The Advent Theme of Joy or the Lack Thereof
Written by Ken Brown, Senior Pastor, ken.brown@broomfieldumc.org
I prayed God would speak to us all yesterday, and I hoped I would not hinder His voice. Yesterday, December 16, we celebrated the Advent theme of Joy. But it can be hard to find joy when innocent children are killed. It can be hard to understand singing Joy to the World when so many people are angry, confused or asking God “why”. But for so many people, Sunday morning services were crucial yesterday. One woman sent me an email that read:
“I felt such urgency to be in church today to find guidance to help me move through the madness of this week, as I’m sure so many others were. I can’t even think about those kids in (Connecticut) without thinking about so many other kids I know who are 6 or 7, or without thinking about my own children and grandchildren.”
The sender of this email said that the events of Friday morning touched her at her core. And she knows the shootings in Connecticut rocked a lot of people. God can bring guidance, and peace, when it seems like the whole world is spiraling downward. And for one woman, church brought a sense of community, guidance, and a feeling of peace.
Before my sermon yesterday a family from the congregation read about Joy and lit the pink candle on the Advent wreath. Not twenty minutes later, during my sermon, I snuffed out that pink candle. Tragedy can suck the joy out of a nation, and it can suck the joy out Advent. But in the midst of tragedy, and in the midst of dark days, Jesus brings joy to the world. Before the close of worship a child relit the pink candle. We are all God’s children, and we can all find joy.
Where do you find Joy? Where will you find Joy this Christmas?
Originally posted on the BUMC Blog Dec. 17, 2012.
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