Christmas Eve: A melody of joy; a harmony of grief

 

Christmas Eve 2023

Christmas songs stir many memories; some bring us comfort and warmth, but others bring us grief.  The whole Christmas season is filled with many memories and layers of emotion.

Pastor Rob unpacks how the Christmas story, as told by Luke (2:1-20), has a layer of lament, a song of grief.  In this story, we can also find our own song of grief.

Yet Luke also has a layer of rejoicing, a song of joy, as the angel proclaims the birth of Jesus.  In this story, we can also find our own song of joy in Jesus.

The song of joy, first sung by the angels, does not drown out the song of lament, but finds a way to make the song of lament a harmony that is woven together with the song of joy in glorious praise of the creator.

Advent Peace 4, Mercy leads to Peace

 Advent 4, 2023

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,

…to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Zechariah (Luke 1:79)

As we wrap up our Advent sermon series on peace, we give the last words to Zechariah, as a he foretells the work of Christ: “To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

These are lovely words, but how do we get there?  How do we break out of cycles of hatred, resentment and violence that lead to constant retribution?  Zechariah points the way by indicating that the God’s mercy has to start a new day before peace can begin.  A reflection of how we live with our hearts open to God’s interrupting mercy.

Note:  This last Sunday in Advent was to focus on “Peace in the World.”  While the sermon does touch on this, ultimately this is so out of our control, that the focus is on what we can contribute, namely, moving with God’s mercy that brings about a new day.

Advent Peace 3: Peace in our Communities

Advent 3 (December 10, 2023)

Sometimes it feels like the fabric of our society is coming apart.   When it comes to divisive issues, we often feel like we lack the common moral framework to find common ground.

How can we stitch society back together and find ways to live in peace with people with whom we disagree?  Pastor Rob explores two proposals

a)  to use politics to enforce our values

b)  to avoid the messiness of life altogether

While both of these may be attractive, Mary in her song of praise (Luke 1:46-55), warns us against seeking political domination as well as quietism.  What then is the way forward?  Pastor Rob reflects on the way of the cross as a way to stitch society back together.

This is the third in the Advent sermon series on peace.

Advent Peace, Part 2: Peace in our Families

 Advent 2 (December 3, 2023)

Mary and Elizabeth are the first two sisters in Christ!  (I love the painting.  I have used it before as a web image, but its just so good!)

It seems that Mary’s announcement of her pregnancy was not received well among her close family; so instead she travels far away to visit her kin, Elizabeth.  They embrace, share their story, and become sisters.  Faith in Christ allows us to build such deep friendships with people — not of genetics, but of a common story.  (To put it more bluntly: friendships not of human blood and contracts, but of Jesus’ blood in the new covenant.)

A reflection on peace in our families, which often seems so elusive.  God seems to employ a two strong strategy – create new friends in faith that become our brothers and sisters in Christ; ultimately, in the end, heal the wounds in our family.