Joy – God has Chosen Us - 12/13/2020
Call to worship:
L: O come, let us adore him -
P: Whose coming was announced by the prophets.
L: O come, let us adore him -
P: Whose message was proclaimed by the angels.
L: O come, let us adore him -
P: Whose glory was hailed by the shepherds.
A: “O Come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!”
Opening Hymn: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed #203
1. Hail to the Lord's Anointed,
great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed,
his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression,
to set the captive free;
to take away transgression,
and rule in equity.
2. He comes with succor speedy
to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy,
and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing,
their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned and dying,
are precious in his sight.
3. He shall come down like showers
upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers,
spring in his path to birth.
Before him, on the mountains,
shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains,
from hill to valley flow.
4. To him shall prayer unceasing
and daily vows ascend;
his kingdom still increasing,
a kingdom without end.
The tide of time shall never
his covenant remove;
his name shall stand forever;
that name to us is love.
Opening Prayer:
We read, O Lord, of the people’s surprise when you were born in Bethlehem. They had expected a display of power, but were confronted by a picture of humility. They had looked for a mighty ruler, but were greeted by a lowly baby.
Chasten our expectations of this Christmas with the realism of that first Christmas, so that when you come to us, surprise shall give way, now as then, to recognition, and we shall hail you as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Children's Message (video)
Hymn: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus #196
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Prayer of Dedication:
O Eternal God, we bow before you, our Creator, in awe and gratitude. The grandeur of your majesty overwhelms us. Yet we adore you even more for the constancy of your love.
May the One born in Bethlehem – who joined divinity and humanity, love of God and labor for people – unite heaven and earth, in us as in him. Amen.
Gospel Reading: John 1: 6-8, 19-28
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said,
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
Sermon Title: Joy – God has chosen us (video)
The time of Christ’s arrival is approaching quickly and before you know it, we will be celebrating the Babe in the manger as He is cuddled by His mother and adored by shepherds and angels alike. The cattle and the sheep will be still and will let the Baby sleep and undisturbed through the night and the nights to come.
In Luke, we hear Mary, Jesus’ mother, as she cares for her newborn infant. She sings a song of enchantment; it is a response to God’s faithfulness and it brings the movement of the narrative to a complete halt and thus serves to provide commentary on the events that have been recounted thus far. It is a song of acknowledgement for God’s intervening graciousness and power. Mary’s song expresses her praise for God’s power and his mercy.
We also see evidence of the praise like Mary gave in Psalm 145: 8-20 - The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear him; he also hears their cry, and saves them. The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
These verses speak to the care that God provides for us day in and day out. And this care; this love, is what Mary was singing about and eventually what Jesus himself preached about.
When we were kids, there was one game that was played by everyone, no matter what class clique you may have fallen into. That game was Red Rover. The whole class would divide into two lines that would then face each other. The kids in each line would hold hands and then call someone over to either break through the line or be added to it if they could not. The point was to call the weakest or smallest one over because they would not be able to break through. But once you called all the small ones, all you had left were big ones and the game could go on forever; or at least until the end of recess.
When you chose a kid from the other line, there was an agenda. God does not choose us for one reason or another, He chose us because we are His and He loves us. He chose to reconcile with us after we walked away because He loves us and we are His creation. He chose us.
God chose Mary to be the Mother of Jesus and she accepted this gift, even as hard as it would be before everything was said and done. God chose Joseph to be Jesus’ earthly father and he accepted the challenge. Jesus chose the shepherds and the disciples and us to carry out His mission here on earth and that is to tell everyone of His everlasting love and grace.
And then, as we are told in Isaiah 35: 5-10 -
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
God has chosen us for joy; not just mere happiness like when you find the perfect pair of shoes or when you get a new puppy, but absolute joy. The joy of knowing perfect love and acceptance and an invitation to live forever in heaven.
My prayer for you this and every day is that you will find and then accept this perfect gift of joy from God in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Closing Hymn: Lo, How a Rose Ee’er Blooming #216
1. Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
from tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming,
as those of old have sung.
It came, a floweret bright,
amid the cold of winter,
when half spent was the night.
2. Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
the Rose I have in mind;
with Mary we behold it,
the Virgin Mother kind.
To show God's love aright,
she bore to us a Savior,
when half spent was the night.
3. This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us,
And lightens every load.