Dear Brothers and Sisters at Hope,
In this blessed season of Advent, we are called upon to prepare the way of the Lord. St. John the Baptizer advises that we are to share with others -in other words-be kind and loving to others. We also spend time in this holy season to pray and get our lives back in tune with God.
I found this posting that invited prayer and helped us see prayer in some of our acts of kindness and love. “Do you pray? I love this interpretation of a prayer. What is a prayer? Prayer doesn’t’ only happen when we kneel or put our hands together and focus and expect things from God. Thinking positive and wishing good for others is a prayer. When you hug a friend. That’s a prayer. When you cook something to nourish family and friends. That’s a prayer. When we send off our near and dear ones and say, “drive safely” or “be safe.” That’s a prayer. When you are helping someone in need by giving your time and energy, you are praying. When you forgive someone, that is prayer. Prayer is a vibration. A feeling. A thought. Prayer is the voice of love, friendship, genuine relationships. Prayer is an expression of your silence being. Keep praying always…”
Prayer is speaking and listening to God and then following God’s guidance and direction to do his works with our hands. Prayer is putting love into action as we follow Jesus’ call to love one another. It is a lifestyle. It is a choice. It is a chance to renew and refresh our love for God as we love God’s people. In this season of Advent, please-take time to PRAY. A blessed and holy Advent be yours! Love, Pr. Jen Schaefer+
Third Sunday of Advent~~~December 11-12, 2021
The Prayer of the Day Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the preaching of John, that, rejoicing in your salvation, we may bring forth the fruits of repentance; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Gospel : Luke 3:7-18
John the Baptist heralds the mighty one who is coming. John teaches that preparation for God’s reign is not a matter of identity but of bearing fruits of merciful justice, radical generosity, and vocational integrity.
7John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9Even 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 fire.”
10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation and be satisfied with your wages.”
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
HOMILY The 3rd Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday.“Gaudete,”when translated from Latin, means “rejoice”. The lighter color candle reflects that lighter mood of rejoicing. We know that Advent is a season of waiting and today we are called to be joyful as we await the coming of Jesus.
~~~God, through Zephaniah, offers us glimpses of a hopeful future and calls us to “Rejoice and exult with all our heart.” Isaiah reminds us of the ways God has delivered us, is delivering us, and will deliver us. He invites us to shout aloud and sing for joy because we shall “draw water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation.” We all have been experiencing tough times these last few years. With the suffering, loss, uncertainty, and state of our beautiful and broken world, how can we hear these words and rejoice? ~~~In our minds, joy tends to overlap with happiness. Happiness is often connected with what is happening to us and around us. Happiness usually lasts for just a time. When we are discouraged and afraid, rejoicing in the Lord can be a hard sell. But the truth is that joy is not usually inspired by happy circumstances. Joy is present as an abiding sense that whatever problems the world throws at us, God is bigger and in control. Joy comes with knowing that the troubles of this world are temporary. God and his love through Jesus and his Spirit are eternal. Joy, unlike happiness, lasts – no matter what the challenges. Joy in Christ helps us get through bad times and makes the good times even better.
~~~The prophets looked forward to the day of the Lord’s coming as a time of great joy. Even Zephaniah, who has been called the most depressing of the prophets, kept calling for us to sing for joy—joy in the Lord’s presence, joy in renewal and restoration, joy in coming home. Isaiah looks forward to the Lord’s coming as a time for shouting joyfully, “Surely God is my salvation.” Isaiah looks to the Lord’s coming as a day when the people would drink their fill of salvation like someone drawing fresh water from a well – certainly a day of great rejoicing.
~~~Advent is not only a season for waiting. It is also a time of preparation – a time of looking for the coming of the Lord, for the fulfillment of God’s promised restoration, for the peace that overcomes all violence, and for that perfect love that casts out fear. ~~~John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. He was sent into difficult, complicated times – times like we are experiencing. And his message was simple: repent; turn your lives around; turn back to God. For John, repentance was not about beating ourselves up for things done or left undone; to repent meant total transformation – transformation means turning back toward God. Getting off the “Jen” way and walking with Yahweh.
~~~John doesn’t ask the people to change the world, but rather to change themselves. He doesn’t tell them to leave their lives and stay with him or start a revolution; he tells the crowds who came to him to consider sharing what they have with the cold and hungry. He told the tax collectors to be honest and fair. The soldiers, he cautioned to act with integrity, avoiding abuse of their power. “Go home,” John told them. Go home to your families, your neighbors, your vocation, your friends. Go home and live your lives as deeply and as generously as you can right now. Do what the Lord requires of you and do it now. Be generous now – Be merciful now – Do justice now. ~~~What does this all mean for us? In this Advent season, we also seek the answer to “what should we do?” As we wait and as we look forward to the coming of the Messiah, are we engaging in the kind of deep self-reflection that leads to action? Are we gathering like the crowds in John’s story, moving toward genuine repentance? In our baptism, we are marked as Christ’s own forever. Through baptism, we are cleansed and renewed with God’s holy water before being sent out to serve.
~~~In Advent, the very act of watching and waiting and looking for the coming of God inspires great joy. The Gospel writer calls John’s preaching “good news.” And it is, especially if we believe that we are not worthy of God’s saving grace. We can never be good enough to deserve Jesus’ death on the cross for us. BUT, nothing in our lives is beyond redemption. This is reason enough for rejoicing. No matter how sinful we may be, God still wants us and loves us-how truly awesome is that?
~~~But it is not easy. That’s why it takes intentional preparation and repentance – which means amending our lives and turning toward God. That is what we must do to prepare this Advent. We are encouraged with a promise~~the promise of the coming Christ and the gift of abundant life now and forever that he brings.
~~~John the Baptist is remembered by the Church as the patron saint of spiritual joy. Perhaps he earned that title since, earlier in Luke’s gospel, Elizabeth voiced how the baby in her womb leaped for joy at the presence of Mary and Jesus. It was John’s great joy to always be pointing to Jesus. Today, it is our great joy to be waiting for the coming of Jesus and to point to Jesus’ presence in our lives, too.
~~~On this Gaudete Sunday, as we wait and prepare, we are also called to rejoice. The coming of the Messiah and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are the Good News the angel will speak of when appearing to the shepherds, “I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” This brings us hope even amid our struggles so that when the Christ child arrives at the manger, we can rejoice and sing with gusto, “Joy to the world! The Lord is come.” For now, we pray, “Stir up your power, O Lord, and come.” Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
In this season of watching and waiting, let us pray for all people and places that yearn for God’s presence. A brief silence.
Holy God, renew your church and raise up leaders who announce your good news. Grant peace to congregations and seminarians in the midst of transition. Guide the work of candidacy and call committees. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Creating God, your Spirit brought forth the earth and all that is in it. Breathe life into us, that we are inspired to live in harmony with one another and the planet. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Shepherding God, you lead your people in paths of righteousness. Raise up prophets in our own day who warn against captivity to greed and point us to the freedom found in generosity. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Nurturing God, you come near in times of worry and need. Cradle us in your arms, that we trust you and are not afraid. Attend to any who are hungry, imprisoned, or ill this day (especially). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We give you thanks for your servants who showed us your goodness and grace (especially). By the power of your Spirit, keep us steadfast in faith until we make our home with you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of new life, you come among us in the places we least expect. Receive these prayers and those of our hearts, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Our Father…..
The God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Spirit through Christ for whom we wait. Amen.
Let us go out into the world in peace. Christ is near as together we are led by the Spirit to serve God and share Christ’s love with all. Thanks be to God!
HOPE HAPPENINGS
We welcome all who worship with us today. Please complete one of the visitor cards at our guest table. If you would like to make Hope your church home, please speak to Pastor Jen. Everyone is welcome at Hope Lutheran Church.
Next Week’s Readings: Micah 5:2-5a; Luke 1;46b-55; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)
The October through December Word in Season Devotionals are available on the narthex table.
LAY SERVANTS
Altar Guild: Candy Ogden
Usher: Roger McGill
Counters: Barbara Johnson
PRAYER LIST
Please call the church office or email Pr. Jen with any prayer requests you may have so they may be shared with the congregation.
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Mary Jones for healing
Pr. Tom Barbret for healing
Diane & Al for healing and strength
Fred and Cindi Carley for healing
Sandy Garant for healing
Kim for healing
John Hodler for healing
Jan for healing
Vanessa for healing
Maxine Linn (Mark Packer’s Mother)
Richard Massey and Rick for healing
Doreen Parkinson for healing
Herb Sixbury for healing
Dawn Seibert for healing
Carol for healing, hope, and God’s will.
Laura Everill, daughter of Phyllis and Tom Agness, for healing.
John Greene, Millie’s husband, for strength and healing & healing for all their family
Cheryl Burke who is in need of healing
Larry and Barbara Brady, as they focus on healing.
NEW AT HOPE
KINDNESS KORNER: Tell someone else about the Kindness Initiative and how we try to raise the kindness quotient in our community. Ask them to join us in bringing kindness to the world. Spread the word about kindness!
BAZAAR TOTAL: $1,255.85 Profit!!!!!! Thank you to all you donated, helped and purchased!!!
BIBLE STUDY: On Monday’s, we have a study from 10 to 11am. Join us for an overview of the Bible. Study with us God’s love story for his people! All are welcome!
Sunday, December 19th at 3pm: 11-time Grammy Award winning Tommy Fairchild will lead us in a Christmas Carol Sing Along. Wine and Cheese reception to follow. Bring friends, all are welcome!
Poinsettias for Christmas: $15/plant. Sign up on desk outside of Narthex by December 19th
ADVENT—URE 2021 at Hope Lutheran Church
On Wednesdays in Advent, we will meet at 4:30pm in the Sanctuary for worship focused on the theme “Pop-Up Nativity”. We will join in prayer, song worship, and laughter as we discover a new way to celebrate. Don’t miss out on the fun and the time to reflect on Emmanuel, God with us, and our joyous anticipation of his Birth at Christmas!
Wed. Dec. 15 at 4:30pm-focus on angels and shepherds, followed by a collection of Christmas goodies for our food pantry. Needs: boxed milk, cereal, canned fruit, canned pasta, canned meat or Christmas treats.
Wed Dec. 22 at 4:30pm-focus on the Three Kings, followed by the decorating of our Sanctuary for Christmas and a sharing of treats.
Please plan to join us in this holy season of Advent so that together we are prepared to celebrate the Birth of Christ at Christmas! As always, please bring a friend!
CHRISTMAS WORSHIP SCHEDULE AT HOPE
Friday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24:
4pm Candlelight Worship in the Sanctuary
5:30pm Worship in the parking Lot
7pm Candlelight Worship in the Sanctuary
Sat. Christmas day, Dec. 25 10am spoken worship in Sanctuary
Our regular weekend liturgies of Sat. 5:30pm and Sunday 8:30 and 10am will take place for Christmas Dec. 25-26. Celebrate with us and as always please bring a friend!
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