Isaiah 64:1-9
Mark 13:24-37

Mark is warning of end times, destruction of the old and looking forward to the Son of Man coming in glory. The world is standing on the brink - the old has passed - the new must come.

Isaiah speaks to a people in exile, mourning, revision, hint of promise - hope - It is the death of all their dreams, all their hopes, of any future.In the crisis in the darkness of life there is a hint of hope - God is the potter.

Listen/look at U2’s song Yahweh http://www.u2.com/music/lyrics.php?song=457&list=y
dead end lives struggling for meaning
cheap, throwaway, insecure, rootless
someone else bursting to get out
Advent - acknowledges pain - looks towards the Christchild - among us, one of us
hands - fist; mouth - kiss; encouraging caring, life-changing,
garden to City - harking back - need to be looking forward.

Waiting for the dawn -
dark times for the church - marginalised, irrelevant, scorned, dieing. Who are we? what are we about? do we have a future?
Dark times for many people in their personal lives - hopelessness, despair, fear, waiting for the dawn/

Hope is in God - the potter who mould us - the child who comes amongst us - the saviour who offers life-changing love. In broken hearts and faithful living.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come