What are the things that make for peace?
Second Sunday of Advent, Year A
There are two parts, an interactive activity and a drama, with a reading between.
 Matthew 3:1-12 (Psalm 72 and Romans 15:4-13 are the other two lectionary readings)

Drama participants:

• Leader;
• John the Baptist, wearing Palestinian shawl;
• Kakoli, wearing Bangladesh shawl (Commitment for Life service, option)

Scripture reading:  Isaiah 11:1-10

Part 1: What are the things that make for Peace?
[Today we have lit our second Advent candle, the Candle of Peace.]  Isaiah describes what is called the ‘Peaceable Kingdom’. You may be familiar with ‘The Peaceable Kingdom’ paintings by the American Quaker artist, Edward Hicks. [One of these might be shared on a screen.]

Take a moment to consider, ‘What are the things that make for Peace?’
What are the things that make for peace between two people?
What are the things that make for peace between two nations?
You can do this alone, or in pairs for a minute.  Then I will ask you to share your thoughts.
[Allow 1 minute]

Let’s hear what you have come up with.  What are things that make for peace? [Let congregation respond aloud.] Caring, sharing, justice, fairness, forgiveness, tolerance, agreeing upon and abiding by rules, communications, understanding….  We’ll come back to these.

Read:  Matthew 3:1-12

Part 2: Welcoming our guest

Leader: ‘You brood of vipers! You snakes! Who warned you to slither away from the wroth to come?’
With an opening like that, you may be wondering if you want to be here!  You may be looking for a way to slither out of your pew!
Yet this is how, in so many words, John starts his sermon to Jerusalem’s religious elite. Not exactly words to draw in a crowd, I wouldn’t think. And, why is Matthew’s passage about John baptizing at the Jordan—soon to be baptizing adult Jesus in the next few verses—why is it included as an Advent reading anyway? Shouldn’t we be reading something more hopeful, leading up to our celebrations of the arrival of baby Jesus?
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could ask John the Baptist: ‘Why the savage sermon? What message were you trying to convey?’

John the Baptist: Did I hear my name?

Leader: What? Who are you?

John the Baptist: I am John, son of Elizabeth and Zechariah, cousin to Jesus. I am better known as John the… (let the congregation answer) Baptist.  Ah, I see you know me. Did you have some questions for me?

Leader: As a matter of fact, we do have some questions.

John the Baptist: About what? Fire away.

Leader: Well, John, you preach this sermon to the crowd gathered at the River Jordan. Why do you address them so harshly? You call them ‘vipers.’

John the Baptist: Vipers, snakes, where do snakes first appear in the Bible? Anybody?

Leader: [Let congregation respond first.]  In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve encounter the serpent.

John the Baptist: Exactly! And, what does the serpent tempt Eve and Adam to do? [disobey God]
Right, the serpent, the viper, tempts them away from God, tempts them to disobey God’s command. It is the same with the Sadducees and Pharisees, who, like the serpent in Eden, tempt people away from God’s word.

Leader: Really? How?

John the Baptist: The Sadducees and Pharisees lead people away from right relationship with God and with their neighbours. They claim that obedience to the letter of religious Law is all that is required to be righteous, that skirting the spirit of God’s law is enough.

Leader: Hmmm… I can see that. You also say those who do not bear good fruit will be chopped—axed– from the vine of Israel and thrown into the fire. Israel’s holy leaders will meet a flaming end?!?

John the Baptist: Perhaps, perhaps they will meet a flaming end, but not necessarily. Remember the words I spoke when I emerged from the wilderness?

Leader: Repent, and be … help me congregation… Repent and be…baptized.

John the Baptist: Ah, well remembered. But it is the first word that is most important. Let me be clear, my emphasis is on repent! I am not sure how you understand ‘repent,’ but in the Greek it means: turn around, go in a different direction. Repent: turn your backs on worldly ways, and do things according to God’s will.

Leader: As in the prayer Jesus taught: thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven?

John the Baptist: That is exactly what I mean. Align our will, human will, with God’s will.

Leader: Is that what you mean when you exclaim, ‘the kin-dom of heaven has come near?’ You seem quite passionate about God’s kin-dom, God’s realm and rule, coming to earth.

John the Baptist:: Oh, my goodness, indeed I am. And I like that word you use: Kin-dom, instead of kingdom – focusing on being family together, God’s family. I think I’ll use it myself. Indeed, I am passionate about God’s kin-dom. Sometimes it feels as though I will lose my head with all my excitement that the kin-dom of God is near… The kin-dom is here!

Leader: Why so passionate, so ardent, so spirited, John?

John the Baptist: We say, I imagine you say, that the opposite of love is… (Let the congregation say ‘hate’)… Hate.  For me, a close second to the opposite of love being hate is apathy, not caring! If I do not care, I cannot love.  I am passionate because God cares so much. God cares so much, enough to shed heavenly power and be made known to us through…[Jesus]. [Whose arrival do we await? … Jesus.]  And then Jesus shares God’s intense care, and teaches how God cares for everyone, from poorest to richest, meekest to mightiest, lowliest to holiest, Sadducee and Pharisee, none shall be lost. All are saved through God’s love.

Leader: Sounds great! You say, repent–turn around, walk in God’s way—and we will bear fruit. What are these repentance fruits?

John the Baptist: There’s a clue in the Advent candles. What are the themes of the four Advent candles? Often it’s hope, peace, joy and love. These are all fruits of repentance. [I see you have the Second Advent Candle lit, the candle of… Peace. ]  Peace is one of those fruits. I heard you talking about Peace, asking, ‘What are the things that make for Peace?’

Leader: We were. The congregation came up with some great examples. [to congregation] Let’s share with John the things that were mentioned. What things make for Peace? Call them out. Caring, sharing, forgiveness, giving, loving, kindness, listening, understanding, tolerance, agreeing on rules, praying…

John the Baptist:  Absolutely. Peace, a fruit of true repentence, of turning away from the warring madness of the world, turning to the way of kin-dom, God’s kin-dom. When we repent, the kin-dom of heaven comes near. When we turn around, away from the selfish and uncaring ways of the world, not only is God’s kin-dom near; God’s kin-dom is here!

Leader: Wow! It sounds so easy, John. But out in the busy-ness of our days, it does not always feel so easy.

John the Baptist:  Part of the Good News is that we are not alone in trying to make peace, in trying to care and love. Thankfully, we have Jesus walking with us all the time. Remember, one of the names for Jesus is … Emmanuel, which means God with… (Let the congregation say ‘us’).

Leader: That is Good News! And a good reminder.

John the Baptist: Another thing to remember is that all the things that you do which produce the fruits of repentance, all the things you do that encourage peace, big or little, all those things make a difference.

Leader: Some of us, especially as we are older and retired, wonder if the little things that we can do, if they really count? We can berate ourselves for not doing more.

John the Baptist: What does Jesus say, ‘even those who give one cold cup of water… they will have their reward.’ In other words, even the little things you do make a difference, from your quiet daily devotions and prayers, your faithfulness in worship, the things you do that make for peace, small and large, they all make a difference.

Leader: Our United Reformed Church programme, Commitment for Life, extends our reach, especially, to Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Israel and Palestine.

John the Baptist: The kin-dom of heaven has come near. The things you do that make for peace, large and small, they all make a difference.

Leader:  John, before you go, what would you have us remember?

John the Baptist: Remember, God cares. God cares about you, and God cares about everyone. And when you care, the things you do that make for peace, large and small, make a difference.

Leader: Pray with me. Gracious God, thank you for your word brought to life for us on this Second Sunday of Advent. In the darkness of our world, and the darkness of this winter time of year, we remember that lights shine in through the darkness. We remember that you care for each one of us, and all your children across the world. We remember that the things we do that make for peace, small and large, make a difference. Bless us this Advent Season with generous and joyous hearts, helping hands and hopeful Spirits. Emmanuel, you are with us. Amen.

Commitment for Life services might use this ending:

John the Baptist: Another thing to remember is that all the things that you do which produce the fruits of repentance, all the things you do that encourage peace, big or little, all those things make a difference.

John the Baptist: Have you a story to share from one of those places that makes for peace?

Leader: This congregation has been paired with Bangladesh. I have a story from a young woman named Kakoli Khatun who lives in Bangladesh. Actually, she’s here today, too.

Kakoli: [with a shawl draped over her shoulders] 

Greetings. I am Kakoli Khatun.
I live in an area of Northern Bangladesh suffering from severe poverty. Life is difficult, especially for girls and women.  Lucky for me, there is a programme, supported by Commitment for Life, called ‘Aid Comilla’ which helps young women like myself.  What a difference it has made for me!  I am now studying at college, something I never dreamed of.

What is really amazing, I gathered a group of young artisans and entrepreneurs, and together we have started a craft making business. You should see the gorgeous items that we now sell on-line using a mobile telephone!

Commitment for Life, Christian Aid, and United Reformed Churches, and others, across the United Kingdom believed in us, supported our endeavours, and enabled us to help ourselves. A huge debt of gratitude and thanks from me and my companions to you for remembering us and caring. May God bless you all.

John the Baptist: Thank you Kakoli. You have helped remind everyone in this congregation that indeed, things we do that make for peace, large and small, all make a difference.

Leader: John the Baptist, and Kakoli, thank you both for being with us this morning. John, before you go, what would you have us remember?

John the Baptist: Remember, God cares. God cares about you, and God cares about everyone. And when you care, the things you do that make for peace, large and small, make a difference.

Leader: Pray with me. Gracious God, thank you for your word brought to life for us on this Second Sunday of Advent when we light our Advent Peace candle. In the darkness of our world, and the darkness of this winter time of year, we remember that lights shine in through the darkness. We remember that you care for each one of us, and all your children across the world. We remember that the things we do that make for peace, small and large, make a difference as we heard in Kakoli Khatun’s story from Bangladesh. May our gifts and work to and through Commitment for Life bring hope, peace and joy to people in situations we can hardly imagine. Bless us this Advent Season with generous and joyous hearts, helping hands and hopeful Spirits. Emmanuel, you are with us. Amen.

Image: ‘The Peaceable Kingdom’ By Edward Hicks – National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., online collection, Public Domain