Poetry Where You Live: sermon, That Christmas Joy, by Pastor Ruth Foss, December 16, 2018, Third Sunday of Advent, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, Maine

December 16, 2018

Third Sunday of Advent

Sunday of Joy Worship Theme:

The Joy of the coming Messiah

Sermon Series:

“The “Advent”ure:

Where Hope Begins”

Psalm 63 (NRSV)

Isaiah 12 (King James Bible)

Isaiah 9:6 (King James Bible)

That Christmas Joy

The Lord Be with you

And, with you

Let us pray…pray for the Spirits leading as we rediscover the Joy of Advent…

A reading from the prophet Isaiah. It is found in Isaiah 12. As I read that prophetic word for you and me, may we hear what God is telling us I this season of waiting expectantly and expectantly waiting the Christ Child…

Read Isaiah 12

I love all the Christmas songs that have so much meaning to them for me. I love this time of year because I get to play Christmas music, and no one looks at me funny. But then again, I have my Shyanne, who listens to Christmas music all year round because she just loves how happy it makes her. Maybe there is a lesson there… The songs are about joy and hope…they are about love and peace…they are centered on that one event that change the world over 2000 years ago… that not so silent night when love came down in the form of a baby. Perhaps, Shyanne knows the secret of living the “Advent”ure…doing what brings us joy and reminds us of the reason for the season… What brings you joy?

Today we continue on a most excellent “Advent”ure…as we will travel to the place where hope begins…the hope of all people… Advent is one of my favorite seasons only overshadowed by the season of Lent. This is where Lent began…in a manger. This is where God’s plan of restoration began. Our destination…the manger…is the pivotal place for God’s promise to humanity.

So, this is the 3^rd Sunday in Advent, The Sunday of “Joy”. What gives you joy this season? How can you celebrate that joy not only in this season but into the “Advent”ure of Faith?

So why should we have joy…I mean what is this Christmas joy all about anyway? Let’s Look at this so-called joy. From the Psalm this morning…we hear about the joy they felt…

©    Vs 3-4 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
    my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
    I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

© (5)My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips (6)when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; (7) for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

Why should we have joy? From the Isaiah this morning we hear:

© ²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. ³Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

© 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

We have much to be joyful for not only this season but for our whole faith journey. We have a God who loved us and continues to love us to the point of wanting to be with us as he was in the Garden. We don’t have an aloof God but n that is with us Immanuel…who live in us, walks and talks with us. Talk about Joy unfathomable…joy unspeakable…Joy within the depths of our souls…

⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 (KJV))

AMEN!