Welcome to the second Sunday of Advent. Again, you are encouraged to treat Sunday as a true Sabbath, attending worship, where we have many opportunities to pray, and disconnecting from the patterns of the week as much as possible. Ideally, the prayer patterns established over six days of the week lead you to a Sabbath of constant spiritual communion with God.
Here’s the text I plan to preach this second Sunday of Advent.
Philippians 4:4-9 (Common English Bible)
Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus.
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. Practice these things: whatever you learned, received, heard, or saw in us. The God of peace will be with you.
Here are some questions I would suggest as you dwell on these words:
Does the idea of constant gladness or rejoicing seem feasible to you?
Few of us are physically violent, but does that mean we are always gentle?
Am I praying in times of turmoil in a way where I find peace?
Have a blessed Sabbath day, one that truly changes the rest of your week.
Methodist Life 