(Is.63:16b-17,19b,64:2-7; Ps.80:2-4,15-16,18-19; 1Cor.1:3-9; Mk.13:33-37) "Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!" "O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven, and see." "Rouse your power, and come to save us." Do not "let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden [not] our hearts so that we fear you not." We are your fruitful vine, but "we have all withered like leaves… for you have hidden your face from us and delivered us up to our guilt. Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay and you are the potter." "May your help be with the Man of your right hand." May we be formed in His image and so be pleasing to you. May we be ready for His return, and our final meeting with you, our Lord and God. Brothers and sisters, we must be as the Corinthians, among whom "the testimony of Christ was confirmed," who "are not lacking in any spiritual gift as [they] wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ." He travels now abroad in the kingdom of His Father, but He will return. And He has indeed left us "each with his work"; all are gifted by God and called to bear fruit in the time that is ours now… "May He not come suddenly and find [us] sleeping." When He "rend[s] the heavens and come[s] down, with the mountains quaking before [Him]," may we not be found quaking as well, having slipped into the slumber of sin, having been covered with this world's darkness. Rather, let Him meet us doing right at whatever hour He may come. Let us constantly serve our God and "He will keep [us] firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." "What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'" In many ways does He indeed say it: "Be watchful! Be alert!" Keep your eyes open! Stay awake! Be ready! But ever He tells us to remember that we are "called to fellowship with [the] Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." And as "God is faithful" so must we too be faithful to our call, giving witness always to the glory of our Lord. Now is the time to turn from our sin and be formed in His image. Let the prophet not say over us: "There is none who calls upon [His] name, who rouses himself to cling to [Him]." Let us prepare ourselves for His coming by walking rightly in His ways. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Warm Forehead" from Bearing the Birth Pangs, tenth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us enter into fellowship with your Son, becoming one with Him and watching for His return. YHWH, let us be mindful of our ways as we wait for the return of your Son. May we be blessed with every spiritual gift as we watch for His coming. Though our good deeds have become as polluted rags, He makes them new, bringing us back to you. Give us new life, O LORD, that we might call upon your NAME. You are our Father, our God; let us no longer be separated from you and your glory. We are the work of your hands, dear God – remake us in the image of your Son that when He comes we might stand with Him in your presence. Make us irreproachable, LORD, by your grace, by your mercy, by your rending of the heavens and coming down to us. Let us lack nothing for the hour of Jesus' return but be ready to enter the kingdom. May our eyes be open and our hearts awaiting our salvation.