First Christian Church in Chattanooga Chattanooga's Bridge Church since 1979

A church of

Disciples of Christ

Note: This is un-edited captioning. It has NOT been proofed or corrected.

 12‑17‑06.

 

Pastor:  GOOD MORNING.

GREAT TO HAVE EVERY ONE HERE THIS MORNING.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU FILL OUT THE RED BOOKS AND PASS THEM TO YOUR NEIGHBORS IN THE PEWS SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHO IS HERE.

LET'S PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MIND FOR WORSHIP TODAY.

WE WELCOME OUR GUESTS, WE HOPE YOU FIND WORSHIP MEANINGFUL.

LET US WORSHIP.

 

(MUSIC)

>> GOOD MORNING.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO STAND AND SING THE OPENING HYMN TODAY, HYMN 149.

 

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

JOIN ME FOR THE LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES FOR ADVENT.

THE PEOPLE WHO WALKED IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT.

THEY STAND AS STUBBORN REMINDERS THE DEEPEST DARKNESS OF OUR WORLD WILL NOT OVERCOME THE LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVING GRACE.

WE ARE CALLED TO DO THE SAME

>> CHRIST IS COMING.

WE GAIN CONFIDENCE FROM THAT ASSURANCE AND, LOOK, OUR HOPE GROWS EVEN STRONGER FOR THREE LIGHTS ARE BURNING WHERE THERE WAS DARKNESS.

 

>> LET US PRAY TOGETHER.

HOLY GOD, HELP US GIVE VOICE TO THE WONDERFUL NEWS:  YOU, YOURSELF ARE COMING TO DWELL AMONG US.

QUICKEN OUR IMAGINATIONS TO FIND NEW AND CREATIVE WAYS TO PROCLAIM CHRIST'S COMING.

AMEN.

 

>> IF ALL THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD, TRAVIS HAS WIGGLE TIME THIS MORNING.

>> HOW ARE YOU GUYS TODAY?

WELL, I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS IN ON A SECRET, ALL RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO BE EXTRA GOOD BECAUSE YESTERDAY I WAS AT THE MALL AND GUESS WHO I SAW?

SANTA.

HE'S IN TOWN.

I TOLD HIM ALL YOU GUYS ARE REALLY GOOD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

LET ME TELL YOU GUYS A STORY,

THERE WAS THIS FARMER AND ONE DAY HE LOOKED OUTSIDE HIS WINDOW AND HE SAW ALL THESE BIRDS AND THEY WERE KIND OF COMING DOWN AND HE KNEW IF THEY DIDN'T GET INSIDE OF THIS BARN THEY WERE GOING TO DIE BECAUSE THE STORM WAS SO BAD.

HE WENT OUT AND OPENED THE BARN DOOR, ALL THE BIRDS WERE FLYING AROUND.

HE DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO GO OUTSIDE AND TRY TO CHASE ALL THE BIRDS INTO THE BARN, SO HE RAN BACK OUTSIDE AND STARTED SCREAMING BUT THE BIRDS DID THE SAME THING.

THEY WOULDN'T GO IN THE BARN, IF THEY DIDN'T GO IN THE BARN THEY COULDN'T BE SAFE.

HE HAD AN IDEA, MAYBE PUTTING BIRD FOOD AND PUTTING IT ALL THE WAY IN THE BARN THEY WOULD COME IN, BUT IT STILL WOULDN'T WORK.

WELL, FINALLY HE THOUGHT IF HE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM.

HE CUT OUT CARDBOARD WINGS AND HE STARTED FLAPPING AROUND ALL THE WAY TO THE BARN.

YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?

THE BIRDS FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE BARN,

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS, IT'S JESUS TRYING TO SHOW US THE WAY.

SOMETIMES WE GET FOCUSED ON PRESENTS AND THE HOLIDAY, YOU FORGET WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, YOU MUST TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF JESUS.

LET'S PRAY.

DEAR LORD, WE THANK YOU FOR SENDING YOUR SON TO US AT CHRISTMAS.

AMEN.

 

>> OUR OLD TESTAMENT READING IT'S ISAIAH 12:2‑6 FOUND IN YOUR PEW BIBLE ON PAGE 596.

PAGE 596.

BEHOLD, GOD IS MY SALVATION, I WILL TRUST AND I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.

FOR THE LORD GOD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SONG, AND HE HAS BECOME MY SALVATION.

WITH JOY YOU WILL DRAW WATER FROM THE WELLS OF SALVATION AND YOU WILL SAY IN THAT DAY GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, CALL UPON HIS NAME.

MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE NATIONS.

PROCLAIM THAT HIS NAME IS EXALTED.

SING PRAISES TO THE LORD FOR HE HAS DONE GLORIOUSLY.

LET THIS BE KNOWN IN ALL THE EARTH, SHOUT AND SING FOR JOY, O, INHABITANTS OF ZION, FOR GREAT IN YOUR MIDST IS THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT THE READING IS TAKEN FROM GALATIANS CHAPTER 4:1‑7.

PAGE 1014.

I MEAN THE HEIR AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD IS NO BETTER THAN A SLAVE THOUGH HE IS THE OWNER OF ALL THE ESTATE, BUT HE IS UNDER THE GUARDIANS AND TRUSTEES UNTIL THE DATE SET BY THE FATHER.

SO WITH US WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN WE WERE SLAVES TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF THE UNIVERSE, BUT WHEN THE TIME HAD FULLY COME, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON BORN OF WOMAN, BORN UNDER THE LAW TO REDEEM THOSE WHO WERE UNDER THE LAW SO THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE ADOPTIONS AS SIGNS AND BECAUSE YOU ARE SONS GOD HAS SENT THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO OUR HEARTS CRYING ABBA FATHER, SO THROUGH GOD YOU ARE NO LONGER A SLAVE BUT A SON.

AND IF A SON, THEN AN HEIR.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS

>> THANKS BE TO GOD.

 

PAGE 159.

 

Pastor:  YOU MAY BE SEATED.

GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

>> ARE THERE ANY JOYS ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS MORNING?

>> I HAVE ONE.

>> GARY?

>> I AM EXTREMELY JOYFUL BECAUSE THE MAN THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT THAT ROBIN AND I WERE IN IS IN JAIL IN MARION COUNTY AND AWAITING TRIAL IN ONE WEEK, WILL GO TO TRIAL IN CHATTANOOGA AND IN THREE MONTHS WILL GO TO TRIAL IN RINGGOLD.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PUT HIM ON YOUR PRAYER LIST.

IF NOTHING ELSE PRAY FOR REHABILITATION.

HIS NAME IS DENNIS FRENCH.

>> THANK YOU.

OTHER JOYS?

SURELY WE'RE NOT JOYLESS TODAY?

>> WE HAVE OUR NEIGHBOR NORA WITH US, WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE HER AS A VISITOR.

[APPLAUSE]

>> AND I HAVE MY NEIGHBOR JUNE AND HER COUSIN JESSE WITH ME THIS MORNING.

[APPLAUSE]

>> WE ARE VERY JOYFUL YOUR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> WELL, THERE'S NO SURPRISE, I'M SURE JIM TOLD YOU ABOUT DUNCAN HENRY BEING HERE AND I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE HIS FIRST WEEK WITH HIM HERE AND DRIVING BACK.

I FEEL VERY BLESSED.

[APPLAUSE]

>> HE DIDN'T MENTION IT.

>> I JUST WANT TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED SO HARD ON THE MORAVIAN LOVE FEAST, IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE]

>> IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE THE MANY VISITORS WE HAVE TODAY, BUT, CAROLYN, I KNOW HOW EXCITED YOU ARE AS I AM, A FORMER JUNIOR CHOIR MEMBER AND HER FAMILY AND ANOTHER BABY, BABY JACK.

[APPLAUSE]

>> I'M JOYFUL FOR ALL OUR VISITORS, OF COURSE, BUT I SEE MATT AND JORDAN COLEMAN HOME FROM COLLEGE AND IT'S WONDERFUL WHEN OUR OWN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO BE BACK WITH US, I DON'T WANT TO STEAL SKIP'S THUNDER, HIS SON‑IN‑LAW IS FINALLY CANCER FREE.

[APPLAUSE]

>> SEE, IT'S CONTAGIOUS.

>> I JUST WANT TO ANNOUNCE OUR LAST ONE HAS GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.

YEA!

[APPLAUSE]

>> WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO REPORT OUR SON HAS FINALLY GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE THIS AFTERNOON.

[APPLAUSE]

CHRISTINE, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING?

>> I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE CONGREGATION FOR BEING SO WARM AND INVITING TO OUR GUESTS WE HAD HERE WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE WORD CAME BACK THEY LOVED BEING IN OUR CHURCH WEDNESDAY NIGHT, HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME, THANK YOU.

>> YES, THE PARENT AND TEACHERS FROM BROWN'S ACADEMY REALLY ENJOYED THEMSELVES.

WE'RE DOING GREAT THINGS TOGETHER.

GREAT THINGS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE KEY CLASS FOR INVITING US TO THEIR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON, WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND WE APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

ANY OTHERS?

CONCERNS?

>> PLEASE KEEP RODDY AND ANN IN YOUR PRAYERS.

I TALKED TO ANN, SHE DOES NOW HAVE 24‑HOUR‑A‑DAY HELP AND THEY ARE HOPING THAT RODDY WILL MAKE IT.

>> ALSO KEEP IN MIND THE SHEETS, AT MEMORIAL, CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR THEM.

ANY OTHERS?

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

 

>> GRACIOUS GOD WE COME TO YOU THIS THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT HEARING THE NEWS OF SALVATION, NEWS OF FREEDOM, NEWS OF BEING ADOPTED INTO YOUR FAMILY.

WE THANK YOU THAT YOU WELCOME US, ALL OF US WHEREVER WE COME FROM, WHEREVER WE ARE IN OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY.

YOU OPEN YOURSELF UNTO US AND RECEIVE US LOVINGLY AND GENTLY, SO WE GIVE YOU THANKS.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALL THESE JOYS MENTIONED, WE KNOW YOU ARE THE SOURCE OF ALL JOY, SO THANKFUL THAT YOU HAVE PUT THESE PERSONS IN OUR LIVES, CHILDREN, SPOUSES, FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS BROUGHT US TO EACH OTHER, FOR THAT WE ARE GRATEFUL.

REMIND US TO NEVER TAKE EACH OTHER FOR GRANTED.

REMIND US TO ALWAYS DEMONSTRATE LOVE, KINDNESS, COMPASSION.

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OUR GUESTS THIS DAY, THAT THEY MIGHT FEEL YOUR BLESSING ON THEM.

WE LIFT UP THOSE FOR WHOM WE HAVE CONCERN, THAT THEY MIGHT FEEL YOUR PRESENCE AND EXPERIENCE YOUR PEACE, THAT THEY MIGHT KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE, THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO BE AFRAID, FOR YOU ARE WITH THEM.

AND WE ARE WITH THEM.

GIVE US THE ABILITY AND THE COURAGE TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF GRACE IN THEIR LIVES.

WE THANK YOU FOR BROWN ACADEMY'S CHILDREN, TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO WERE HERE ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, THE PARENTS, HELP US TO BE PART OF THEIR LIVES SO THAT THEY MIGHT ALSO EMBRACE YOU.

AS WE CONTINUE TO WORSHIP, OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS THAT YOU MIGHT RECEIVE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US TODAY, THAT WE MIGHT BE TRANSFORMED MORE INTO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON WHO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES AND TEACHES US TO PRAY SAYING TOGETHER:  OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HOLLOWED BE THY NAME, THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER, AMEN.

 

>> AS ALWAYS WE ARE REMINDED OF THE GENEROCITY OF GOD IN OUR LIVES, SO NOW IS OUR TIME TO RECIPROCATE WITH OUR GIFTS AND OFFERINGS.

 

>> PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE, YEA HEAVENLY HOST, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST.

AMEN.

 

>>LO, HOW A ROSE ERE BLOOMING FROM TENDER STEM HATH SPRUNG, OF JESSE'S LINEAGE COMING BY FAITHFUL PROPHETS SUNG, IT CAME A FLOWER BRIGHT, AMID THE COLD OF WINTER WHEN HALF SPENT WAS THE NIGHT.

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.

 

LO, HOW A ROSE ERE BLOOMING WHEN HALF SPENT WAS THE NIGHT.

 

Pastor:  I'D LIKE TO ADD A READING FROM THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW.

FIRST CHAPTER, 38TH VERSE.

NOW THIS IS HOW JESUS, THE MESSIAH, WAS BORN:  HIS MOTHER MARY WAS ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED TO JOSEPH, BUT WHILE SHE WAS STILL A VIRGIN SHE BECAME PREGNANT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

JOSEPH, HER FIANCE, BEING A JUST MAN, DECIDED TO BREAK THE ENGAGEMENT PRIVATELY.

AS HE CONSIDERED THIS HE FELL ASLEEP AND AN ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME TO HIM:  DO NOT BE AFRAID, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO GO AHEAD WITH YOUR MARRIAGE TO MARY.

THE CHILD WITHIN HER HAS BEEN CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, SHE WILL HAVE A SON AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS.

HE WAS HAPPY TO FULFILL THE MESSAGE THROUGH THE PROPHET.

SHE WILL GIVE BIRTH TO A SON AND HE WILL BE NAMED EMMANUEL MEANING GOD IS WITH US.

WHEN JOSEPH WOKE UP HE DID WHAT THE ANGEL COMMANDED, SHE REMAINED A VIRGIN UNTIL HER SON WAS BORN AND JOSEPH NAMED HIM JESUS.

LET US PRAY.

FOR THESE WORDS, O GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS.

YOU MIGHT PUT FAITH IN OUR HEARTS SO WE MIGHT TRULY BE TRANSFORMED, TRANSFORMED IN THE LIKENESS OF THE ONE WHO IS TO COME.

JESUS.

AMEN.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

I BET THERE IS SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE WHO IS ASKING YOU THAT QUESTION.

AND I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE SCROUGES WHO THINK WE SHOULD DO AWAY WITH CHRISTMAS.

GIFT GIVING IS PART OF THE JOY OF THE SEASON AND I DON'T WANT TO THROW IT AWAY.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

REMEMBER THAT SILLY SONG?

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH.

REMEMBER THAT?

SUNG BY A 6‑YEAR‑OLD TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD BECOME OF HER TEETH.

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ARE MY TWO FRONT TEETH.

MY TWO FRONT TEETH.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

I NEVER DID GET AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.

I HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHAT TO GIVE FOR CHRISTMAS.

EVERY YEAR CHRISTINE WILL ASK:  WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

AND CHRISTINE AND THE KIDS STRUGGLE FIGURING OUT WHAT I WANT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT MYSELF.

PROBABLY PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE I WAS TRAINED EARLY ON NOT TO ASK FOR THINGS WE COULDN'T AFFORD.

WHAT DO I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

ONE TIME I TRIED TO GET SUPER‑SPIRITUAL AND I SAID TO CHRISTINE AND THE KIDS:  DON'T GIVE ME ANYTHING, THERE'S NOTHING I NEED AND NOTHING I WANT, SO GIVE WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SPENT ON ME AND GIVE IT TO CHARITY, I WILL BE HAPPY.

WELL, THAT WAS A STRUGGLE.

BECAUSE FIRST THEY DIDN'T THINK I REALLY MEANT IT.

THEY KNEW THAT WE SAY THINGS THAT SOUND SPIRITUAL BUT SOMETIMES WE REALLY DON'T MEAN IT.

AND, SECOND, THEY FELT I HAD TO HAVE SOMETHING TO OPEN ON CHRISTMAS, SOMETHING UNDER THE TREE, A SLIP OF PAPER SAID WE GAVE MONEY TO CHARITY.

THEY SAID, NO, NO, THAT WON'T DO, THAT WON'T WORK.

THEY WILL SAY ‑‑ THEY SAID THAT'S WHAT YOU SAY BUT REALLY, WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

ISN'T IT TRUE THAT WE SAY WE WANT ‑‑ MAY NOT BE WHAT WE REALLY WANT, WHAT WE THINK WE WANT AT THAT MOMENT MAY NOT BE WHAT WE ULTIMATELY, BOTTOM LINE, REALLY WANT?

WE MAY FIND OUT THAT DOWN DEEP, BENEATH THE SURFACE, THERE IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE WANTED BUT IT'S THE BEST GIFT OF ALL?

JOSEPH FOUND THAT OUT.

JOSEPH, THE HUSBAND OF MARY.

ABOUT WHOM WE KNOW VERY LITTLE.

HE FOUND OUT THAT WHAT HE THOUGHT HE WANTED WASN'T WHAT HE REALLY WANTED.

AND FOUND OUT TOO THOUGH HE WAS FULL OF HOPE AND CONSUMED BY FEAR, THOSE HOPES AND THOSE FEARS WERE MET IN THE CHILD OF MARY.

FOR ONE THING, JOSEPH THOUGHT HE WANTED TO BE RID OF AN EMBARRASSING PROBLEM.

HE THOUGHT HE WANTED TO BE RID OF SOMETHING THAT WAS RUINING HIS REPUTATION.

HE THOUGHT HE WANTED TO BE RID OF THAT EMBARRASSING PROBLEM.

BUT JOSEPH FOUND OUT THAT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED WAS TO LOVE.

AND BE LOVED.

ALL JOSEPH REALLY WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS WAS THE LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP OF SOMEONE HE CHERISHED.

A PREGNANT FIANCE, ALL THE TALK AROUND TOWN, ALL THE DOUBTS AND FEARS HE MUST HAVE FELT.

DID ONE OF HIS FRIENDS VIOLATE MARY?

WHAT WERE THEY SAYING ABOUT HIM BEHIND HIS BACK?

DID THEY THINK HE WAS AN IDIOT TO BELIEVE THIS CRAZY STORY ABOUT THIS CHILD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT?

HE WAS PROBABLY WORRIED ABOUT MARY TOO.

WAS SHE CRAZY?

DID SHE REALLY BELIEVE THAT STUFF?

JOSEPH HAD A PROBLEM, A BIG PROBLEM.

THE SCRIPTURE PUTS A POSITIVE SPIN ON IT WHEN IT SAYS JOSEPH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN AND WAS UNWILLING TO HAVE MARY FACE PUBLIC DISGRACE, SO HE PLANNED TO DISMISS HER PRIVATELY.

I CAN'T THINK SOME OF THE REASONS HE WANTED TO GET RID OF MARY HAD TO DO WITH HIS OWN EMBARRASSMENT AND FEAR OF HIS OWN REPUTATION.

YOU KNOW WE ARE ALL PEOPLE WITH MIXED MOTIVES, MIXED MOTIVES.

WAS HE CONCERNED ABOUT MARY?

OR WAS HE MUCH MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HIMSELF?

MIXED MOTIVES.

JUST LIKE THE BUSINESS OF GIVING AND RECEIVING HAS MIXED MOTIVES IN IT.

WHEN WE GIVE TO SOMEONE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE WANT THAT PERSON TO HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT, ISN'T IT?

A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

IT'S ABOUT OUR FEELINGS TOO, ISN'T THAT WHY WE GIVE?

WHEN WE GIVE A GIFT, ISN'T IT ABOUT WANTING TO BE ACCEPTED AND SOMETIMES WANTING TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT?

JOSEPH WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS EMBARRASSING FIANCEE?

BUT GOD SPOKE TO JOSEPH AND SAID DO NOT BE AFRAID, DO NOT BE AFRAID, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF WHAT THEY WILL SAY, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF YOUR OWN RESENTMENTS, TAKE THIS MOMENT, JOSEPH, AND MAKE IT A REDEMPTIVE ONE, LOVE HER MORE THAN YOU LOVE YOURSELF, EMBRACE HER, SHE NEEDS YOU.

SHE NEEDS YOU, NOT BANISHMENT, NOT THE WHISPERS OF GOSSIPING RELATIVES, NOT THE JUDGMENT OF SELF‑RIGHTEOUS NEIGHBORS.

MARY NEEDS YOU, JOSEPH.

MARY NEEDS YOU.

AND, SO, JOSEPH LEARNED THAT ALTHOUGH HE THOUGHT HE WANTED TO BE RID OF AN EMBARRASSING PROBLEM, GOD SHOWED HIM WHAT HE REALLY WANTED WAS TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.

GOD SHOWED JOSEPH THAT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED WAS THE LOVE AND COMPANIONSHIP OF SOMEONE HE CHERISHED.

THIS STORY REMINDS ME THAT FAMILY CAN BE EMBARRASSING.

FAMILY MEMBERS DO THINGS WE ARE NOT PROUD OF.

BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT THEY WANT AND NEED IS LOVE AND WHAT YOU AND I WANT AND NEED IS TO GIVE LOVE.

IF ANYTHING WILL CHANGE SOMEONE WHO IS AN EMBARRASSMENT IS LOVE, NOT HIDING THEM, NOT WISHING THEY WOULD GO AWAY, LOVE.

GUESS WHAT, THAT LOVE IS NOT ONLY WHAT THEY WANT AND NEED FOR CHRISTMAS, THAT IS WHAT YOU AND I WANT AND NEED TOO.

LIKE JOSEPH, WE THINK WE WANT TO BE RID OF EMBARRASSING PROBLEMS IN OUR FAMILY, BUT LIKE JOSEPH AGAIN, WE HEAR THE LORD TELLING US WHAT WE REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED.

THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT JOSEPH THOUGHT HE WANTED, BUT WHEN HE LOOKED AT IT HE FOUND IT WAS NOT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED AT ALL.

JOSEPH THOUGHT HE WANTED TO LIVE OUT A NORMAL LIFE, DOING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO, GETTING BY, KEEPING THINGS TOGETHER.

JUST DOING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO.

HE THOUGHT THAT HE WANTED A NORMAL LIFE.

HAVE YOU EVER SAID THAT?

I JUST WANT A NORMAL LIFE.

IF YOU LIVE IN MY HOUSE YOU KNOW THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL.

BUT JOSEPH FOUND OUT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED.

WHAT HE REALLY WANTED WHEN HE GOT DOWN TO IT IS THAT HE WANTED TO BE SIGNIFICANT.

ALL JOSEPH REALLY WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS WAS TO BE WHAT GOD WANTED HIM TO BE AND TO DO WHAT GOD HAD CALLED HIM TO DO.

THE BIBLE DOESN'T TELL US MUCH ABOUT JOSEPH, IT IS SILENT ABOUT EVERYTHING WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW.

WHO ARE HIS PARENTS?

HOW OLD WAS HE?

WHAT OTHER INTERESTS DID HE HAVE BESIDES CARPENTRY?

HOW DID HE HANDLE THE YOUNG JESUS?

LOTS OF THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW BUT WE DON'T.

MAYBE HE WAS AN ORDINARY PERSON WITH NOTHING TO DISTINGUISH HIM, JUST THE AVERAGE GUY.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE PICKED HIM OUT FROM THE CROWD.

YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TURNED TO HIM FOR LEADERSHIP.

HE WAS JUST A GUY NAMED JOE, THAT'S ALL.

MAYBE THAT'S ALL HE WANTED OUT OF LIFE OR THOUGHT HE DID ANYWAY.

HE THOUGHT HE WANTED AN ORDINARY LIFE.

HE THOUGHT HE WANTED A HOME AND FAMILY, WIFE AND KIDS, WORK AND THREE MEALS A DAY ON THE TABLE, NOTHING SPECIAL, JUST NORMAL.

BUT THEN GOD SAID:  JOSEPH, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

I'VE GOT SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR YOU TO DO.

JOSEPH, YOU THINK YOU WANT NORMAL?

AND ORDINARY?

JOSEPH, IF YOU DIG DEEP DOWN IN YOUR HEART YOU WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT IS TO BE ABOVE NORMAL, THAT YOU REALLY WANT TO BE EXTRAORDINARY, I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU, JOSEPH, SOMETHING THAT HAS YOUR NAME.

I KNOW MOST OF US SETTLE FOR ORDINARIES, WE DON'T ALLOW OURSELVES TO DIG DEEP DOWN.

TO BE HONEST, SAYING WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS TO BE SOMETHING SPECIAL LIKE JOSEPH, IF WE LISTEN, WE WILL DISCOVER WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS TO BE WHAT GOD NEEDS US TO BE IN GOD'S KINGDOM.

I'M NOT GOING TO CALL THIS MOVIE MY FAVORITE MOVIE, BUT LET'S JUST SAY I'VE SEEN IT 28 TIMES.

AND THE MOVIE IS "RUDY."

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES.

BUT THERE IS THIS GREAT SCENE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ABOUT RUDY, HE WAS THIS LITTLE GUY WHO ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL AT NOTRE DAME, EVERYBODY SAID HE COULDN'T, HE DIDN'T HAVE THE SKILL SET, BUT HE WAS DETERMINED AND HE ENDED UP MAKING THE TEAM AND PLAYED IN THE LAST GAME HIS SENIOR YEAR.

BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE, EARLY IN THE MOVIE THERE'S A SCENE BETWEEN RUDY AND HIS FATHER, THEY ARE SITTING ON THE BENCH BY THE BUS STATION, OUTSIDE THE BUS STATION, RUDY IS GOING TO NOTRE DAME AND HIS DAD SHARES THE STORY ABOUT HIS FATHER WHO HAD A GREAT JOB, THREE MEALS A DAY, NORMAL LIFE.

BUT ONE DAY HE GOT THIS CRAZY IDEA HE WANTED TO BE A DAIRY FARMER AND HIS DAD WENT AND BOUGHT THIS LAND AND IT WAS DURING THE DEPRESSION AND THE COWS DIED AND THE FARM WENT BELLY UP.

AND HE SAID, RUDY, SOME PEOPLE AREN'T MEANT FOR GREATNESS, SOME ARE MEANT FOR NORMAL.

YOU ARE A RUTTINGER, THAT SHOULD BE GOOD ENOUGH.

YOU ARE A RUTTINGER.

IF HE LISTENED TO HIS DAD HE WOULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT HE ENDED UP DOING AND MAKING THE TEAM IF HE SETTLED FOR NORMAL.

FOR ORDINARY.

IF HE DIDN'T SEE THAT DEEP DOWN INSIDE HIM WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL THAT HE HAD TO GIVE, THAT HE HAD TO OFFER, THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SKILLS, HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SIZE BUT HAS TO DO WITH THE CRAVINGS IN YOUR HEART.

WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS, LIKE JOSEPH, TO GO BEYOND THE AVERAGE, TO BE WHAT GOD WANT YOU TO BE IN GOD'S KINGDOM.

THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR US, ALL OF US, BUT WE NEED TO LISTEN, JUST LISTEN.

JOSEPH THOUGHT HE NEEDED TO HAVE JUST A FEW PEOPLE TO BE HERE WITH HIM, JUST A FEW, NOT TOO MANY.

HE DIDN'T REQUIRE CROWDS, HE SEEMED CONTENT TO LIVE OUT HIS LIFE IN SMALL WAYS IN A LITTLE VILLAGE CALLED NAZARETH WITH A SWEET LITTLE WIFE AND CHILDREN TO CARRY ON HIS NAME.

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE JOSEPH JUST WANTED A LITTLE RESPECT, SOME ACCEPTANCE, FULFILLMENT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH TO ASK FOR, IS IT?

NOT TO BE ALONE.

OUR BIGGEST FEAR IS PROBABLY THE FEAR OF BEING ALONE, ESPECIALLY DURING CHRISTMAS.

BUT LOOK WHAT JOSEPH GOT INSTEAD.

LOOK AT WHAT HE RECEIVED.

HE GOT THE VERY PRESENCE OF GOD RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW INVESTED IN HIS LIFE, IMMERSED IN HIS WORLD.

JOSEPH THOUGHT HE WANTED MARY AND TWO OR THREE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF, AND FOR THOSE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF HIM WHEN HE GOT OLD.

JOSEPH FOUND OUT THAT WHAT HE REALLY WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS, FOR EVERY DAY, FOR ALL THE DAYS WAS THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE COMMERCIALISM OF CHRISTMAS MESSES US UP.

WE USE THINGS TO REACH OUT FOR A LITTLE AFFECTION BUT IT DOESN'T WORK.

WE GIVE GIFTS AND RECEIVE THEM THINKING THEY WILL MAKE THE EMPTINESS GO AWAY.

BUT THEY DON'T.

SOMEBODY SAID CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT GIVING THINGS WE DON'T NEED TO PEOPLE WE DON'T LIKE PAID WITH BY MONEY WE DON'T HAVE TO GET THE SATISFACTION WE CAN'T KEEP WHEN ALL WE REALLY WANT, ALL WE REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, FOR ANY DAY, FOR ANY SEASON, IS TO KNOW WE ARE EMBRACED BY SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US, BY GOD.

I WAS REFLECTING ON MY CHILDHOOD CHRISTMASES THIS WEEK, AND TO BE QUITE HONEST, WHEN ALL OF MY FAMILY GOT TOGETHER ON MY MOTHER'S SIDE, THERE WAS USUALLY SOME CRISIS, SOME CONFLICT, SOME FIGHT BROKE OUT, FURNITURE WAS TOSSED, WORDS WERE SAID.

YEAH, LIKE GROWING UP IN THE MAFIA, I GUESS.

BUT I REMEMBER ONE CHRISTMAS THAT WASN'T LIKE THAT.

I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE LIKE THAT BUT IT WASN'T LIKE THAT.

MY COUSIN SANDY WAS PREGNANT, TEENAGER, WASN'T MARRIED, SHE WAS EMBARRASSED, OTHER PEOPLE WERE EMBARRASSED, SAW HER AS AN EMBARRASSMENT, THERE WAS ANGER IN THE FAMILY, HER FATHER, MOTHER, OTHERS, THERE WAS CERTAIN SHUNNING BY CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, BUT THERE WE WERE, ALL OF US, IN MY UNCLE'S HOME.

NOW, WHY I REMEMBER THAT CHRISTMAS IS I REMEMBER MY COUSIN SANDY, THIS TEENAGE GIRL, GOING TO HER FATHER AND HIM PULLING HER UP TO SIT ON HIS LAP, NOT TOO FAR FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

AND TELLING HER THAT HE LOVED HER.

TELLING HER THAT IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

NOW, I DON'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING MY UNCLE MANNY SAID TO MY COUSIN SANDY, BUT I REMEMBER THE LOOK ON SANDY'S FACE, LOOK OF SOMEONE LOVED, THE LOOK OF SOMEONE WHO KNEW HER FATHER WAS WITH HER IN HER WORLD, A LOOK THAT SAID HER FATHER WOULD NEVER FAIL HER OR FORESAKE HER, THAT HE WOULD BE WITH HER AND HELP HER ALWAYS.

THAT'S ALL ANY OF US REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, TO KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH US, TO SEE THAT GOD UNDERSTANDS, TO DISCOVER THAT GOD IS IN OUR WORLD NOW AND FOREVER.

GOD IS WITH US.

AND THAT IS THE BESTEST, BESTEST GIFT EVER.

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID:

>> AMEN.

 

>> I INVITE YOU TO CLAIM THAT GIFT, WHETHER IT BE THE FIRST TIME OR THE THIRD OR FOURTH OR 10TH TIME, WHETHER YOU DO IT IN YOUR PEW OR COME FORWARD MATTERS NOT, GOD KNOWS.

GOD KNOWS WHERE ALL OUR HEARTS ARE.

AND GOD LOVES US.

FOR GOD IS WITH US.

THANKS BE TO GOD.

LET'S STAND FOR OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION, HYMN 153.

 

Pastor:  YOU MAY BE SEATED.

NOW IS OUR TIME OF CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION.

THIS TABLE IS SPREAD FOR US THAT WE MIGHT AGAIN KNOW GOD HAS COME TO US.

SHARING IN OUR LIVES AND INVITING US TO JOIN THIS COMMUNION.

LET US SILENTLY OFFER OUR TRESPASSES TO GOD.

LET US PRAY.

WE OFFER THESE IN CHRIST'S NAME, AMEN.

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST WE ARE FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN NUMBER 408 "COME SHARE THE LORD."

 

Pastor:  FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO GIVE TO YOU, THAT THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED, TOOK THE LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID, THIS IS MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP AFTER SUPPER AND SAID THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

>> GRACIOUS GOD, WITH THIS SEASON OF ADVENT MAY WE HAVE A SENSE OF AWE AND ANTICIPATION AS WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE COMING OF THE CHRIST CHILD.

FILL US WITH THE JOY OF THE WISE MEN AND SHEPHERDS AS THEY AWAITED THE COMING OF THE BABY.

IN MEMORY OF JESUS WE RECEIVE THIS BREAD AND THANKSGIVING ASKING YOUR PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON OF ADVENT.

SEND THE SPIRIT OF YOUR SON INTO OUR HEARTS THAT WE MAY LET THE WORLD KNOW THE GOOD THINGS YOU HAVE DONE IN BESTOWING UPON US YOUR GIFTS.

>> AS WE PARTAKE OF THE CUP WHICH REMINDS US OF THE LOVE OF THE LORD FOR ALL HIS PEOPLE, GOING FROM A LIGHT WORLD WE ASK YOU MAKE US READY FOR THE COMING SPIRIT THAT WE MAY TRULY BE HIS DISCIPLES, REFLECTORS OF THE LIGHT WE INHABIT, WE PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS OUR LORD, AMEN.

 

>> WILL YOU SHARE WITH ME THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING? 

LET US PRAY.

WE HAVE EATEN THE BREAD, WE HAVE DRUNK THE CUP, WE HAVE DISCERNED CHRIST'S BODY.

WE ASK, GRATEFUL, LOVING GOD, FOR YOUR LOVE,

HELP US NOW IN LIFE AND SERVICE TO PROCLAIM YOUR MESSAGE OF RECONCILIATION.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

 

>> FINAL HYMN IS 148.

PLEASE STAND.

 

>> LET US GO FORTH IN PEACE, REMEMBERING THIS ADVENT SEASON THAT GOD IS WITH US,

WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE ARE REMINDED OF THE GRACIOUS WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST:  BE NOT AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END.

 

AMEN.