Prepare Ye!

Isaiah 40:2-4 & John 3:1-3

Second Sunday of AdventPreached at Union Church, Quincy Michigan

December 8, 2013Rev. John W. Landis, DMin

“Ready for Christmas!”

What we define as “Ready”

• Decorations out

• House Clean

• Shopping done

Symptoms of what Christmas (?)has become!

We Prepare for the

Wrong Thingsthe

Wrong Way!

Christmas for many is:

A Time to: Stretch already stretched schedules

• Spend money we don’t have; on things we don’t need

• Rip and Run– Noise and Chaos

What should we prepare for?

• Christ to enter our lives

• To share the “Good News”

• To help those who God sends our way

• To show God’s love– Through our actions

What should we prepare for?

• To enjoy the gifts that God gives– Family– Each other– Opportunities• To worship• To serve

– Be part of God’s plan• To know God

To spend Eternity in

the Kingdom of God

How?

• Stop running around– Be quiet

• Focus on the message of Christmas

• Figure out how you would tell YOUR story of God’s work in your life

How?

• Pray• Read the Bible and Meditate– Listen – Quietly

• Look for opportunity• Acquire Skills and Knowledge• Look for the Blessings• Rejoice and Be Glad

Then WAIT PATIENTLY

As a Congregation . . .

Your Waiting is Like Mary’s

A Pregnant waiting!

Prepare to give birth

to something NEW!

That to which you will give birthwill have some of the same traits

and some different ones!

We need the courage and openness to God’s will

of Mary and Joseph!

And as with Mary and Josephthere is a journey to take!

Don’t be surprised if in the birthing

there is some PAIN

And as with a child there will be good days and tough days!

What will come forth will be a gift from God!

We need to prepare for the Journey

We need to prepare to give Birth

We need to prepare to receive the New!

We need to be prepared to share the Blessing!

Now go and prepare for the gift of the coming days.

Prepare . . .then be Ready

to receive the tidings of Comfort and Joy

which is for all people

Christ is Coming!

Are you Prepared?