Our sanctuary is closed due to Covid 19. However, our chapel in the woods is open for quiet reflection and meditation. It is located behind the church up a slight incline. Feel free to spend time in God’s beautiful space.

HOW MUCH LONGER?          Mark 13:24-37               First Advent Sunday

Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich                                      November 

In this strange time we are going through, what is really important and what can we hold onto? Memory of the people and things we hold dear. Those things in our lives we hope will return or be restored to us again. We hope for SOON – but ‘soon’ keeps getting pushed off into the distance. So I thought, let’s reminisce a little. I encourage you to send me your special Christmas memory or tradition, so that we can share these with each other.

Growing up, when I think of Christmastime, I remember something that would always appear on my grandmother’s kitchen table. Around St. Nicholas Day (December 19th), which was my grandmother’s patron saint, she would put out a small flat plate on which was a dampened paper napkin. On top of this napkin that was always kept wet, sat grains of wheat. This plate of wheat always sat in the middle of her table.

I loved to watch what would happen to the hard wheat grains or kernels. I would wake up and look forward to see what would happen each day. And it eventually happened – seemingly, mysteriously when I wasn’t looking. Suddenly, there it was! One day the wheat kernels sprouted and I would watch them grow. They would grow to about three inches tall. Then at Orthodox Christmas on January 7^th, the wheat was trimmed to an even height and a candle placed in the center. The outer circumference of the wheat and plate was wrapped in a ribbon, in the colors of the Serbian flag – red, blue and white. This was my family’s Advent wreath.

Today the theme of the First Sunday of Advent is HOPE – along with waiting and preparation. Boy! Isn’t ‘waiting’ something we have had a big lesson on all this year. In a way, we can all relate to expectant mothers who wait those long nine months for the delivery of their child. We too, are learning to wait on the unknown being birthed in our lives. We are in this strange waiting period, not really knowing how it will all turn out for us, individually, as a country, and as a world.

In a sense, we find ourselves in a very similar situation to those early Christians in the New Testament. In a changing time…which Jesus spoke of in Mark, when he was leaving his followers, but predicting that he would come back one day. The disciples’ questions to Jesus were these. When will you come back? What will be the signs? What do we do in the meantime? Important questions, with which all Christians down through the ages have had to grapple.

The book of Mark was the first gospel book written down. Everything about Jesus had been oral stories preserved by the telling of those stories. The other gospel books, Matthew, Luke and John, took their material from Mark and added to it their own information and particular experience. Mark records more miracles than any of the other gospel books. It is also the shortest book. A good place to start your own personal Bible study. Mark was written between 55 and 65 AD. Christ was crucified Friday April 3^rd 33 AD. So, Mark was written well within the actual memory of many who remembered Jesus. John Mark was not one of the twelve disciples but lived through this time, and then accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey.

The persecution of Christians in Rome began in 64 AD by Emperor Nero. Christians during the time of the writing of Mark had probably already begun to experience hardship and persecution. They would have been looking for some hope – the HOPE of Jesus coming back to them and establishing the Kingdom of God on earth.

Our scripture contains Jesus’ prediction of the End times and his return. Now you need to know that those early Christians and disciples expected that Jesus would return any day within their lifetime. They had that expectation early on. They held on to that HOPE during the terrible persecution they suffered under the Roman Empire. But Jesus never came. And here we are 2,000 years later, still waiting for Jesus’ return. Here we are on the First Sunday of Advent remembering and celebrating Jesus Christ’s first arrival on earth in the form of a baby, a human. But at the same time, remembering the prophecies and Jesus’ own words that he will return again to earth.

This year we all, Christians and non-Christians, have learned to wait in another way that we never expected. Waiting for this pandemic to pass. Waiting for life to return to normal. Wondering just like those first disciples – are these the signs of the End times? Is Jesus coming back soon? And…what do we do in the meantime? How do we wait when impatience and frustration claw at our peace and security?

We learn to wait just like those first disciples learned. We retell the old stories. We focus on memory and Jesus’ words of HOPE. We stay ‘in the present moment’ and take it ‘one day at a time.’ One crisis at a time. We don’t run too far ahead and spend time speculating about the future, the unknown. Right now, the present time needs all our attention and all our energy.

And what ‘timely’ words of Jesus in verse 32 of Mark 13. “Beware. Keep alert.” Because you do not know – only God knows the time of Jesus’ return. Even Jesus didn’t know. Only God knows – in whom is our trust. Jesus says: “Stay awake!” Hmmm – maybe that is why so many of us have had problems sleeping lately! Just a joke.

Let’s keep ourselves focused on all that really matters. This present moment. This present crisis. This present trial of our faith – our patience – our emotions – our physical endurance – our security. We need to anchor ourselves firmly in Jesus’ words and promises, like never before. And hold dearly and closely all our personal memories, the special people in our lives, and all those things we value most dearly. Because Jesus is coming back. Just like he came to earth so long ago – in human form. This pandemic too, shall pass – like so many hard times before with the healing of time and HOPE.

Keep HOPE alive in your heart, in your faith, in your everyday lives, in your speech. Talk hopefully. Speak HOPE to one another. Encourage one another because a new day of HOPE is coming.

From “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.”1 Corinthians 12:4-6Hard to believe Autumn is already here. And what a Spring and Summer we’ve had. Really not like anything else. Our lives have changed completely. We’ve been bumped out of our normal everyday comfort zones by this unseen, deadly Covid-19 virus. I trust that you all are continuing to keep yourself and others safe by practicing social distancing and wearing face coverings. I now have a greater appreciation forwomen of di)erent cultures who normally are required to wear face coverings. It has been a challenging experience…an experience that will not anytime soon be leaving us. I encourage you all to continue with these safe practices and regular sanitizing of hands and surfaces. We have entered a new age where the viruses seem to be winning. Let’s continue to be smart about this. Regarding this pandemic and government regulations, I just want to give a shout out to our Moderator at First Federated Church…Craig Korowski. He has taken this virus seriously from day one and has been scrupulously reading and acquainting himself with all the latest health updates, denominational and government guidelines to keep us all safe in the church. As you may or may not know, Craig is a lawyer and has the amazing agility and ability to thoughtfully,analytically and with impartiality look at both sides of every issue. Thank you so much Craig for keeping our congregation’s health, well-being and safety in the forefront of all your advice and recommendations. We value your service and dedication to First Federated Church.

Another important shout out goes to Pat Patrick who has stepped down from his many duties as Treasurer and Deacon at the church. We have all appreciated Pat’s faithfulness in allhis duties and the many hats he wore over the last years. Pat kept our ‘ship’ on the straight and narrow for many years, watching faithfully over church 3nances, investments, gift cards to the needy and many other everyday duties. We will greatly miss his expertise and many years of experience and wisdom…not to mention his famous, lengthy ‘stories’ in true Irish tradition! Due to a number of factors Pat has felt strongly that it is now his time to pass the gauntlet of service to someone else. Pat selected Rob Mildish to replace him as Treasurer, with Board approval. And we are all delighted that Rob readily has stepped in and has eagerly taken on Pat’s duties, in spite of his own busy position in mortgages and banking. Pat we all want to express our sincere thanks and appreciation for all you have done at First Federated. It has not gone unnoticed and we will miss you.“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it iswith Christ…Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12, 14.Rev. Yvonne Miloyevich