I sing:
1. People, look east. The time is near of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able, trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the guest, is on the way.
Isn’t that a nice song? It is an Advent song (with Advent lyrics) set to a Christmas tune. So it sounds “Christmassy.” The song was written in 1928 by Eleanor Farjeon, who also wrote the poem “Morning Has Broken.” The title is PEOPLE LOOK EAST, which is an important concept for our faith, especially this time of year when we think that we are “supposed to feel a certain way.” But often times we don’t.
This time of year can be difficult for many of us . . .
-there was someone missing from your Thanksgiving table
-you are starting to “fret” over finding the money to pay for all the Christmas stuff
-the team that you are playing on doesn’t look as if it will be as great as you hoped
-with the change of weather, you begin feeling more aches and pains in your body
It seems as if we have this “collective frustration.” So let me all hear you “groan loudly.” As I give you the cue, like I am conducting, simple release a loud “ugh.” [I direct all to groan]
Ok, now let’s try holding that out and giving it some more volume. I will again direct you, so watch my hands. [I direct them to groan and increase the volume.]
Nice. Now let’s do it again but this time, end the groans with a loud grunt (or holler) expressing all the frustrations that you have been carrying. Let’s do it standing. [I direct them to groan, increase the volume then end with a loud holler.]
OK, what you did, pretty well sums up the readings for today. We always start the new liturgical year with readings of doom and gloom . . . and “end of the world” imagery . . . and all the frustrations that we all feel. But here is the best part, the readings invite us to go deeper. The imagery doesn’t end with frustration but ends with trusting God. Just as the second reading from Paul’s first letter to the people of Thessalonica tells us: “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all.”
So let’s try our groaning together, but instead of a “holler” at the end as I close my fists I want you all to say “Yes” and to make a fist and then to raise your fist and shout, “I trust in God.”
[I remind them of the action. All stand. I direct them to groan, increase the volume and end with clenched fists say “Yes” and then extend their fists out and shout, “I trust in God.”]
Ok shake it off. Yea you are all seem pretty crazy at this point. And to you visitors who are joining us for the first time . . . oh we do this every week. I am just kidding.
The whole meaning of the song that I sang at the beginning is the belief that when Christ returns it will occur in the East . . . because that is where the sun rises. In the old days, when the altar was up against the wall and the priest had his back to the people the Churches were constructed so that we all face east. East is for Christians the direction of hope.
It was symbolic for us to remember that no matter how rough life seems . . .
-no matter many fights you kids already had today on your way to Church
-no matter how you are fretting that big decision coming up
-no matter how alone you feel because of the stress you feel
-no matter how much you struggle with alcohol or with inappropriate sites on the internet
-no matter how dangerous the worlds seems with the violence and tension
No matter what is burdening you . . . we are people of hope and trust in God. On our own, we will never have it figured out (and it will always seems so overwhelming) but that’s when we turn it over to God . . . and trust that God has good things planned for us. And so we look to the East to remind us to trust God.
I sing:
5. Angels, announce with shouts of mirth Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today: Love, the Lord, is on the way.