giver far away warned me that this would be the case.

I am curious to discover what it is that will be arriving at my doorstep later today (but not opened until tomorrow) and grateful to the friends who have arranged this surprise.  But it would be dishonest to pretend that sitting around all day is not my cup of tea - especially as I do have to go out later first to do some visiting and then to attend a meeting.

All of which seems to have something to say to me about Advent waiting, and reminds me of the characteristics of 'active waiting' on which I preached in the not so distant past.  There is a kind of impatient patience, I think... a patience that is never resigned to an interminable (or seemingly so) wait, but employs its time anticipating, both looking forward to, and pre-empting, that for which it waits.

I think this is part of the mystery of Advent... at one level we know it is a maximum of four weeks until Chritmas, at another the wait for the eschaton is unending.  At one level we know what is coming, at another we haven't a clue.  part of the challenge, if I can borrow some words from a hymn, is to "live tomorrow's life today"... to be signs and symbols that point or direct or draw others into this same mystery.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

I'm not good at waiting, God,

I want to get this done and move on to the next thing

I'm not good at waiting, God,

I don't know how best to employ this gift of time

I'm not good at waiting, God,

I don't find 'being' as attractive or engaging as 'doing'

Show me how to wait for you

To wait with you

To learn how to 'be'

To delight more fully in the present moment

To be still, or at least to slow down

And discover your gift of patience

Amen.

A footnote of sorts!  If nothing else the last couple of years have affected the way I view what may be termed "empty" time - unplanned hanging around, delays, people arriving late, etc.  This is definitely not "time to kill" or "wasted time" it is a precious gift of "extra time" or "time to be".  The danger is that as more time elapses, I will forget that again... I hope I won't.

Today we went out to round up our knitted sheep.  Seven are back safe and sound in the vestry at the Gathering Place.  One has gone a a loving home via Greggs the bakers - they just could not bear to say farewell to Cyril the Sheep, and as they had given us 60 yummy scrummy mince pies absolutely free...  Sophie is still at the Botanic Gardens, and will find her way back home via a Church member who is in charge there!  Oreo went to an independent ice cream shop which has suddenly closed for refurbishment, according to the signs on the shop front.  We are sure Oreo is safe and sound, but plan to try to contact the proprietors to ensure they are OK.

Shaun held court on a plinth in Oxfam books; George guarded the ewe's milk cheese in a deli (once he'd been rescued from the fridge with the lamb chops!), Rosie went to Ryman's, Norman hid in JoJo Maman Bebe,  Dewey lodged in the library, Prudence stayed in a gift shop, and Doodles watched over the cards in the independent newsagent.

A great time was had by all the participating venues - who we rewarded with Fairtrade chocolate from the Glasgow One World Shop (which is once again empty after our visit!)

Today's PAYG used Matthew's genealogy of Jesus... described as one of the hardest passages in the Bible to read, let alone to relate to!

Growing up, I have to admit I usually skipped over this, dismissing it as boring; and anyway wasn't there that admonition against 'meaningless genealogies'?  In more recent times, I have both preached and led studies on the five women in the genealogy (for named, one identified by the name of her murdered husband).

Today I was struck by the gentle, rhythmic, almost poetic flow of the lists, fourteen generation, fourteen generations fourteen generations...  I assume if I was into gamatria or numerilogy I could have fun with that three lots of fourteen, three lots of two times seven... but I'm not.

I think for me in the busyness of this pre-Christmas period, it was good simply to pause and allow the rhythm and lilt of the words wash over me, connecting me once more into the stroy that began before time and flows, uninterrupted through it.

In the beginning, God,

You breathed, spoke and loved life into being

And as father begat father

Mother gave birth to mother

Generation flowed into generation

Nations spread and shrank,

Empires rose and fell

Worldviews emerged, shifted and evaporated...

As all that rhythm of life flowed

Inexorably onward through time

You were there

At the heart of it all...

And are here now

In our generation

In the place we call home

Among the people we meet...

And closer still

In thinking and speaking

In my working and sleeping

In my creating and continuing

God of gentle rhythm

God of all time

Hear my prayer.

Amen

It's been a very long day and I have no oomph left to post anything of any merit!

This morning our Sunday School nativity was wonderful and this evening the Carol Service was splendid.

It is also, for those following some schemes Gaudete Sunday - the Sunday of joy rather than seriousness. 

I think we leant more to gaudete than anything else.  And I think that is good!

(Thus spake Angel 3 and Alto 5!)

God of joy,

Thank you for this day

For nativity plays and profound poems

For ancient texts and new songs

For the stern Baptiser who prepared the way

And for the inbreaking delight of light overcomign dark

Amen.

I've just had a lovely day meeting children and carers who had completed our Christmas Sheep Trail and who joined in our 'Get in the Picture' event.  Lots of children colouring pictures, adults munching warm mince pies (donated by Greggs), lots of dressing up and lots of good conversations.

Most people who came in were not connected with any church, yet they all loved the event and thanked us for organising it.  Many had photos taken.  More than a few were interested in other events we have coming up.

So, nothing especially profound today, just some gratitude for the work God does...

Did you slip in God,

Wrapped against the winter's cold, clutching your answer sheet, in chubby fingers?

Did you sit at a table, God,

Supping tea and enjoying a warm mince pie (donated by the baker on the corner) and a few minutes stillness?

Did you hand out prizes, God,

Bringing a smile to the face of a child with s simple box of chocolate tree decorations (albeit telling your story!)

Did you mop up spills, take photographs, make tea, dress actors?

Did you cross our threshold unnoticed?

And did we welcome you, as you, always, welcome us?

God of Christmas, thank you for a day of love lived, faith expressed, and hope renewed

Amen