The Third Sunday of Advent

JOY

For more than a thousand years, the Christian World as used the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas as a time to prepare for the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, God with us!

Advent, named for the Latin verb, “to come”, is a time of anticipation and self-examination. A time to look deeply into the mirror of faith and see our lives in the light of God’s great gift of divine spirit in human life.

Today is the third Sunday of Advent. With one exception, the candles in the Advent Wreath are dark and somber in color. They are purple, symbolic reminders of the rejection and death suffered by Jesus the Christ and of the potential seriousness of our own self-consideration during Advent. One candle, the candle we light today, is light and bright – pink. It is the Candle of Joy. The pink candle symbolically reminds us that no matter how painful our life or how embarrassing our self-examination, the child will be born. The Christ does enter human life. God is with us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not even ourselves. There is Joy!

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. (Psalms 89:1)

I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people; To you is born this day…a Savior, who is the Messiah. (Luke 2:10)

Isaiah 35

Hope for Restoration

¹ Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. ² Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. ³ With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. ⁴ Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.” ⁵ And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. ⁶ The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland. ⁷ The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived. ⁸ And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there. ⁹ Lions will not lurk along its course, nor any other ferocious beasts. There will be no other dangers. Only the redeemed will walk on it. ¹⁰ Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Jerusalem^[a] singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Leader: The emotional stresses and busy-ness of the Christmas Season can take away from the joy we long to feel. We feel the pain of loss and grief more strongly at this time of year.

Response: We long for the feelings of joy and anticipation that children have on Christmas Eve.

Leader: And yet, God offers each one of us a gift that is greater than anything we will ever receive from under a tree, a gift that never breaks or wears out; we never grow out of it, and it never leaves us. God offers us the gift of love and new life in Jesus the Christ.

Response: God’s gift is something to celebrate.

Leader: As we anticipate the greatest gift we could ever receive, we light the candles of hope and peace and joy. The flames of hope and peace grow within to ignite the flame of lasting joy.

(The Candle of Joy is lit.)

“O God of hope and peace, the promise of the Christ gives us reason to celebrate. Help us feel your presence when we feel the pain of loss. When we are distracted by the busy-ness of these days help us see what’s most important in our lives. When we are turned toward you, gifts are more dear, food is tastier, family and friends more precious, and joy is deeper. Please fan the flames of hope, peace and joy within each of us that others will feel their warmth as well. In the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.”

One Candle is Lit from the Chalice Hymnal:

Come surely, Lord Jesus, as dawn follows night,

Our hearts long to greet you, as roses, the light,

Salvation, draw near us, our vision engage,

One candle is lit for the hope of the age.

Come quickly, shalom, teach us how to prepare

For a gift that compels us with justice to care.

Our spirits are restless till sin and war cease.

One candle is lit for the reign of God’s peace.

Come, festively sing while awaiting the birth,

Join angels in dancing from heaven to earth.

Wave banners to good news, lift high thankful praise.

One candle is lit for the joy of these days.

Suggestion For Families:

During a family “serious time”, perhaps during use of a family Advent Wreath, talk about the joy of giving and receiving gifts. Remember God’s gift of love and joy in Jesus the Christ. Decide on a family gift to give. Perhaps a chore for an elderly neighbor or a contribution to a people-helping project like the church’s Angel Tree or an outreach project.

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