The Real Christmas Joy
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Sunday Reflection
Read Tamara Hiscock’s reflection, titled, “Rainbows, Sunshine, & Unicorns – Except Not” from Sunday’s worship service. You’ll find it in the Sunday Reflections blog.
Sermon Notes:
This sermon includes reference to two different videos that were shown during the sermon.
The first is a brief Christmas tribute by International China Concern. It fits at the 9:54 mark in the sermon and can be found here.
The second is a musical number from the Monty Python movie, The Life of Brian. It fits at the 21:49 mark in the sermon and can be found here. Also, as a note of caution, there is a bit of bad language in the song.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples… Read more…
Looking to Sunday
by Elaine Poproski
As the weeks of Advent progress, I’m always struck by the shift that happens when we move into the third week. The weeks of HOPE and PEACE are weighed down by the realities of a world in which despair and violence are too often far easier to find than are examples of hope and peace. But the third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of JOY.
Isaiah’s poetry this week invites us to hear the joy of all creation at the coming of Jesus. In Matthew’s gospel, John the Baptist is no longer yelling at people down by the river, but is instead hearing Jesus’ assurance that He is, indeed, the One for whom John, and all Israel, has been waiting. As we move into the third week of waiting, as we move closer and closer to the coming of the Saviour, everything lightens a little bit more. We move from Advent songs in a minor key to Christmas carols in a major key. We move from a mostly dark Advent wreath to an Advent wreath that is almost complete. This is the Sunday of JOY.
As you prepare for Sunday, I invite you to pause and consider the things for which you are thankful this Christmas. Where are the bright spots? Even if you are grieving this year, or in pain this year, or alone this year, what is there in your life for which to be thankful? And as you give thanks – as you focus intentionally on the gifts in your life – do you sense a spark or two of joy inside? I ask, because joy is deeply connected to gratitude. If you can’t find the spark, I invite you to spend some time with someone who can help you find that spark, someone who can offer a different perspective and perhaps help you discover that you do have something for which to be thankful – something with which to light the spark of joy inside yourself.