"Rejoice"

Sermon by Bonnie Browning, Youth Director

Third Sunday in Advent, December 17, 2006

*BIBLE READING: Philippians 4:4-7,

The sounds and sights of Christmas are everywhere. The commercials for new toys and gadgets continue to increase by the day. Neighbors have put up their trees and lights, while others are shopping for the perfect gifts this year. There are long lines at the stores as many attempt to complete their gift lists as time is running out. It is because of the many stresses related to the Holiday of Christmas that we often forget. We forget about the tiny little child that is about to be born in a crowed stable; a child whose parents have traveled long distances. We forget about the fears of a young mother as she holds her new baby boy among the surrounding livestock. We forget about the hope and joy that is in our lives after the birth of a baby over 2,000 years ago. So, I invite you to shift gears with me. We have entered the third week of advent. The children have lit the pink candle this morning for JOY. We are transitioning into the excitement of the coming child into the community.

How do we make this transition though when we have so many other things on our minds? We have to make ends meet, what if a child or other family member becomes sick or is sick? There are so many outside factors in our lives that catch our attention even when we try hard for them not to. We are not alone in this struggle though. In today's scripture reading we hear the words of the Apostle Paul. He is writing to the congregation of Philippi about the need to Rejoice in the Lord for he is near, amongst the struggles of early Christian life. He gives them and us three main points to remember in order to truly prepare the way for the Lord.

First of all, Paul tells us "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." Not only does he tell us to rejoice once, but twice. What does it mean to rejoice though? Webster's dictionary tells us that to rejoice is to be glad or to feel great joy. Children are really good at showing us the joy we have inside of us for God. You see this past year, I worked with three and four year olds. During one of the meetings we were learning about the creation story, and I had created a felt board with pictures to help them learn. At first I had to help them put the pieces in order, but as we went on they began to catch on. Each took their turn placing the felt in just the right spots to tell the story. The excitement began to show on their faces that they had just discovered one of the greatest things ever, God's creation. They then felt the need to show everyone that was still in the church. This is the same joy that we have in the coming of Christ to bring peace and calm to our world.

We know of the amazing things that come with having God in our lives that we want to share with others. We rejoice with each other in the coming of Christ to bring peace and calm to our world. The rejoicing we share though cannot be simply a smile on the face. We need to bring the joy out from within. The joy we share in is the in the knowledge of God's love for us, and the visible presence of God in our lives. I invite you to share your joy with me this morning. Say it with me this morning, "Rejoice!" Our Lord and Savior is coming!

Paul tells us additional information about how we are to live in our awaiting joy! We are to "let our gentleness be known". One way that we can show our gentleness is by being a refuge for others. This is a place of silence, where a person can rest and feel acceptance. "There once was a little girl that lost her kitten in an accident. It was her first experience of death and she had been devastated. Her parents had encouraged her not to be sad, telling her that her kitten was in heaven now with God. Despite these assurances, she had not been comforted. She had prayed to God, asking Him to give her kitten back. But God did not respond. In her anguish she had turned to her grandmother and asked, "Why?" Her grandmother did not tell her that her kitten was in heaven as many of the other adults had. Instead, she simply held her and reminded her of the time when her grandfather had died. She, too, had prayed to God, but God had not brought Grandpa back. She did not know why. The young girl then turned into the soft warmth of her grandmother's shoulder then and sobbed. When finally she was able to look up, she saw her grandmother was crying as well. Although her grandmother could not answer her question, a great loneliness was gone and she felt that she could go on" (Illustration from My Grandfather's Blessings by Rachel Naomi Remen). Her grandmother had been a place of refuge for her with a sense of gentleness that we all can relate. There are times in our lives when we simply need a shoulder to cry. This is just one way that we can let our gentleness be known. There are many opportunities in this community to let you gentleness be known. Whether it is in the gifts we give of time and energy to support the Hope House or in calling on a person who you haven't talked to in a while.

The third piece of information that Paul gives to us in this time of rejoicing is… "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God." What a thought! We are to not worry. We must let go of our anxieties and instead pray to God with thanksgiving. The average person's anxiety is focused on:

40% -- things that will never happen

30% -- things about the past that they cannot change

12% -- things about criticism by others, mostly untrue

10% -- about health, which gets worse with stress

8 % -- about real problems that will be faced.

(Illustration from Illustrations for Biblical Preaching)

We need to just let it go to God. Prayer is the answer to our worries. Now, this does not mean by any means that our problems will all be solved tomorrow. Instead through thankfulness for what God has given us and the prayer to God we can receive comfort in the nearness of the Lord. We are not alone in our struggles.

With these three pieces of information regarding our preparation for the coming of the Lord, we are given the sense of peace present only through God. God will guard our hearts and minds with heavenly peace. It is within this peace that we cannot forget amongst the hustle and bustle of the Holiday that the coming of the Lord is getting closer and closer. We can remember the baby born in a manger to parents that were unsure of what the future might hold and we can remember the peace that was brought into the world through a tiny infant. I say it again in the words of Paul, "Rejoice" for the Lord brings peace to our lives in the coming of Jesus Christ. AMEN!

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