Author: lakewooducc

Advent 2011 Final Daily Reflection

For what is our hope, or joy, or the crown in which we glory in our Savior Jesus at the Coming?  
It’s you: you are our glory and joy.
I Thessalonians 2:19

On Christmas Eve in church, we sang “Joy to the World” with gleeful delight. Christmas day we also celebrated the birth of Christ with joyful singing. After the service, I attended a brunch hosted by a parishioner. Then it was home to open presents and prepare Christmas dinner. We had our whole family and five guests as well. Then, there was clean up and bed about midnight.

With such a full day, I did not have time to write this final daily reflection of the 2011 Advent season. I couldn’t do it because I was occupied with being/experiencing/living the joy of the holy day. This brings us to the scripture verse quoted above. The writer tells the readers that they are joy. Joy is embodied. It is incarnated. You are joy. I am joy. This implies that joy is not something to be accomplished or achieved or performed or acquired. We are joy. And it is in our nature to live that joy.

Mahatma Gandhi is known for saying, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Given the scripture above, we could say, “Be the joy you wish to see in the world.” Consider taking a moment to think about how you have been joy this holy day season.

Prayer
We are grateful for the blessing of joy. May we always remember that we are joy. It is part of our nature, our composition. Let us seek to live joy for ourselves, others, and the world. Amen.

This is the last in this series of daily on line reflections for the Advent season. This was a first time initiative for Lakewood UCC. Comments and suggestions would be appreciated as this ministry is evaluated and future offerings are considered. Thank you!

Christmas Blessings to ALL!

Merry Christmas to all from the congregation and staff of Lakewood United Church of Christ! There was a beautiful celebration of the birth of Jesus last night at church with over 80 people in attendance. What a wonderful community of all ages and backgrounds, old friends and newcomers. Those gathered witnessed the debut of the Lakewood UCC orchestra under the more than capable direction of Music Director Hilton Jones! It takes genius to pull together an ensemble including guitar, balalaika, keyboard, saxophone, flute, violin and tuba! The service ended as the congregation headed outside to form a circle around the cross singing “Silent Night” led by one of our youth on the violin. We took God’s love, joy, and peace out into the world so that all may know the gifts of God at Christmas and all year ’round! You are welcome to another celebration of Christmas this morning at 10:30 a.m. Childcare is provided.

Advent 2011 Daily Reflection 28

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23a

We think of this as a season of giving. We embrace the opportunity to give to others. We enjoy the gifts we receive. It is a time we are generous to the organizations and concerns that we feel are making a difference in the world. Giving gives us joy.

In the verse above, the writer of Galatians tells us that the fruit of the Spirit of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Fruit is that which is produced by the plant or tree. It is the produce of the plant. But fruit is intended to be eaten. To be enjoyed. To be consumed. Fruit left on the tree rots and fall to the ground becoming debris. It is wasted.

Joy, as a fruit, is to be enjoyed, shared, given away, relished, consumed. It is not just to be kept to oneself and hoarded. Joy is meant to be spread and savored.

In her poem, “Welcome Morning,” Ann Sexton reminds us,

The Joy that isn’t shared, I’ve heard,
dies young.

So tomorrow is Christmas Day. A day to experience joy. Are you waiting for someone to give joy to you? Are you waiting for joy to happen to you? Try giving some joy away, and then you will be assured of experiencing joy, savoring it, relishing it, taking delight in it. Don’t waste the fruit of your faith. Give some joy away and you will be giving God’s Joy to the World!

Prayer
There are times when we are waiting for joy to come to us from someone or somewhere else. Joy is a fruit of our faith; let us bear it and share it. Then we will be sure that the world knows the joy God intends for the world and for all people when we take responsibility for helping it happen. Whatever our circumstances this Christmas, may we find and share the joy! Amen.

The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.