Readings for Tuesday 1 December

The readings for today are: Psalm 80; Isaiah 26.1–13; Matthew 12.22–37.

Psalm 80 is a beautiful cry for deliverance that might be sung or prayed by a people in crisis or on behalf of all who suffer. Nevertheless, I fear that lurking in the background are the kind of nationalistic hopes and expectations that trouble me. I suspect that ‘restoration’ (v. 3, 7, 14, 19), ’salvation’ (v. 2, 19), ‘might’ (v.) and ’strength’ are militaristic terms that require the ‘driving out’ or ‘destruction’ of other peoples or nations (v. 8, 16b). Such hopes may be understandable for an occupied people. Yet, the Christian gospel celebrates the coming of a messiah who brings peace to all peoples, whatever their tribe or tongue.

Still, the Jesus of Mathew 12.22–37  is pretty uncompromising. Though he heals the sick, he does not spare his detractors. He calls each person to side with him and to live responsibly. If we, like a brood of vipers, oppose what is right and good, we bring condemnation upon ourselves (a message not unlike that of Isa. 26).

In a world that too often favours the wicked, in a world at war, we wait for God and for peace  (Isa 26.3, 12). But waiting is not the same as inactivity. I find myself asking, ‘How might I work for good and for peace today?’

‘Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, Let your face shine, that we may be saved’ (Psalm 80.3, 7, 19).

Glorious self-giving

The readings for today are Psalm 47, 147.1–12; Ezekiel 47.1–12; John 12.20–32.

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:23b– 25 NRSV)

At Advent we reflect on the promise that a messiah who would come to reign as a glorious king but today’s Gospel reading turns our notions of glory upside down. True glory is found in costly, self-giving love. The triumph of Jesus is found not in his asserting his power but in his dying on a cross. His death brings life to many.

Jesus calls his followers to a similar self-giving. Frankly, I find this difficult. I don’t much like the talk of hating one’s life. Yet I am sure that grasping, clinging, holding on to one’s life is the surest way to losing it. The life well-lived is the life given away in the service of God and others.

Lectionaries

Baptists (and others) are not always familiar with lectionaries. People ask me, What is a lectionary and where can I find one? Well, a lectionary is just a set of Bible passages divided up for daily reading. During Advent we will be using the Common Worship Morning Prayer Lectionary produced by the Church of England. The readings can be found in full and in the context of a Morning Prayer liturgy here (click on Common Worship: Today). Lectionary booklets are widely available. You can order one on the internet but I always buy mine from St Deny’s Bookshop, Manchester.

The Season of Advent

The Advent season begins today. We will celebrate this at Didsbury Baptist Church by lighting advent candles, by giving to  Christian Aid and praying for its work on behalf of the world’s poor, and by reflecting on the coming of Christ as light into darkness. As we await Christmas, we await the full and perfect coming of God’s reign and we ask how we might now live so as to make a difference for good in the world today.

We will pick up on Advent themes during our Sunday morning worship and we will hold three Wednesday evening gatherings on the 2nd, 9th and 16th December. We will serve tea and coffee at 7.30 for a formal beginning at 8. In the first of the sessions, I will introduce the Gospel of Luke (this year’s lectionary Gospel). Next week Brian Haymes will address the theme, On Being the Church, Beginning with God and on the 16th Kyle Gingerich Hiebert will help us to think about our spending at Christmas time. If you are in the Manchester area, you would be very welcome to join us.

I hope that during Advent many of us at DBC will read the Bible together by using the readings of the Common Worship Morning Prayer Lectionary. I invite others who visit this website to read with us. I will post the readings here every weekday morning of Advent with a few of my thoughts on the readings. Perhaps you would read the same passages and offer your thoughts by adding your comments to the daily post. I will start tomorrow and I look forward to hearing from you.

Guitar Soloist at DBC

One of the great features of our church building at Didsbury Baptist Church is the acoustics. It makes a great music venue. On Friday 27 November at 9pm there will be a concert by guitar soloist, Adam Palmer (with Richie Syrett and the Lucky Dads). The concert is organized by Mike Healey and tickets are available from 07952936229.

Music Concert at DBC

Now that the Arts Festival is over it is time to publicize our own music concert at Didsbury Baptist Church. Malcolm Sargent has been working hard at calling together a group of musicians from the Didsbury area (and beyond) to participate in  a musical concert. It will take place on Saturday 24 Oct. Various musicians will perform works of Mozart, Rutter, Mendelssohn and Howard Goodall. Though entrance will be free, there will be a retiring offering to benefit our building fund. If you are near Didsbury perhaps you would like to join us for the evening. All are welcome.

An introductory course to Christian faith

Have you ever wondered if the Christian faith is for you? On Sunday we are a starting an introductory course to Christian faith. It will meet in our home over the next 6 weeks. The group will set its own agenda but currently we plan to discuss: Belief in God, We need God in our lives, The life and ministry of Jesus, The death and resurrection of Jesus, The Holy Spirit, and Becoming a Christian. You are welcome to join us. For further details please call 0161 438 2927.

Harvest / Sukkot

mobile-phone photo, Anna Wright

Last Sunday we held an all-age harvest celebration for morning worship. Truth is, harvest festivals are not what they used to be and in urban environments they can be distinctly out of place. Still, with issues of food production and food security high on the agenda these days, harvest provides all kinds of possibilities for worship and reflection.

On Sunday, I combined Christian harvest themes with some of those of the Jewish (and biblical) festival of Sukkot. The date of our harvest celebrations does not always coincide with the Jewish holiday but this year it did. Our Jewish neighbours are celebrating Sukkot right now, so I drew on some of the themes that form the basis of both celebrations.

We built a (very non-kosher) sukkah inside the sanctuary. (I know, the whole point is to build sukkot outside but this was the only way I could introduce the theme to a Christian group meeting indoors.) Then we brought our harvest gifts and displayed them in the sukkah.  The gifts, of course, are then donated to local charities. We also took up our offering for the Seeds of Hope harvest appeal for the work of BMS World Mission.

Christians recount that it was during the Festival of Sukkot that Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8.12).

If you would like to learn more about Sukkot there is plenty of information on the net. You might try Hebrew for Christians, Judaism 101 or, a favourite of mine, Rachel Barenblat’s blog — the Velveteen Rabbi.

The close of Didsbury Arts Festival

The Arts Festival is now over but what a great week it was! Three musical performances were held at Didsbury Baptist Church. All three were excellent events: Dunyana on Monday night, SMAOS on Wednesday, and the Cavendish Singers and Cymbalon Quintet on Friday. All played to packed houses and were enthusiastically received.

For the churches, the Arts Festival closed last night with an International Songs of Praise at Christ Church, West Didsbury organized by Churches Working Together in Didsbury. We anticipated the forthcoming One World Week and worshiped together as churches and people from many nations and backgrounds. It was a great event that reflected the sheer joy of belonging to a people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

One down, two to go

Didsbury Arts Festival is now in full swing. There is quite a buzz about the place and the events seem to be going very well. We hosted a world music event with Dunyana on Monday evening. They played to a packed house and were fantastic! I do not have a photo but I noticed that a few were taken. If anyone reading this has photos of the event and would give me permission to upload one here I would be very pleased to do so. Leave a comment and I’ll send you an address to upload to.

We look forward to hosting the South Manchester Amateur Operatic Society event tonight and the Cavendish Singers on Friday.