worship tricks [first series]

no 67 : waiting mass

vaux love the theme of waiting and have written many inspiring words/thoughts on it. one piece that you may want to use for advent is waiting mass. the opening part is included in the alternative worship book (you may recognise it) and is here below...

[Call]
As Sarah waited...Ninety years for a son to fulfil God's promise.

[Response]
We wait in hope for what we thought had been spoken to us.

[Call]
As Moses waited...40 years in the desert, being prepared by God to lead his people.

[Response]
We wait for emptiness and humility; for bravado to wither.

[Call]
As Israel waited...40 years of wandering, hungry, depressed, thirsting, unsure.

[Response]
We wait for the right time to act

[Call]
As the Prophets waited...1000 years of promises that God would raise up a Saviour.

[Response]
We wait for the signs that God has not forgotten.

[Call]
As Mary waited...9 months of her 14 years for the child of God.

[Response]
We feel the birth-pains, yet fear for the child.

[Call]
As John the Baptist waited...Scanning the crowds for the one whose sandals he would not be worthy to untie.

[Response]
We long for an experience of the Divine

[Call]
As Jesus waited... 30 years of creeping time.
40 days in the desert of temptation.
3 years of misunderstanding.
3 days in the depths of hell.

[Response]
So we wait for God's time. Preparing the way. Our turn to toil on levelling mountains and straightening paths. Our turn to watch the horizon. Our turn to pass on the hope that He who promised is faithful and will come back.