Worship on the Lord’s Day: Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:00 am December 22, 2024
Minister: The Rev. Brad Childs
Music Director: Binu Kapadia Vocalist: Lynn Vaughan
Welcoming Elder: Darlene Eerkes
Children’s time: Brad
We gather to worship God
Music Prelude
Greeting
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
P: And also, with you
Welcome and announcements
Preparation for worship
Call to worship: David Burnett, Thandi Chaponda and Angel Castell
L: As we prepare for Christ’s coming, we remember that Christ modelled love by seeking justice for those on the margins.
P: We come with a desire to love everyone, even when it’s hard.
L: We light the fourth candle of Advent, a symbol of God’s love, which knows no boundaries.
(Light the candle of love)
L: May the light of this candle inspire us to act towards our neighbours near and far in loving and justice-seeking ways
P: Holy One, we love because You first loved us. By the power of your Spirit, commit us to love in action in service of our neighbours. Affirm within us a dedication to show your love to the world, in both word and deed. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen
Opening praise: Hope is a star (119)
Prayers of approach and confession
Our Lord, we gather together to praise you for your incredible work.
We praise you for this world, and all that’s in it.
We praise you for a free country to gather without fear of persecution.
We praise you for a beautiful country, beautiful people, and your beautiful grace. But Lord, though you are perfect, we are not. We are flawed people striving to improve, so now, in unison, we confess our shortcomings to you.
God of our past, present, and future, we confess the evil we have done and the good we have failed to do, the words not said, and things spoken in anger or out of carelessness, the harm we have done to others and the harm we have done to ourselves. We acknowledge that our love has been shallow, our joy thin, and our hope fleeting. Forgive us for all these things and help us to do Your will. And remind us that when we fail, Your grace has already forgiven us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Response: We come to ask your forgiveness
Assurance of God’s love
By God’s will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. Know that God’s love has already restored you. Believe that you are forgiven and forgive one another. Amen.
We listen for the voice of God.
Response: Jesus loves me (373)
Children’s Time: Luke 1:26-31; 2:8-12
Book The Visit of the Wise Men by Martha Jander (Concordia Press)
For me one of the most special things about this story from the bible is that no person starts out knowing who Jesus is and every person is invited to know. The Shepherds were busy in the fields, the Magi were from another religion and land They didn’t really even no quite Why they were there, some were wealthy, some had almost nothing, but all are welcome.
I love this passage from 1 Timothy. It goes like this: “We work and struggle for this, our hope. For our hope is set on the living God, who is the savior of all people, especially those who believe.” – 1 Timothy 4:10
I love that verse because it reminds me that Christ is the saviour of all, whether they believe it or not. Sometimes, in life, we are tempted to think that Christmas is too commercial or non-religious, but I say bring it on. Everyone, no matter what they believe, is invited to celebrate the Savior’s birth, whether they know him or not. I pray that the whole world will find a way to celebrate Christmas, even if they don’t quite get it.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for Christmas miracles. For the birth of Jesus and the invitation to come and meet him. Thank you for his life, example, offering, and glorious return. Amen.
If I don’t see you before the 25th, Merry Christmas to all of you.
The Lord’s Prayer (535)
Song: My soul gives glory (123 vss 1,2,3,5)
Scripture readings: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1:46b-55; & Hebrews 10:5-10
Response: My Lord, he is a’ comin’ soon
Message: “Love”
Luke 1:45 says, “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!”
The Roman Catholic Church has almost always stressed the “Blessed is she” portion of scripture concerning Mary. It has been largely responsible for her elevation despite scripture containing almost no information about her. But I have always wondered, as probably many of you have… is what Mary believed exactly.
What exactly did Mary believe in, and how did she believe in whatever it was she believed in?
Elizabeth is John the Baptist’s mother and Mary’s cousin. But here, Elizabeth says that Mary is blessed because she is (pi-stu-o) pisteuō.
This original Greek word from this passage means most literally, “To think to be true.”
So, Mary is blessed because she “thinks” something to be true? Well that doesn’t solve much. It seems pretty subjective. You got to wonder… how much confidence are we talking about here? What did Mary Believe exactly? Did she 70% believe it?
For me, it’s interesting to ask and I think there are spiritual implications for just how much faith one needs.
However, I must say that, at least, simply believing Something to be true is all good and acceptable… But that belief doesn’t make it a reality.
The fact is people all over the world believe all kinds of things. Some are true. Some are not. And while belief is important… simply believing something – doesn’t make it so.
Now often, the world will tell us (and it does so more and more) that it doesn’t really matter what you believe in, just so long as you earnestly believe in something. Countless TV programs and films push this agenda, probably because the writers don’t have any particular beliefs to speak of and, quite frankly, don’t understand what that feels like. Partly it’s probably well-meaning because they don’t want to single any group out. Partly it’s about money then. Why offend when you can just claim that everyone is right.
But is it true? Recently internet videos and memes have brokered the idea that “biblically accurate angels” have been hidden from them, and that angels in the bible are actually described as big swirling light orbs. Now to be clean, even though no theologian agrees with those silly internet pictures of angels everyone seems to believe it. But let’s be clear here. Angolos means messenger. And in the bible angel is not as much a type of being as it is a job description. And angel brings a divine message.
Angels appear in scripture often, but not one of them has wings – ever. Now it’s true that two other beings in scripture are described as having wings. These are the Cherubim (with 4 wings) and the Seraphim (with six wings), however these are never referred to as angels, they are just titled Seraphim and Cherubim. Cherubim also have four faces and attend to guard or guard things. Seraphim are likely serpent like and covered with fire. Most of these descriptions are probably more about a rolling thrown or the moving of the tabernacle worship space – we can talk about that later, BUT… for now, let’s just agree that far too many people are out there walking around believing unintelligent garbage they saw on TikTok although Bibles are pretty easy to come by.
Just because people all of the sudden believe that angels in the bible are whirling fire balls of wheels within wheels (a mistake combining a number of events into one), does that make it so?
More bluntly, if you get on an airplane earnestly and believe wholeheartedly that you’re headed for Hawaii, but the plane is scheduled to land in White Horse, guess what? You had better have a coat.
The fact is, It can’t just be about belief in something. Believing in the right things is essential.
I wrote for The Presbyterian Record magazine for about eight years. Once I wrote about a group called the Prince Philip Movement. It’s a Yohanan tribal religion on the southern island of Tanna in Vanuatu. The Yohanan believe that Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the consort to Queen Elizabeth II, is a divine being, the pale-skinned son of a mountain spirit and brother of John Frum. According to ancient tales, the son travelled over the seas to a distant land, married a powerful lady and would, in time, return. The villagers had observed the respect accorded to Queen Elizabeth II by colonial officials. They concluded that her husband, Prince Philip, must be the god of their legends. The group was formed sometime in the 1950s. And their beliefs were strengthened by the royal couple’s official visit in 1974. Prince Philip was made aware of the religion and, as a result, arranged to exchange gifts with its leaders, even visiting them for worship. He allowed himself to be worshiped by them and never did anything to dissuade this false belief.
The Church of Euthanasia (CoE) is a political/religious organization started by the “Reverend Chris Korda” of Boston, Massachusetts. According to the church’s website, it is “a non-profit educational foundation devoted to restoring the balance between Humans and the remaining species on Earth as well as nature herself.” The CoE is notorious for its conflicts with Pro-life activists. According to the church, the greatest commandment is “Thou shalt not procreate.” The CoE further asserts three major principal pillars to a decent life: suicide, abortion, and cannibalism (strictly limited to consumption of the already dead”). Slogans employed by the group include “Save the Planet, Kill Yourself”. But Chris Korda believes she and her followers are right, moral people.
Nuwa-ubi-an-ism is a quickly growing religion that claims that Satan collects unburied after birth and is a space alien who makes seven evil clones of each person at any given time on earth where each one is constantly trying to replace you, meaning the person right next to you at any given moment might be an alien demon clone rather than the person you think they are. Now, while I’m not a Nuwa-abi-anist, I must warn you… If your spouse appeared particularly kind this morning or your children calmly ate their breakfast and got ready for church today without issue – this one might have more credence than it first appears to.
Incidentally, they (and they have thousands of members) also claim that the Illuminati ushered in, Satan’s son, who was born on the 6th of June 1966 at the Dakota House on 72nd Street in New York City to a woman named Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. They further purport that the Pope was present at the birth and performed necromantic ceremonies. Former U.S. president Richard Nixon then raised the child and now lives in Belgium, where he is hooked up to a computer called “The Beast 3M” or “3666” as they sometimes call it.
No, before you think I’m bashing other people’s traditions, I’m just gonna come out with it. Let’s remember that Christian beliefs are not all completely logical, either.
Christianity says that an all-powerful being created humankind for his loving pleasure, only to offer us free will, thereby allowing us to reject him and choose to do bad things. When we sinned, he then promised for thousands of years to count us as sinless and perfect anyway, if only we asked for forgiveness using a sacrificial system that he would someday make unnecessary by fulfilling it in a new way… that being by sending himself (as 100% God but also 100% human) to be born from a virgin (presumably with 23 miraculous chromosomes created out of nothing) so that he (God) could then live a perfect example of life for us knowing that he would be murdered by the ones he came to save and because of that was able to take the punishment we deserved; thereby calming us free and innocent if only we trust in him. Oh, and then he asked us to drink his blood and eat his flesh symbolically (because that seems totally like a normal thing) and then live lives of peace and generosity, giving our whole selves over to others even if it means our death as well.
When I say it that way… it all sounds kind of…… Crazy. But here’s the catch. It’s actually what I believe. Moreover, I believe it’s the right thing to believe. And for me, there’s no question that it’s the right thing. I think every single word of it is true. And I can’t talk myself out of it. I believe it. It is as innate a belief to me almost as if I were chosen to believe it and can do nothing about it.
In a way, that’s probably true for all of us. Belief is often seemingly outside us. Like John Calvin’s view of Irresistible Grace, I think, for the most part, that belief, or unbelief for that matter (like attraction or love at first sight) is not something we choose; it’s not something based on logic or reason at first, but rather something that happens to us (as if guided by some tremendous external force).
Think about that for a second. If you have ever been in a discussion group or Bible study with me, you’ve probably heard me say this before, but… Here it goes: If I got out a suitcase with 1 million dollars in it right now and said, “I will give this money to anyone in this church who can make themselves believe they can fly.” Nobody in this church would be able to do it. Someone might say they believed it, hoping to trick me, but it would be a lie. Someone might even get up enough nerve to climb up on top of the roof and jump off to try and convince me that they believed it, but that would be a lie, too. The fact is, there is nothing you alone can do to make yourself believe or disbelieve. You can investigate and draw conclusions, but ultimately, belief is something that happens to you. We are all working on a priorie ideas and taking in evidence we like as a result.
When it comes to the Christmas story, maybe belief has already happened to you, maybe it hasn’t, or perhaps it’s about to.
But trust me, what you believe in… matters, just like what you do with those beliefs.
And how you believe also matters. Sometimes, we hear this story and believe Mary is some superwoman with unshakable faith. But I bet right after that angel left, Mary started looking for the pomegranate that might have dropped on her head from some tall tree nearby. While Mary is blessed for her belief that what God has told her will come true, I don’t think that’s the same thing as blind faith, complete certainty, or a life utterly devoid of questions or doubts.
The Bible doesn’t talk about belief that way. Instead of a mountain of faith, it says we need “faith the size of a mustard seed.” And with that, we can move mountains.
Mark chapter 9 has a fantastic story about a boy and his father. In it, the father believes that Jesus is a miracle worker and comes to him begging. The man tells Jesus that his son has strange fits where he convulses and rolls around on the ground, foaming at the mouth and that it comes at random. He cries that his son has even fallen into fire or water. It’s a father that wants his child to be safe. In the verse, the Father says to Jesus, “If you can do anything, please take pity on us and help us.” Jesus’ response is odd. He repeats the man’s words, “If you can?” and then continues, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” And I love this verse. In Mark chapter 9, verse 24, the man says, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” Then, the boy is healed.
See, it’s not a blind faith God’s after. It’s certainly not perfect 100% belief at all times; he anticipates from us. Belief and faith are not a rejection of facts. It’s not belief without some measure of caution. It’s not belief without ever having any questions or doubts.
This father doesn’t know it will work. He hopes it will work. And he HOPES with anticipation and action.
I guess the writer of Hebrews had a point when he said, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.”
This father believes just enough to hope it’s true. And so, he considers just enough to want to consider more.
What a beautiful image of the Christian faith: a group gathered together with the same issues in the same flawed world, trying to see something more behind it all, catching the tiniest glimpse of the divine, and hoping upon hope in faith together that God’s words to us are true.
In the season of Advent, we light candles representing Peace, Hope, Joy, and Love. On Christmas, we light the Christ candle to represent the birth of Jesus, whom we believe to be (as the gospel says) “a light shining in the darkness that the darkness cannot overcome.” We do these things because, like Mary, we believe enough for God to do something powerful with us.
God is love.
If you are here today and believe, may it be a genuinely blessed and Merry Christmas.
What we believe matters.
But if you’re here today and don’t think you believe it just yet… remember this: for Jesus, “I believe help my unbelief” is more than enough to start with. Have a blessed and Merry Christmas to you as well. -Amen
Song: Come let us sing (706)
We respond to serve God.
Our time of giving
Prayer of gratitude and for others and ourselves
Lord God, thank you for the blessings You have given us year after year.
For a beautiful and fertile world, for a secure nation, for loving people around us, for friends and neighbours, for a time of prosperity, for minds leaning towards generosity, for the gift of sharing, for years of health, for the gift of breath and beating hearts, singing birds and new babies.
Every moment is an offering from you to us.
And now, Lord, we thank you by offering up a small piece of that gift.
Please help this church use these offerings for You alone.
Please help us by doing only what is true and correct.
Multiply these gifts for our use, bless the hands of the givers, and
Lead us in new ways of service to you and your kingdom here on earth.
Spirit of Hope, You pierce the darkness with light, hope, and renewed vision when the world is confusing and bleak. We thank you for lessons learned, changes of heart, discoveries made, and hope restored. We pray this day for those who are ill and dying, for those who are bereaved, and for any who mourn any burden of loss. God, make our time a time of hope.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O God of Peace, Conflict and antagonism often exist within our relationships, communities, world, and ourselves. We pray for all places where violence and cruelty appear to win the day and where injustice cuts people down.
God, Make our time a time for peace.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Creator of Joy, We thank you for moments of joy and celebration in our lives, the pleasure given and received, and the quiet evenings spent in reflection and happy gatherings. In these days of cold and darkness, we remember those who feel left out, who feel bitter while others rejoice, who are challenging to love, and those who walk in dark valleys; be their light and be their warmth and melt our hearts so that we might love more deeply all people in difficulty. God, make our time a time for joy.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
O Love Come Down, You call us to live in communion with you and one another, and you have formed us into families and circles of friendship. We remember before you our families, whether we are close or estranged, and our friends, whether they are near or far away, and we ask your blessing on our partners, children, parents and elders. Let us not keep our gratitude and concern for them bottled up, but let us express our love and concern through words and actions. God, make our time a time of love.
Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Song: Go tell it on the mountain (133)
Sending out with God’s blessing
May you depart knowing the invitation of God to move
– from comfort to insecurity
– from what we know to what we have yet to discover
– from where we have been to where we have yet to go
– from safety to a place of risk
– from questions to more questions
Go in the example of the saints before you, the Israelites in the wilderness, Paul is blind in Damascus, John in the desert, Mary to Elizabeth.
Go in the name of Jesus, our Christ, who said ‘follow me’ without saying where he was going, just promising transformation and relationship with the Triune God along the way.
And may we all believe even amidst our unbelief. Amen
Response: Gloria in excelsis Deo
Music postlude
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Numbers in brackets after a song/hymn indicate that it is from the 1997 Book of Praise of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Those and other songs are being used in accordance with the specifications of Dayspring’s licensing with One License (3095377) and CLC (A735555).
The Rev. Brad Childs retains the copyright (© 2024) on all original material in this service. As far as Brad Childs is aware, all of the material that has not been attributed to others is his own creation or is in the public domain. Unacknowledged use of copyrighted material is unintentional and will be corrected immediately upon notification being received.