Joy Lutheran Church Ocala, Florida

Have you ever thought about why we do the things we do in preparing for Christmas? I
sometimes do. I know where some of the traditions came from but not necessarily why
they were started in the first place.

Some research suggested the chopping down of the Christmas tree represented the
death of Christ and putting it back up signified His resurrection. The wreaths we hang
are never ending circles that represent eternity. Candy canes were made to look like
shepherds’ hooks and the colors, red and white represented Jesus’ blood and his purity.
The gifts we give represent the three gifts the Magi brought for baby Jesus.

All of these things are wonderful thoughts and I am sure there is some truth to them. We
as Christians, however, know the true meaning of Christmas and maybe we need to be
reminded, lest we forget.

Luke 2: 10-12 reminds us with these words. But the angel said to them. “Do not be
afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in
the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is the Messiah, the Lord. This
will be a sign to you. You will find the babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a
manger.

What a beautiful and calming message for us, especially at this hectic time of year.
When you are running around worrying about baking the most beautiful cookies, having
the most elaborately decorated house or the most elegant and delicious dinner and
shopping for the “perfect gift”, stop yourself, take a deep breath and remember this.
Because of God’s unconditional love for us, we have already been given the perfect gift.
Jesus Christ was given to us to remove all our sins. Nothing could be better! Thanks be
to God!

Patty

While we wait for the Christmas celebration with all the fun and festivities, Advent provides us with a time of reflection and renewal. It is a good time to examine what Jesus did wtih His human life.  

What can succinctly describe His life? Is this a life that we can imitate? Let’s examine this quote that I found in Pope Francis’ Little Book of Compassion (Compiled by Andrea Kirk Assaf, copyright 2017, Published by arrangement with Harper-Collins Publishers Ltd, pg. 315): 

The life of Jesus is a life for others. It is a life of service. 

It’s a simple quote, but one with a powerful meaning and a challenging example for us to imitate. It doesn’t take much thought to realize that this is exactly what Jesus did while on earth. He lived to show how to love one another through the delivery of care and love to the people he met during His ministry.  

He cared for His family, taking on Joseph’s trade as carpenter and making sure that Mary was cared for after His death; he had compassion for the new groom at the wedding feast and provided the best wine at the end of the celebration. He went about the region telling of the new commandment of love for God and each other. You know the other examples of curing, teaching, sharing, feeding and loving. 

It is not written that he ever complained that He was just too tired to help or save. Good thing for Peter when he stepped out of the boat. He never refused to take on the extra effort to make a difference in the lives of his followers and the people of Israel. He wasn’t even mean or nasty to the people who brought Him to His death. Although there are subtle lessons for these people that are delivered with compassion.  

His was a life of service. His life is our example for compassion to the fellow men and women we meet in this earthly life. I am not saying that this is easy. It’s not. Human nature gets in the way, and we surrender to our needs first. But that doesn’t mean that we abandon all attempts to help others in need.  

During this time of preparation for the birth of the Savior, the needs of many different people come before us at church, the grocery store, in the mail. Making the decision about who to help can be overwhelming. However, it is imperative that we make the effort to help folks in need in any way that we can be by assisting with packing food baskets, wrapping gifts, giving money or being kind to those we pass on the street-even though we don’t understand why they do what the do. Jesus would. 

He would because He loves everyone-everyone-unconditionally.  

Terri 

She told me she hated Advent. Every year when Christmas came around, the Lutherans were singing those awful Advent hymns instead of Christmas songs. I know it was naughty of me, but I ignored her complaint. I loved hearing the Advent hymns.

Charles Wesley, a founder of the Methodist church, managed to write over 6,500 including one version of the Advent hymn “Lo, he comes with clouds descending” which has been sliced and diced and recombined over the years with a hymn by John Cennick and then edited and altered. I’m not sure there are any two hymnals with the identical text for this hymns.

Anyway, here is a version I like sung by the Norwich Cathedral Choir to the tune “Hemsley.”

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.

The theme of the first stanza is from Revelation and depicts the return of Jesus at the end of the ages. One of things I find striking, however, is the reference in the third stanza to the passion.

Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears.

Is that odd? No, look sometime through advent and Christmas hymns and you sometimes find a reference to the death of Jesus (think about What Child is This).  Jesus comes to die in the first Advent, and comes as the one who died and rose in the second Advent.

It’s something to ponder in this in between Advent.

Read Revelation 1:7 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

A woman and I were talking a while ago about singing in church. She said she used to sing along, but she thought her singing voice wasn’t very good, so she began either singing very softly, or not at all, so that she would not distract others or draw attention to herself.

Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
and playing to the Lord in your hearts. – Ephesians 5:18b-19

Singing has always had a part in worship. And it isn’t just reserved for some people; all are invited. I asked that woman if she had children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Indeed she had. I asked if she’d ever given them some crayons, and if they had drawn something for her with those crayons. Yes, of course. It went straight to her refrigerator, she answered. Then I drove home my point: You may not have even been able to figure out what it is they drew, but to you it was a masterpiece anyway. To you, it was a Rembrandt; a Monet on par with anything in the Louvre. That’s how God feels about your voice. He gave it to you as a gift, and by singing, you give it back to Him. It might sound like screeching monkeys to you, but to Him it’s nothing short of Luciano Pavarotti or Aretha Franklin. After all, you’re not singing for the entertainment of the people around you, you’re singing for the Almighty Creator who gave you that voice. So, lift it up and belt it out! She gave me a huge smile, took my hand, and said from now on she would do just that, and thank you for your encouragement!

The history of worship is filled with singing: From the Israelites, when God saved them from the Egyptians; King David, who is credited with most of the songs in the Book of Psalms; the Levites, at the dedication of the Temple; Jesus and the disciples even sang a hymn at the end of the Last Supper:
Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. – Matthew 26:30

As a cantor, I have a unique point of view as I look out over the congregation. You in the pews see the
people on the altar and the backs of a bunch of people’s heads. I see everyone’s face! It fills my heart
when I see people not just following along as the singer sings but uniting their voices with mine in praise and thanksgiving to Our Lord. And, having led music on a few retreats, I’ve been brought to tears
by the sound of twenty or thirty-men’s voices belting out something that I wrote (or, more appropriately,
God wrote using my hand).

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day. Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his
marvelous deeds. – Psalms 96:1-3

So, don’t be afraid to let ‘er rip! You might not be the next Josh Groban or Celine Dion, but to God’s ear, you’re right up there with the best! Your audience – the One that matters – loves it! I’ll see you – and hear you – on Sunday.

We pray:
O Father of all music, you gave us our voices, whatever they might be. Remove our inhibitions;
grant us the spirit to give our voices back to you in song as our gift to You. You gave us Your best
without holding back; grant that we may do the same. We ask this through Your Son, who sang
hymns to you even at the end. AMEN.

Shared with permission by a choir friend in Connecticut

 Home is where the heart of the season is. For me, it is in this, my favorite season of the church year – Advent. Anticipating what’s to come. My favorite hymns that always make my eyes get misty and my throat get lumpy. Choking back the sobs when I hear “O Holy Night”. The different, delightful rhythm of life. Family reunions. Seeing family guests in worship; rejoicing with those still able to travel to where the family is, where the new-fallen snow is. Giggling with delight at a kindly gentleman’s telling of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”.

 Each of you certainly has your special personal list. Favorite carols, cookies, and commemorations. Our souls long for the home that is not about  

size, newness, or creature comforts. Home could be a one-room shack for all I care. As long as it’s filled with love, music, and laughter – things that the heart truly treasures. Emmanuel comes again to abide with us. Ah, what a word: abide. It means peace, fullness, warmth. The embedding of a Savior who is also our brother. There is much to ponder in this wondrous, mysterious time. If we allow ourselves a break from the “spin” cycle, we will be more ready to embrace what we always embrace in cold December. Everything that’s on your special personal list that is not “hustle and bustle”.

The time is too fleeting to do otherwise. Music, Advent, love. Savor them, and the unconditional love that is the reason for it all. May the precious home that is Emmanuel be with you all and always.

Pastor Art

Today’s date looks familiar to me.  It is my mom’s birthday.  Born in 1910, she grew up in a world so different from mine. It has been 33 years since she passed on to her heavenly reward.  I have a feeling that she’s still looking down on me, probably shaking her head in despair at times and hopefully pleased at others.  For many years after her death, I placed a single red rose on her gravestone each year on her birthday.  Frequently that was followed by a snowstorm that buried my token.  

As I think of her, I remember her favorite hymn.  She was always so pleased when we sang it during a Sunday service, and she had requested it for her funeral.  Perhaps some of you remember it, perhaps not.   The text was written by Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879) and the tune by Arthur H. Mann (1825-1929.)  It’s included in our red Lutheran Book of Worship, #820.  The first stanza follows:

O Savior, precious Savior, whom yet unseen we love;
O name of might and favor, all other names above;
We worship thee; we bless thee; to thee alone we sing;
We praise thee and confess thee, our holy Lord and King.

It is truly a beautiful song of worship and praise.  Singing it at her funeral, I was especially touched by the fourth stanza:

Oh, grant the consummation of this our song above,
in endless adoration and everlasting love;
then shall we praise and bless thee where perfect praises ring,
and evermore confess thee, our Savior and our king!

Yes Lord, we sing praises to you now, but how much more beautiful will those praises be when we join in the choir of angels!

The rendition below is sung by Kathleen Monson.

Judy

Let the season begin!  The title of this blog is written in Latin meaning, Arrival of the Lord. Advent, in many Christian denominations, is recognized as the four Sundays leading up to Christmas.  Great anticipation during this season is sometimes displayed with Advent wreaths and the lighting of the four candles surrounding the wreath.  Beautifully creative Advent calendars may also hang in many homes.  Anticipation permeates the Advent season. 

How blessed are we, our Lord loves us so unconditionally!  His arrival was prophesized by the prophets for many, many years.  Kings knew about the rumblings of a new and holy king’s pending birth.  God in His wisdom blessed Mary and Joseph as they began preparations for His Divine Son’s birth.

Don’t allow the busyness of the commercial holiday to thwart your plans of Advent.  Feel the anticipation building each week for the grand celebration of our Savior’s birth.  As Mary and Joseph prepared for Jesus’ birth, use the weeks of Advent to prepare your heart and mind in reflective thoughts for the coming of our Lord.

Jill

As I write this blog, Thanksgiving Day is coming to an end for another year.  We are blessed to be visiting our daughter and son-in-law this holiday. What a lovely day it was here in Vermont with snow covering the ground and trees with a blanket of white. It was a postcard perfect snowy New England day! Our meal was delicious, the company wonderful, the house cozy and warm, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade as fabulous as always and the football games were…well, we won’t go there. So much to be grateful for on this special day of thanks.

We are so blessed and fortunate and often take it for granted. Our lives go on day after day and I know I for one don’t stop and think about all the good things I have.  If something unpleasant happens, that is what I tend to dwell on and rehash it multiple times for no good reason or positive outcome. What is the point of that?

I need to remember my blessings from God.  I have a home, I ate today, I have clean water to drink, I have clean clothes to wear, I have dreams that I can work towards, I strive to have a kind heart, good wishes for others and become a better person and I am breathing clean air every day. Because of all of these wonderful gifts, I should be content.

All of these gifts come from God because of His unconditional love for us, especially the gift of His Son Jesus who died for our salvation. This is the greatest blessing that we have been given and the one for which we should be the most grateful.

In Psalm 7:17 we read these words. I will give the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Let’s remember to not take what we have for granted and give thanks and be grateful for all His love and through that love, the gifts God bestows on us, not just at Thanksgiving, but everyday we are here on this earth.  Thanks be to God!

Patty

My dear sweet, departed father-in-law often substituted worry for love. He would tell us how much he worried about our oldest son, rather than calling him and telling him how much he cared for and prayed for him. Or ask him if there was something that he could do for our son that would help secure his future. 

Before I saw the light, I worried about this child also. He had a difficult time making and keeping friends and sitting still for a whole day in the classroom. This was before the days of an IEP for a child like Brad. So, he was relegated to the bad boy side of the room, frustrating teachers and creating many teacher conferences. 

I have always been a fervent pray-er. I am not sure of the exact event, but I realized that on my own, I could not create the outcome that I desired by worrying about Brad. I decided that since he was a loved child of God, I would turn him over to the care of God. Having God as a full partner in the life of our child was a turning point for all of us. 

I did some visualization where I imagined Jesus and Brad walking down a beautiful beach. Jesus always had his arm around Brad and leaned in to hear what he was saying and return comments to him. I had to turn over his care on a regular basis because I kept taking it back. And, no, the results of this effort did not always please everyone, but the weight of the decisions was shared. I was spared the disappointments that came with setbacks. We still had to continue to provide consistent feedback to Brad about his behavior and decisions. However, knowing that God was in our corner made the decisions clearer and easier to implement. 

I also turned over my father, my husband, my other son and several siblings. The one person who evades this action is me. I surrender and then rebel. Or I get out on SR 200 and all my good intentions fly out the window. However, the one everlasting truth here is that because God loves me unconditionally, I can still ask for and receive help-anytime of the day or night, for issues large or small. 

What a wonderful Thanksgiving gift! I will leave you with this short quote from Matthew’s gospel reading for the Thanksgiving Service: “And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life span?” Matt.2 v.27 

Oh! Always remember that God loves you unconditionally, too. 

Terri

They taught us about the first Thanksgiving in elementary school. You know the story of how in the fall of 1621 a group of Wampanoag joined the English people who settled at what’s today Plymouth, Massachusetts, to celebrate the harvest. First Thanksgiving? We Floridians know better.

I found this online at the Castillo de San Marcos site: “On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and 800 Spanish settlers founded the city of St. Augustine in Spanish La Florida. As soon as they were ashore, the landing party celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving. Afterward, Menéndez laid out a meal to which he invited as guests the native Seloy tribe who occupied the site.”

I am struck that both thanksgivings involved eating a meal together. The Bible contains religious celebrations where sharing a meal is a central feature. After God gave the covenant to the Hebrews, Moses and seventy elders ate and drank in the presence of the Lord (Exodus 24:11).

You may be accustomed to saying a grace or prayer of thanksgiving before beginning to eat, but have you ever thought about the meal itself being a thanksgiving? That’s fundamental to Christian worship. Another name for Holy Communion is Eucharist or thanksgiving. There is a long prayer of thanksgiving associated with the meal, but the meal, the bread and wine, is itself a of thanksgiving.

This thanksgiving you, your friends and family will be eating in the presence of God. The meal itself will be an act of thanksgiving. Something to think about before the football games start.

Wayne

Please click on the site listed here to enjoy this beautiful hymn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T810WAEI48c&authuser=0