Audlem Baptist Church Online Service for the 1^st December 2024 The First Sunday in Advent.
Surprising Family
	Introduction This is the first week of Advent, which is traditionally when we think about the God Who Comes to redeem and to judge. It has themes of hope, yearning, preparation and confession. Our in-person and online services are both the same, and the message comes from Twin Lakes Church in Santa Cruz in California, which is a church I have visited many times over the years. The pastor is René Schlaepfer and, if you have watched our online services before you will have met him already. His mother was Swiss and he has heard all about Audlem Baptist Church because I have mentioned us to him. We will watch the sermons he gave one year ago for Advent 2023.
	Prayers on the First Sunday in Advent Lord, God, we adore you because you have come to us in the past: you have spoken to us in the law of Israel; you have challenged us in the words of the prophets; you have shown us in Jesus what you are really like. Lord, God, we adore you because you still come to us now: you come to us through other people in their love and concern for us, you come to us through those who need our help, you come to us now, even as we worship you. Lord, God, we adore you because you will come to us at the end: you will be with us at the hour of death, you will reign supreme when all institutions fall you will still be our God when our history has run its course We welcome you, the God who comes. Come to us now in the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
	Hymn: O Come, O Come Emmanuel This is a favourite hymn for the first Sunday in Advent with its haunting tune in a minor key and words that originated in the 8^th century based on a seven verse poem. A different five verse version appeared in the 13^th century and that is the one that we still use today (translated by J. M. Neale). Each of the five verses expounds on one of the names for the Messiah: Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14, Mt 1:23) means “God with us” Adonai (Exodus 19:16) is a name for God, the giver of the law Branch of Jesse (Isaiah 11: 1) refers to Jesus’s lineage Oriens (Malachi 4:2, Luke 1: 78-79) is the morning star or daystar Key of David (Isaiah 22:22) again refers to Jesus’s lineage Click here to play the video.
	Bible Reading Please have your Bible or Bible App ready and open it at the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2.
	The Message: Surprising Family You may not realise but the American Thanksgiving holiday when families get together for a celebration takes place on the last weekend in November. René starts his message by making reference to that and also their harvest Food Bank appeal. Click here to watch the video. You can adjust the YouTube settings using the controls at the bottom right of the screen. The gear wheel on the left adjusts the quality (480 may be enough) and the box frame on the right shows the video full screen.
	Prayers As you watched the message today was there a moment when you sensed the Holy Spirit speaking directly to you? Then tell Jesus about it. Or maybe you simply had a ‘lightbulb’ moment which you would like to thank God for. Spend a few moments to thank God for all his goodness to you in the last week. Spend a few minutes in confession. Take a few minutes to pray for others who you feel burdened for. If you have received the Church Email, it will give you some suggestions. Now spend a few moments praying for the fellowship of the church to which we belong and its witness to friends, family, neighbours, the young and the old, and to the wider world.
	Song: Christ Be Our Light This is definitely not an 8^th Century hymn! It is one that we often sing in church and the chorus is all about Jesus Christ shining his light in our lives as we yearn to be more like him. Click here to watch the video.
	A Collect to Close O Lord our God, make us watchful and keep us faithful as we await the coming of your Son our Lord; that, when he shall appear, he may not find us sleeping in sin but active in his service and joyful in his praise; Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen