What's the Hurry?



As a young Christian I was almost immediately indoctrinated into the theology that said the Lord was returning soon. Like pack your bags soon. Almost four decades, a mere drop in the ocean of time,   later I realize how immature, how impatient, my eschatology truly was - everything does not need to happen in my lifetime. 

 Patience produces stillness. Impatience produces reactions. Impatience instills an almost permanent agitation in the soul; Patience quiets the heart and calms the mind, it tunes my spirit to the will of the Eternal, my creator.
One of the major themes of Advent – the period of four weeks preparing for the coming of the Christ at Christmas – is waiting. Waiting with patience, waiting in anticipation. Advent teaches patience in a white noise, highly charged culture.

Third Sunday of Advent
What’s the Hurry? The Gift of Patience




This year Ministry in Motion will stay connected to Advent, drawing upon the  Book of Common Prayer as a guide, as we journey through this Advent.

The Collect (KOL-ekt)
“…Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; … let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever…” Amen.

The Hebrew Testament
“…Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear!” Isaiah 35


The Epistle
“…Be patient … beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another…” James 5

The Gospel
Now but not yet. “…When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them…” Matthew 11
"Patience is not simply the ability to wait - 
it's how we behave while we're waiting." ~J Meyer