December 13, 2015
Stetson Memorial UMC
Third Sunday of Advent
Inspired by Marcia McPhee
Sermon Series “Awed and Odd”
Joy in the Midst of Despair
Luke 1:46-55
Isaiah 61:1-3
(All Scripture is taken from the NIV Bible)
“I Will Choose Joy…”
Prayer for the Spirit’s
leading…
Read
“Mary’s Song” found in Luke 1 verse 46-55…
In the world in which we live it is kind of hard
finding joy in any off it. How many of you feel the same way? It seems where ever you look there is
despair and suffering of some sort. We may even be here in the midst of Advent,
when we should be joyful, wondering “why can’t I feel that feeling…you know
that feeling that we get each and every other Advent? I know it’s there, I just
can’t seem to find it…” It is hard to have joy in the midst of despair whether
it be in our lives or in the lives of others.
This advent, we are journeying to the cross by
another road than what we may usually travel. We have been traveling a road
that at times may have made us squirm a little. We have been inspired by Marcia
McPhee’s “Awed & Odd” Sermon series where she states:
“We
Christians believe in “folly”–that there is peace, love, joy and hope in the
midst of the good and difficult times. This makes us “odd”–according to those
who proclaim the victory of decline and death all around. It is especially in
this season of expectant hope that we can instead proclaim the awe-inspiring
presence of God’s reign that continually makes all things new. This is a season
of odd “union”–swords into plowshares, wolves and lambs resting peacefully
together, and the “speechless” singing for joy!”
So here we are at the third Sunday of Advent…I
don’t know about you but the past couple of weeks has inspired me to open my
eyes, take off the blinders and see God in world still working even though
broken. We have We talked about seeing peace in the midst of conflict and have
decided that even though the world around us may be that God is always working
out His plan even if I don’t perceive it. We know because we have seen the
light of God working within situations that others might deem hopeless.
We also decided that we are a little “odd” because
we are “awed” by God who even in the darkness is there creating order out of
chaos. And we decided that we would rather be awed for God even though the
world calls us odd.
Last week we talked about…were stretched a little
further as we talked about “Love In the Midst Of Hate”. We decided that Jesus,
our Risen Lord, is the One to show us the way by the example that He set. With
all the despair He saw, He answered with love and healing giving hope to those
around Him. We also decided that as Jesus judges and reigns there will be peace
in the midst of conflict and no more hate because all there will be love.
So let’s stretch a little further…how about “Joy in
the Midst of Despair?” Now I don’t know about you but I find it hard…extremely
hard to find anything close to joy in the midst of despair. Now raise your hand
if you like being in the midst of despair, either your own or someone else’s? Ok…not so much… This is the odd and awed
thing about having joy. It is a choice. That’s right…joy is more of a choice
than a feeling that we get. Don’t get me wrong, we do feel but we choose to
feel it. Example… we have been waiting for that new job opening to happen and
it does. Not only does it open but you are offered the job which means more
money, more benefits and more time off…Pretty
awesome huh? Now here’s the fun part…how do you react? Audience participation time…
Mary, the mother of Jesus, had a choice to make.
She was now pregnant and unwed. Joseph didn’t even know at this point in time.
This was not the thing a proper young woman would want. As a matter of fact…who
the heck was going to believe that she was “divinely pregnant”? But let’s look
at her song…break apart the song stanza
by stanza…
We too have our own song for we are the children of
God through the grafting that took place on the cross…you know, the cross that
the baby we celebrate will climb 33 years later… It is found in Isaiah 61 verses
1-3. Listen to the joy we have because of the love came down from heaven.
Read
the scripture…let the Spirit lead in words after.
We really do need eyes to see, ears to hear and a
heart that is open to what God is doing in the world around us. Then we will be
able to see the peace and love that is evident to all who seek love. We will
have joy even though there is despair around us. But it begins here (touch chest) and here (touch eyes). As we have an open Heart
and lead by the Spirit of God we will use eyes of love and grace as we seek the
love of God in the world around us. We will know the joy of our salvation and
share that joy with others so that they too will see the light of day at the
end of the tunnel that is created by the world. We will help them…and
ourselves…take off those blinders that keep us only looking forward and be open
to the surprise of God around us. We will have that unspeakable joy in the
midst of despair…
Let us pray…pray
for us to awaken and experience and see the joy of the Lord in the midst of
despair…
Amen
=====
edited December 15, 2015
There is joy, if we choose joy – v3
(editing version 2)
edited December 15, 2015
There is joy, if we choose joy – v2
edited December 15, 2015
There is joy, if we choose joy
edited December 14, 2015
Joy, if we choose it – v2
edited/ expanded December 14, 2015
Joy, if we choose it
December 14, 2015
Full, if we choose it
December 14, 2015
choose joy
December 14, 2015
no matter my situation
December 13, 2015
Third Sunday of Advent
Inspired by Marcia McPhee
Sermon Series “Awed and Odd”
Joy in the Midst of Despair
Luke 1:46-55
Isaiah 61:1-3
(All Scripture is taken from the NIV Bible)
message: “I Will Choose Joy. . .”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message - Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
December 13, 2015
Third Sunday of Advent
&
edited December 8, 2015
In the Midst of Hate – v2
edited December 8, 2015
Seeking to Find Love – v2
edited/new December 7, 2015
Seeking to Find Love
December 7, 2015
In the Midst of Hate
edited December 7, 2015
Seek Love – v3
(Editng version 2)
edited December 7, 2015
Seek Love - v2
December 7, 2015
Seek Love
December 6, 2015
Second Sunday of Advent
Inspired by Marcia McFee
Sermon Series “Awed and Odd”
Love in the Midst of Hate
Isaiah 11:1-4a, 5-9
Romans 15:1-2, 5-7
message: “Seek Love…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
- Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
December 6, 2015
Second Sunday of Advent
&
November 29, 2015
First Sunday of Advent
Inspired by Marcia McFee
Sermon Series “Awed and Odd”
Peace Within the Conflict
Isaiah 2:4
Psalm 122:6, 7
Romans 13:11
Matthew 24:42, 44
message: “Peace in the Valley…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
- Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
November 29, 2015
First Sunday of Advent
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All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray
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