Repentance: Turning Towards God's Embrace

So what comes to mind when you think of the word "Repentance?" I tend to think about change away from sin or 'being bad' or 'doing something wrong' in some way. It can be a harsh term. There might be punniment attached to it or consequences that bear out in your life from what you have repented of.

Repentance is a word very much a part of this week's Lectionary passages for Advent II. John the Baptist comes to prepare the way for Jesus and preaches a repentance for forgiveness of sins (and many are baptized, confessing their sins). And yet he is quoting Isaiah 40 which puts those same words of 'prepare the way of the Lord' in the context of 'comfort, O comfort my people.' After reading all the passages, I was left with a different view of repentance. (I think this was my unexpected surprise this week) It seemed to be more about turning towards something, rather than away from something. The turning is towards God, towards the light, towards forgiveness, towards God's promises, towards a new heaven and earth... or as Alisha Martin (worship leader) and I decided to entitle the service this week "Repentance: Turning Towards God's Embrace" I am curious how this thought or idea will play out as we work on the service. What have been your experiences of repentance?

I decided to put excerpts from the 4 Lectionary texts into a reader's theatre that will be used this Sunday for the Scripture reading, so this may be easier than looking up all the texts (format comes out a little funny here):

Psalm 85:1-2; 8-13; Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8; 2 Peter 3:8-15 (excerpts)

All: The beginning of the good news* of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.*
Voice 1: As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,*
Voice 3: ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,*
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
Voice 2 and 4: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’,
Voice 1: John the baptizer appeared* in the wilderness, proclaiming a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Voice 3: And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
Voice 2: Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.
Voice 4: Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.
Voice 1: Lord, you were favourable to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Voice 3: You forgave the iniquity of your people; you pardoned all their sin.
Voice 4: Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.*
Voice 2: Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Voice 3: The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,* not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
Voice 1: But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
Voice 2: But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
Voice 4: Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
Voice 1: Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
Voice 2: righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
Voice 3: Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
Voice 4: and righteousness will look down from the sky.
Voice 2: The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.
Voice 4: Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps
Voice 3: He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.
Voice 1: I have baptized you with* water; but he will baptize you with* the Holy Spirit.’