December 16, 2012
Third Sunday of Advent
Worship Theme: I Believe in
God/Joy
Zephaniah 3:14-20 (CEB)
Philippians 4:4-7 (CEB)
Luke 3:7-18 the Message
Bible
Isaiah 12:2-6 CEB
“In God, We Find Our Joy”
A reading from
the Gospel of Luke, chapter 3, verses 7-18. . . Listen for a word from God to
you and me, the people of God. . .
Perhaps
most of us have had the pleasure of having such joy that it cannot be
contained. Whether it is a new job, good news that you have been waiting for,
or even being joyful because of someone else’s good news. I know that I have
been in these types of situations and the joy just wells up inside of me so
much that it can’t help but spill out on those around me. But I think I find my
biggest joy in God. Just thinking about who God is. . . about what God has done
in my life and in the lives of those around me. . . and what God has around the
corner for me makes me want to explode. . . or
implode, however you want to view it. And through this Joy, our belief in
God is solidified.
We
have now begun the week, in our Advent journey, of Joy. Where is your joy
found? Is it in the things around you or the things above? The scriptures that
were read this morning are all about joy. They are all about where true joy is
found.
The
Old Testament reading this morning from Zephaniah is about joy. Even though
they were in exile, even when things around them were falling apart. . . they
were able to find joy in God. . . even when God seemed silent at the time.
The
scripture is a song that was sung about God’s judgment. It was a song about
God’s deliverance. They found their joy in their song to and about God.
The
reading from Philippians talks about rejoicing always in the Lord. It tells us
not to worry but to bring our worry, our sorrow, our despair, to God in prayer.
And by doing so, our hearts and minds will be given peace. Not just any peace
but a peace that only God can give. Even through those times when God may seem
silent in our lives. It is in those times that we need to think back on those
times when we saw God’s deliverance and to remember that our God is faithful,
never changing. We may not see God at work but we can have joy in knowing that
God always does. A lot of times God works “behind the scenes” where we may not
notice God power at work. But rest assured, God is there working out God’s good
and perfect plan and will for our lives.
And
then we have the Gospel from Luke, the joy and hope that we have comes in
knowing there is redemption if we only grab hold of it. If we change our ways
our God is faithful to hear prayers for forgiveness and will pardon our sinful
ways. God has made a way for peace and joy through God’s Son, Jesus Christ. In
this we can find our joy. We can believe in this redemption and pardon even in
our darkest times. . . even when God seems to have turned a deaf ear to our
prayers. It is in God’s promises and love that God poured out onto the world
over 2000 years ago when heaven came down to earth in the form of a child like
none other. God’s love in a child who would save the nations. God’s joy found
in that babe in a manger, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Perhaps
we, as humanity, need to hear that greeting from long ago, that greeting from
the angel to Mary. “Do not be afraid for I come with good news, today unto a
child is born who will save humanity through His ministry, through His death
and through His resurrection.” Perhaps we need to remember the joy of our
salvation in this Advent Season. Maybe, just maybe, we, as humanity, can
rekindle that hope, that peace, that joy, that poured down from heaven. Maybe,
just maybe, we can rekindle that joy of belonging to something bigger than
ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, there will come a day when there will truly be
peace on earth. Perhaps if we just fan the flames of our hearts we will be able
to sing with the angles “glory to God in the highest and peace to the people on
earth.” Maybe, just maybe, if we would just believe. Maybe, just maybe. . .
====
December
16, 2012
Worship
Theme: “I Believe in the God/ Joy”
Luke 3:7-18 (The Message Bible)
Zephaniah 3:14-20 (Common English Bible)
Philippians 4:4-7 (Common English Bible)
Call to Worship
Unison
Prayer (Adapted from Isaiah 12:2-6 (Common English Bible)
Candle
Lighting Liturgy (GBOD)
Prayer
of Dedication (Luke 3:7-18)
and sermon – “In God, We Find Our Joy”
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s
Whisper” blog
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH
December
16, 2012
Third
Sunday of Advent
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