Advent 3 – Joy
“The Long-Lost Art of Rejoicing”
Reflection for Advent III Joy Sunday December 17, 2023 For Churchill and Gilford Pastoral Charge
Krista M. Moore
Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 Isaiah proclaims freedom to the captives
Luke 1:47–55 Mary’s Song of praise – the Magnificat
Introduction to the Scriptures
Today we have a special dramatic reading of the scriptures. Isaiah speaks to his people in exile.
God has a special plan and will bless them.
Mary the mother of Jesus sings praises to God for being chosen to be the mother of the Savior, Jesus the Messiah will be born soon in Bethlehem; to bring good news to the poor, to fill the hungry with good things.
Today is JOY SUNDAY – JOY is not just a noun, it is a VERB – to REJOICE is to be filled with joy, to delight in the LORD, to know that God has also filled us with good things, that life is a gift. What are we most grateful for that causes us to REJOICE?
REFLECTION
God has blessed us.
We are blessed. We are fortunate. We really are.
As I reflect on the promises from the prophet Isaiah and Song of Praise of Mary, I feel as they do, blessed by the LORD. I feel very blessed to be standing here today.
God has blessed me with good things, with the dreams of my heart. God has clothed me with a garland of JOY.
God has lifted me from a place of uncertainty, unrest, and discouragement to a place of restoration, renewal, and rejoicing.
Yes, rejoicing!
It is not a word we are used to: to REJOICE is a lost art we must practice.
STORY 1: HOW GOD BLESSED ME
I think back in my life when I didn’t know where I was going. It was not as it is now.
Although I have always been blessed, and had a good family, I didn’t always know my purpose or where I belonged. I had some years where I felt lost in my career…
I tried a lot of different things.
I worked in IT, did some drama and acting,
I even sang in a classic rock cover band (you heard it here first),
and I wrote a blog for 10 years.
But nothing stuck.
Nothing satisfied my soul,
the SPIRITUAL yearnings of the heart.
But God had a plan.
God knew that in my heart I love people,
and I love God, so put those two things together, and
YOU GOT A MINISTER!
I had no idea what that would be like.
I was used to doing things on my own.
Staying within my own little world, my own family.
I didn’t know what it was like to live in a community where you know your neighbours, village, the whole town!
Where everyone you meet is family.
HUNGRY: CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS
Where people work together tirelessly for the good of others, as many of you did yesterday for Christmas for Kids in Stroud. Like Mary’s song, God fills the hungry with good things – because of people like you,
who never stop until every family has been fed.
Every child received a blessing.
A gift.
Every family a turkey, a peanut butter.
Until everyone is blessed.
It is a great blessing to be a part of a community like this, I rejoice for these good things, for this transformation in my life. It is a great blessing.
STORY: CHRISTMAS AT THE MANSE
Yesterday we opened our doors at the manse and let the community come in – and I joked that it is the only time you’re allowed to see my bedroom.
Yes, it was a lot of hard work, thanks to the manse committee, volunteers, my aunt, and uncle and of course Steve.
Steve, we rejoice in all you did to pull it together – and you did it all for free! You did such a good job, the back room was lit up with that incredible view, and all were astounded at the transformation.
This wasn’t just a case of restoring a house or doing a renovation – although that is well and good.
It was about bringing life back to the manse, a place that lost its purpose, and just needed a little love.
The rooms were filled with people, and 3 Christmas trees, and many home-baked sweets!
Thank you to all who helped prepare, decorate, bake, and serve for us, you know who you are!
Apparently almost 70 people came – the streets of Churchill were lined with cars for the first time in a long time.
And our surprise guest, brought great joy to everyone.
As he came out of the manse, I imagined kids in cars tugging at their parents to stop saying, “Stop the car – It’s SANTA!” Yes, JOY CAME to INNISFIL.
CAPTIVITY/WAR: GARLAND OF BEAUTY, RESTORATION Although we usually experience Joy at this time of year, there are moments we may feel the opposite –
a mixture of sadness, sorrow, anxiety over the world,
or a deep sense of loss for those we’ve lost.
SCRIPTURE
The people in Isaiah’s time were in exile.
They lost whole families, homes, their freedom.
They were in captivity in Babylon.
But ISAIAH declares “good news to the oppressed.”
Freedom to the captives.
The YEAR OF THE LORD’S FAVOUR.
He says, God will restore them and
“lift the lowly,
bind up the broken-hearted and
comfort all those who mourn.”
In MARY’S SONG (The Magnificat)
God will “lift the lowly,
scatter the proud
and fill the hungry with good things.”
FOR US: WE PRAY
We pray for our world,
For those who live amid war or conflict,
who have lost their homes, families, livelihoods, loved ones. Whatever they have lost, God will give them a garland of beauty for ashes. They WILL rejoice again.
FOR THOSE WHO MOURN: COMFORT
We too may experience loss. It is hard to be joyful at such times, especially at this time of year.
Advent and Christmas are a time to come closer to God, to feel God’s comfort and promises.
To move from hope to joy as we approach Bethlehem.
When we experience loss, God comforts us
with friendships that last a lifetime,
happy memories,
loving families,
children and beloved animals,
our church life and communities.
God stays close to us, and lifts us with the touch of a hand, a friendly word, and little signs from above –
a Blue Christmas service of candlelight
and gentle song to remember those we love.
God blesses us when we mourn.
God blesses those who just been born and baptized, and those who have moved on to the heavenly places.
God blesses us in our comings and our goings.
God blesses everyone.
God blesses those who experience difficulties
like a car breaking down
Or a health issue
– with a friendly phone call,
a kind person to drive us to an appointment.
Or visit or bring a hot meal.
This happens in a community that wraps us like a garland of blessing from God. A blessing of love.
We REJOICE for these blessings even amid difficulty. Especially then.
NIGHT SKY: STARS – THE LONGEST NIGHT
Did you ever notice the stars shine the brightest
when the sky is the darkest?
Like this week, the longest night December 21.
On a clear night you will see stars, last week meteor showers. Although it may be dark, it can be the most beautiful time of year. We appreciate the light that comes through the night sky, or the twinkling lights of Christmas trees.
When things seem uncertain, sad, or difficult, we can still find glimmers of hope, consolation, JOY.
JOY VS. HAPPINESS
Joy is not the same as happiness.
Happiness can be fleeting in this world.
Our circumstances change and suddenly we experience defeat, difficulty, or loss.
We may not feel happy in those moments.
But joy runs deeper.
JOY is a feeling of appreciation and satisfaction that life is good, no matter what happens.
There is always a reason to be grateful and even joyful.
Like hope and peace, JOY is a gift from God.
It doesn’t matter what the world throws at us, we can still have hope, peace, and JOY.
Because we know we are blessed by God.
There is always something to appreciate,
something to stir up our JOY.
Like a grandchild’s laugh,
a child’s visit,
a supper together after a long time apart,
good news from a doctor,
a call from someone you love,
A lovely encounter with a stranger.
Life is a blessing.
We all deserve to feel JOY
We can ALL decide to embrace life and notice JOY all around us – to ENJOY every moment!
CLOSING
In closing I offer my own Song of Praise,
in honour of the one we are waiting for,
who is coming to Bethlehem at Christmas.
Let us take a moment to rejoice and be glad
REJOICE AND BE GLAD
Rejoice and be glad
For God is near!
The trumpets are sounding
The flute and violin resound
The band piper is playing
The harpist and the flutist play a rousing tune!
REJOICE and be glad!
For God has delivered to you a SON
And he is called him EMMANUEL
A Shepherd boy saw him in a manger
GOD Sent him for everyone
REJOICE and be glad!
For CHRIST the Savior is born in a manger
JESUS is born in Bethlehem!
The LIGHT has come
To deliver the captives
To lift up the lowly
To fill the hungry with good things
He brings Glad Tidings to all
He is both Shepherd and King
REJOICE and be glad!
The LIGHT has come to Jerusalem
His LIGHT will never go out
His promise is LIFE eternal
Do not despair but share the Good News
Glad Tidings of Comfort and JOY TO YOU!
For CHRIST THE SAVIOR is born today
JESUS CHRIST is born
REJOICE and be glad he was born for you.
Amen