By the Rev. Meg Sander, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Wells

We are in the midst of Advent, the season in the church year of &8220;already, not yet,&8221; referring to three different aspects of time.

Advent brings with it a past focus as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child in Bethlehem.

It also refers to Christ&8217;s coming to us in Word and Sacrament, so it centers on the present.

Thirdly, Advent draws us to the future as we prepare for the coming of Christ at the end of time.

Christ&8217;s coming is certain, but the timing is not.

Yet Christians are called to be ready, to love and serve one another in joy and live each day in the glow of God&8217;s grace.

But how do we do that when things around us seem so crazy and out of control?

I was a missionary in Tanzania and I loved the idea of having no set schedule. I learned the Tanzanian way of life, &8220;you get there when you get there, it happens when it happens, and I&8217;ll see you when I see you.&8221;

There is no time in Tanzania.

But after returning to the United States it was and still is very difficult for me to be on a tight schedule. It&8217;s hard to live in the glow of God&8217;s grace when you always need to be somewhere else. It&8217;s difficult to prepare for Christ&8217;s coming when you don&8217;t know whether you&8217;re coming or going!

I arranged for a travel group to experience the Tanzanian ways and understand what it meant to be ready, but truly wait in anticipation of Christ&8217;s coming. Interestingly enough a phrase that was often repeated was &8220;Meggie, njoo!&8221; &8220;Meg, come!&8221; I would always get caught up in the present, being with people, listening, laughing, learning, seeing, discovering, and of course playing.&8221;

Our group needed to keep time so we could visit more people and get to the people who had been waiting to receive us. &8220;Njoo!&8221; &8220;Come!&8221;

Come and worship, come and see, come and join in the celebration.

There was so much to see and do, how could we fit it all in?

Come and be amazed at the glorious things God has done in and around and through us. Come and see the wonders of God&8217;s creation &8212; signs of God&8217;s loving presence, signs of Emmanuel, God with us to deliver us from evil and inspire us to serve.

Come and be prepared to wait &8212; to wait and see what was about to happen.

That&8217;s how you live in the glow of God&8217;s grace.

You find time, you make time to wait and listen for God&8217;s voice calling you to faithfulness.

You live in the glow of God&8217;s grace by using the gifts God has given you to care for those in need all around you and being socially responsible. You live in the glow of God&8217;s grace by striving for peace in your family, your neighborhood, your community and the world, and seeking justice in all facets of your life. This is only possible when you rely on Christ for transformation, renewal and strength. And you remember that Jesus truly is the reason for the season.

So, let us be excited and ready as we wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ as we prepare to celebrate again the coming of Christ as the Bethlehem baby. Let us wrap ourselves up in the holy day, instead of being wrapped up in the holiday.

And let us prepare for Christ&8217;s coming by living each day in the glow of God&8217;s grace.

Njoo!

Come!

Come to worship at a holy place, a sacred space where you can be transformed by God&8217;s grace and fed and nourished by Word and Sacrament, the gifts of God. Then twende! &8220;Let&8217;s go! Let&8217;s go in peace and compassion and love to serve our Lord and our neighbor joyously.