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The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
December 11, 2022
Third Sunday in Advent
10:00 am

WELCOME

OPENING PRAYER

God of Advent Joy,our souls magnify you,and our spirits rejoice in you, our Savior. Look with favor upon us as we gather to worship you.Stir our hearts to fill with mirth and our lips to sing with praise for the joy that you are bringing to your people. Amen.

PRELUDE               “Lo How a Rose e’er Blooming”               Johannes Brahms

LIGHTING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES

Third Sunday in Advent: Joy

This Sunday’s Advent wreath candle lighting varies because it is Gaudette (=”rejoice!”) Sunday. As a break from the heaviness of Advent’s penitential preparations, this Sunday offers a reprise from our dark longings to offer joy’s glimmer of light. The Latin word Gaudette is grammatically imperative, reminding us that even in the midst of darkness, we are called to rejoice. This is also why we light a pink candle—the color of joy in the penitential season of blue/purple. Only the Christ candle is white, also a color signifying joy in many cultures, because the fullness of joy is in the Lord.

Watch and wait for Christ’s coming! Light candles of hope, peace, joy, and love, remembering the promises of God with prayer.

We light this candle in hope. Light the first candle.
We light this candle for peace. Light the second candle.
We light this candle in joy! Light the third (pink, if used) candle.

Rejoice! For our Lord is coming into the darkness of oppression’s exile to lead us home, as we hear in Isaiah 35:1-10:

Reader 1:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD,  the majesty of our God.

Reader 2:

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.  Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear!  Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

Reader 1:

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.

Reader 2:

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.

Let us pray.

O Lord, our redeemer, you lead us from languishing in sorrow’s shadows into laughter’s joy over your abundant restoration. Thank you that you are coming for us to lead us home along your Way, Jesus Christ. Amen.

*HYMN No. 105 “People, Look East”

1 People, look east. The time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able;
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Guest, is on the way.

2 Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there.
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.

3 Birds, though you long have ceased to build,
guard the nest that must be filled.
Even the hour when wings are frozen
God for fledging time has chosen.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Bird, is on the way.

4 Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
one more light the bowl shall brim,
shining beyond the frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Star, is on the way.

5 Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
with the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

*CALL TO CONFESSION

There is no need to wait in long lines.  God is always willing to listen – to our hearts as well as our voices, as we admit how we have not cared as we could, have not shared as we should.  Let us join, as we pray, saying,

*PRAYER FOR CONFESSION

This season is supposed to be so holy, God of Christmas, yet the din of sales pitches turns us into cynical grumps.  As we drive down the streets, the decorations on all the houses keep us from seeing the loneliness of the widower, the strained faces of those who fear the future.  We are so determined to find just the right gift or card which speaks of joy, we forget that you came so long ago to offer justice to those who have none. Be patient with us, God of our hearts, as we struggle to speak for the voiceless, to walk with those who have lost their way, to let go of our certainty of what really happened to long ago, and listen to the songs of children which speak of that peace which really can bring reconciliation, of that grace which really can offer hope, of that love which really can to us that night in Bethlehem, in the birth of Jesus, our Brother, our Savior.  

Silence is observed

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Do not be afraid, but believe.  Our God is here, opening our eyes to see that salvation which is ours; approaching us in this season of Advent.
We join our voices in rejoicing in God who is our Savior.  The One who calls us blessed, is the God who forgives us.  Amen.

*RESPONSE No. 84 “Creator of the Stars of Night

1 Creator of the stars of night,
your people’s everlasting light,
O Christ, redeemer of us all,
we pray you, hear us when we call.

2 When this old world drew on toward night,
you came; but not in splendor bright,
not as a monarch, but the child
of Mary, blameless mother mild.

3 At your great name, O Jesus, now
all knees must bend, all hearts must bow:
all things on earth with one accord,
like those in heaven, shall call you Lord.

4 To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One,
praise, honor, might, and glory be
from age to age eternally. Amen.

*PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  And also, with you.

ANTHEM                 “Could This Be the Day?”             Joseph Martin

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

God of justice and joy, we turn to your Word to hear your will and your wisdom for our times.  Open our hearts and minds by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit so that we might hear what you are saying to the church through Christ, our Friend and Savior. Amen 

SCRIPTURE Matthew 11:2-11

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

SERMON “Great Expectations?”

She was from the North of England, middle aged, not very attractive, very plainly dressed, when she waddled out on stage before a packed house, three judges and a television audience of millions.

You could hear the low rumble of chuckles from the crowd. The three judges – two men, one of whom was the much beloved Simon Cowell of American Idol, and one really beautiful young blonde woman, looked at the contestant before them, looked at each other and, you could see, they gave each other the eye. Clearly they were thinking, “Oh my goodness, this going to be a disaster.”

So, they asked her “Who are you and what are you going to sing?”

She said, “My name is Susan Boyle and I am going to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables.

I remember one of the judges responded, in a dismissive way, “Well, all right, away you go.”

And then this “dumpy” Susan Boyle opened her mouth began to sing. And the crowd became enraptured. The judges leaned forward. The beautiful young blonde woman wiped tears from her eyes. Every time I see this on YouTube I get choked up too. The voice was so powerful and so beautiful. The explosive power of this reality – that was so NOT what you expected – from this mousy woman was an epiphany. At the conclusion the audience erupted from their seats in an ovation of cheers.

Everyone had her pegged, had her judged – knew that her voice was going to match her looks. The expectation was a given.. until it wasn’t.

Only the older folks (I’m included in this) are going to get this reference but in the words of Gomer Pyle: “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!” You and I are always being surprised, blown away by realities that don’t match expectations, or exceed expectation.

Having expectations can, I suppose, help navigate you through stressful times; knowing what to expect from the side effects of chemo can keep you from being too anxious when the hair falls out. If you want to go to Harvard, you had better be aware of their academic expectations; why set yourself up for failure?

But expectations can also hinder you. They keep you from experiencing other things – like being open to surprise. And often the burden of unfair expectations – both of self and others – is sinful. We expect the kid with droopy jeans to be a gang member, someone with low test scores to not be very bright, a Hispanic to be an illegal and an Muslim to have nefarious connections. We box people in.

We do the same with God – we expect God to be a certain way, to answer our prayers in ways that we perceive – but frankly most of the time our expectations are trumped by far deeper currents of divine movement.

The gospel of Jesus Christ at all times and in all places seems to declare: “Expect nothing and live frugally on surprise.” God’s way is full of mystery and madness and if I could wrap it all up in a sentence, I would have to say Christian faith is not about certainty, rather it is trust in the uncertainty of it all – always expecting the unexpected, being open to surprise, because you just never know.

“When John (the Baptist) heard in prison what Jesus was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (v.2)

Clearly Jesus was not living up to John the Baptist’s expectations. Jesus was a big disappointment. Historically the relationship of John to Jesus is notoriously difficult to describe with any accuracy. But it is pretty clear that John is behind bars thinking: “I’m in prison for this guy? This was not what I expected. ”

John was into “hell, fire and brimstone.” John was into the “wrath” of God. In Luke we read of John’s diatribe: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? …Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore, that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the (unquenchable) fire.” (3:7-8) John was into separating the saved from the unsaved and going out with a blaze of glory!

Of course, John was a weird character in his own right and upset the apple cart of expectation – from the desert, wild skins wrapped around him, eating insects – but then again you expect a radical to act radically, no? As Jesus himself said, “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? Someone dressed in soft robes? A prophet?”

Jesus was into doing other things. He didn’t have time for the hypocrite, but he still invited them to the table. He didn’t threaten sinners, he reached out to them. Yes, trees needed to be pruned but it was so that the tree could then bear fruit and live – it wasn’t for destruction in the hellfire, Jesus was set on putting out the hell fires with the living heavenly waters. He wasn’t into locusts and wild honey – he liked good wine and was always sitting down to dinner; I never remember Jesus turning down a meal.

Jesus wasn’t about cleaving with an axe of separation. Jesus was about cleaving with the balm of Gilead bringing everyone together into the kingdom. [CLEAVE is one word that can mean opposite things – cleave can mean separate with a knife or cleaver and it can also mean to adhere closely to, in other words join two things together.] John was about separating; Jesus was about joining things together. John was about partisan camps. Jesus was about the beloved community in which everyone had a place. John was about scarcity; Jesus was about abundance!

John the Baptist just didn’t expect him to be this way – it was a great surprise to him that Jesus responded to his disciples with the words, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

John thought the end time was coming soon – Jesus seemed to act as if it was already here.

But leave it to Mary, a really unexpected character in her own right, to have the proper expectation of what her son was going to be about. In her praise poem that we call the “Magnificat” she knows that her son is going to blow up the expectation of most folk. Jesus, mild and gentle, was going to be at the root of a tremendous disorder, the whole social order was going to get turned over, the expectation of the faithful was going for a ride, the least expected ones were going to get the choice seats, the poor were going to replace the rich, the proud and powerful were going to be scattered, the lowly would be lifted up, and the hungry would be fed. This is still not what we want to hear, it doesn’t match the expectation of the 21st century any more than of the 1st.

That beautiful hymn was not what was expected back then, and it is just as off putting and not expected now. Jesus the baby, Jesus the man, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus the dead and raised is still not meeting expectations; mine or yours. He hardly ever answers the prayers in ways that we expect. God doesn’t seem to be doing things the way we would expect. The Christmas plans go bad. Good people die. Our best intentions fail. The least deserving sometimes seems to get all the breaks. The person you saw as perfect is no longer so. Plans made have backfired.

Don’t ever get too comfortable with Jesus or expect him to act a certain way. He may be shepherd and friend – he is also LORD and therefore unable to be controlled or bounded or even properly understood.

We, as a nation, have our political discussions, our economic discussion about job and wealth creation and what we have to do to turn the economy around – Republican and Democrats have their opinions – but the economics of Jesus is rejected by both houses. The powerful and the proud still rule and the hungry are still left empty and most often the poor and hungry are blamed for their emptiness. We expect awesome military power to solve things and then we are surprised, our expectations disappointed, as we find ourselves in another quagmire.

We expect Jesus on our side – whatever side we are on. Jesus walks away and says, “follow me, come and see, be on MY side!” I want Jesus as a liberal and you want Jesus as a conservative. Jesus comes blasting us both – but he is always on the side of the poor.

Jesus still afflicts the comfortable and comforts the afflicted – and we can’t get our minds around him – we can only give our hearts to him – we can only cleave to him as we cleave ourselves from those things that distract us from the essentials – justice, mercy, love, peace, humility – but even our expectation of what these words means have to be rethought in the light of Jesus.

As Christians we throw into the fire false expectations and we hold our hands open to receive a gift and our eyes open to see new things, and our minds open to think new thoughts – beyond the expectations into the surprises that await us.

Consider those places in your life where it is not going as you expected – and I am telling you right now – THAT is where the spirit of God is most present – the tensions in your life are precisely the place where engagement is happening, and you are being worked on by the unexpected power of the Spirit of Jesus.

Jesus will continue to surprise you – that little baby in the manger – so get close but be aware – he is not just cute. And Susan Boyle will sing, and the dead will be raised, and you and I will be surprised again and again. It is a whole new world that awaits us. Be open.

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

AMEN

Liturgy and Commentary provided by James Boyce, Karol Lewis, Scott Hoezee, Ron Allen, David Lose, Michelle C. Torigian, and John Lentz.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH       Heidelberg Catechism, 4.001

Our only comfort, in life and death, is that we belong—body and soul, in life and in death—not to ourselves but to our faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all our sins and has completely freed us from the dominion of the devil; that he protects us so well that without the will of our Father in heaven not a hair can fall from our heads; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for our salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures us of eternal life, and makes us wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.           

*HYMN No. 135 “There’s A Star in the East”

1 There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
It will lead to the place where the Christ was born.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

Refrain
Follow, follow;
rise up, shepherd, and follow.
Follow the star of Bethlehem.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow.

2 If you take good heed to the angel’s words,
rise up, shepherd, and follow.
You’ll forget your flocks, you’ll forget your herds.
Rise up, shepherd, and follow. (Refrain)

THE PASTORAL PRAYER & THE LORD’S PRAYER

On this third Sunday of Advent, we rejoice, Holy God. We rejoice in body, mind and spirit because we recognize your presence among us. As you restored the people of Israel, returning them to the promised land, you also are at work among the wilderness and despair of our lives. May the joy you graciously offer serve as steppingstones through our wilderness experiences. May the joy of love and life surround us when suffering overwhelms.

Merciful God, you know us and love us despite our faults and failings. You look upon our hearts and discern our honest intentions. As we turn to you now in prayer, guide us by your Holy Spirit, that our petitions for others may serve your will and show your steadfast love.

God, hear us as we pray for our world.

We pray for an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. We pray for an end to nuclear proliferation, for nations to value diplomacy more than saber-rattling. We pray for hearts hardened by violence be healed by love and grace. We pray for evil powers to be overthrown, for wrongs to be made right, for those thirsty for justice to be satisfied.

God, hear us as we pray for the church.

Gracious God, you have called us to be the church of Jesus Christ, yet disagreements and division mar our unity. Hold us together in faith and service, breaking bread together, and proclaiming the good news to the world. May our conversations be faithful and meaningful, taking on the tough topics, open to hearing diverse perspectives and welcoming the disturbance of Christ’s counter-cultural call.

God, hear us as we pray for our nation.

God of comfort, stand with those who grieve those lost to senseless violence. Open us to legislative solutions, so we can cease the mass shootings. Overthrow the powerful forces that feed our addiction to guns and profit off of our fear. Help our leaders value the lives of our nation’s people over their political positions.

God, hear us as we pray for our loved ones.

God of compassion, bless us and those we love. Heal the sick. Comfort the grieving. Strengthen the weak. Calm the anxious. Renew the weary.

Mighty God, whose Word we trust and whose Spirit enables us to pray, accept our requests and further those which will bring about your purpose for our world.

Finally, hear us as we pray together the prayer Christ taught us, “Our Father…”.

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERING OF TITHES & OFFERINGS

This Sunday we celebrate the Advent of Joy, rising in us through in Jesus Christ. Think of your gifts as seeds of that joy which we can plant in the world God loves for Christ’s sake.

OFFERTORY

*RESPONSE

Praise God, from whom all blessing flow, Praise God, all creatures here below.  Alleluia, Alleluia Praise God in Jesus fully known; Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. 

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION

God, our Judge, and our Joy, receive our gifts as seeds of gratitude for your gift to us in Christ Jesus. Bless these seeds with growth so that joy will blossom for people depleted by challenges, and places overwhelmed by scarce resources. Be their justice and their joy, through Christ our Lord. 

*HYMN No.  104 “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”

1 O Lord, how shall I meet you,
how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you,
my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy,
a lamp within my breast,
to do in spirit lowly
all that may please you best.

2 Love caused your incarnation;
love brought you down to me;
your thirst for my salvation
procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling,
that led you to embrace
in love, all loves excelling,
our lost and fallen race.

3 You come, O Lord, with gladness,
in mercy and goodwill,
to bring an end to sadness
and bid our fears be still.
In patient expectation
we live for that great day
when your renewed creation
your glory shall display. 

*BENEDICTION

Go with joy renewed this day, energized to share that joy with justice and generosity in the world God loves.

And may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.