Today is the first Sunday of Advent where we begin in our journey in the church calendar toward Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Each week during Advent a word will be added to the black panel at the front. Traditionally the first Advent Sunday we reflect upon the themes of ‘being on the watch’, ‘expectancy’, ‘longing’ or ‘anticipation’. Today we focus upon anticipation and certainly our very pregnant Mary that the Kid’s Church children have created adds to the theme of expectancy and anticipation. But what is it that we anticipate we might receive? Health and security? Love and acceptance? Isaiah writes about the return from exile and the chasm that had developed between the disillusioned people of Judah and the One who is their source. It is only God who can restore the returning exile’s confidence. The prophet pleads with God to demonstrate ‘loyalty’ to the people and restore broken relationships with God’s people. “Restore us, Oh God: let your face shine, that we might be saved” is the poet’s plea in Psalm 80. This echoes Isaiah’s deep longing and hope for restored relationship with God and acknowledges the need for the people to work toward this restoration. And asks how long this will take. The community of Mark’s gospel is also waiting for a better world, and they wonder how long it will take. The Mark reading today is a passage taken from Jesus’ final talk with his followers before his arrest and execution. The people in Mark’s community remember the promises of God’s presence of a better world and long for clear signs that the promises are being fulfilled. Jesus reminds his followers that only God knows the timing. In the meantime, he challenges them to stay awake, be alert, and live in anticipation. May we together work toward a better world and way of living as the broken relationships within our worlds are restored.