St Andrew’s Church Salmon Arm 

December 15, 2024 

Advent 3, JOY 

Advent Wreath Candle Lighting
One: In a weary and worn world, how do we begin again? Where do we start?
All: Let us start small. Let us begin with what is right in front of us.  Let us do the good that is ours to do, and let us do it with joy!
One: Yes, let us begin with joy. Today we light the candles of hope, peace, and joy.
All: May these lights remind us of what could be.  May these lights inspire action. May the warmth of these lights fill us with joy.
One: May it be so! Amen. 

Candle is Lit 

Sing 119 Hope is a star, verse 3

Welcome and Announcements 

 

Prayer of Approach 

Listening God,  we know that you are constantly speaking to us.  Through music, scripture, nature, and relationships, you make yourself known again and again. In gratitude, we long to return the favor. 

So in this moment, we are quieting the noise in our heads.  We are closing our eyes. 

We are leaning in. We are listening. We are listening even when the message is hard to hear. 

We vow we will hear the call.  We will do the good that is ours to do. Speak to us through the chaos. Speak to us as only you can. 

With hope in our hearts, we listen, we pray, and we offer ourselves as  your servants.  amen. 

 

Hymn:  128 There’s a voice in the wilderness crying

Call to Confession 

Friends, there are times when the weight of the world can feel so heavy on us. 

Fortunately, when we come before God in confession, God removes that weight. 

God sees our shame, our guilt, our sin, and offers us grace. 

So join me in the prayer of confession. 

Come and allow yourself to be freed. 

Come and allow yourself to begin again. 

Let us pray together: 

 

Prayer of Confession:
Liberating God, There are days when the world can feel like it’s crumbling.  There are days when I doubt that I can make a difference.   I ask myself, What could these two hands do? 

What could this one voice say?  Shake me free of my own paralysis and self-doubt.  Remind me that I am not called to fix everything.  I am simply called to do the good that is mine to do.  With hope in my heart and a fire in my bones, I pray.  Amen. 

 

Assurance of Pardon 

Friends, no matter how many times we lose momentum, doubt our own ability, or tell ourselves that the problems of the world are simply too big, God sees what we cannot. 

God calls us by name, surrounds us in grace, and invites us to begin again. 

Trusting in this good news, let us rejoice in these words of forgiveness: 

We are loved.  

We are forgiven.  

We are invited to do the good that is ours to do.  

Thanks be to God for this new beginning. Amen. 

Passing the Peace 

 

Hymn:  171 The people that in darkness 

Scripture:

Isaiah 58:  9-12  p 1153
Luke 3: 7-18  p 1593 

Sermon:  Proclaiming Good News 

Today is the third Sunday of Advent.  Today we lit the candle of Joy.   

The tradition of the pink candle for this Sunday came about because on the third Sunday the bishop would visit, and baptize any waiting for baptism.  As a result, the specialness of that day is represented by the pink candle, which apparently is a joyful colour. 

The differences that mark the day of Joy  might be born from human tradition,  but it has taken a special spiritual place in the practice of Advent. 

The church practices Advent as a way of preparing our hearts, realigning our thinking, and redirecting our spiritual practices so that we will recognize Jesus when he comes to us. 

Along the journey, we encounter ways to increase our Hope, our Peace, our Joy and our Love.  All of those gifts from God, work together in us to show us how to live so that others can see that Jesus lives among us. 

So today is the Sunday of Joy and the traditional scriptures often don’t seem to speak of joy, in fact the Gospel generally is an account of John preaching in the wilderness and baptizing all those who repented. 

Do we understand that this could seem ironic.  

On the Sunday of Joy, we come to worship and the message we hear begins with the words, “you brood of vipers!” 

Today we also read the passage from Isaiah, where Isaiah takes the people to account because although they have been brought home from exile, they have failed to learn the lesson of what it means to be God’s people, and how to live in the way that pleases God. 

Living in a way that pleases God, brings us to the crux of our understanding of what Joy is, and how we participate in it. 

 

 

The problem is that we don’t know or understand the difference between Blessing and Happiness.  More importantly we don’t understand the difference  between Joy and Happiness.   

These are not terns that can be used interchangeably.   

When we live as the people of God we are always blessed.  We are blessed in spite of the feelings we have.  We could be grouchy, impatient, irritated or frustrated and angry about any number of things; but we are still blessed.   

To be blessed is to be living in the love and care of God, the forgiveness and salvation of Jesus, and the indwelling power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.  All of those things are ours all of the time, regardless of our mood. 

In fact, it is in a situation where the people wept for grief that Nehemiah spoke saying, “the joy of the Lord is your strength”.  Neh. 8: 10  NIV 

 

The occasion in which he spoke these words were to the exiles who had returned, whom had gathered at the Water Gate, following the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. 

Once the people were gathered, the priest Ezra read to them from the Scriptures from daybreak until noon.  I would guess that would be about 7 or 8 hours, depending on the time of sunrise.   

Listening to God’s Word for that many hours on end, had to have been a deeply intense spiritual experience.  It would draw forth deep feelings, not all of them good.  Guilt, remorse, sadness, grief seemed to be the predominant feelings of the people that day. 

We read in Nehemiah,  8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. 

9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Neh. 8: 8-9 NIV 

How many of them had not heard the holy words in years?  How many of them born in exile had never heard the words?   

It was into this outpouring of grief that Nehemiah spoke, saying, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Neh. 8: 10 NIV 

So the question we need to ask is simple.  “What brings joy to God?” 

Worship?   Yes, but something more as well. 

Repentance?   Yes, but something more as well. 

Feasting?  Yes, but something more as well. 

All of those things are good, and are a part of the living we need to give to God.  Worship that is full of praise and thanksgiving is the beginning of something more. 

Repentance that causes us to turn away from sin is the beginning of something more. 

Feasting and singing and praising in the presence of God is the beginning of something more. 

The something more that brings God the deepest joy, is when we share with others. 

Listen again  to what Nehemiah says.  “Send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 

 

We fill that holy space in our relationship with God when we give to others.  The people to whom Nehemiah spoke go the message.  12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.  Neh. 8: 12 NIV 

Joy is something far greater than happiness.  Joy is participating in life so that the  way we live  pleases God.   

 

 

That seems to be the lesson that we humans need to learn over and over again.  It is too easy to forget God and his benefits.  It is too easy to become self-absorbed and only look at our own needs.  It is too easy to turn a blind eye to the plight of others. 

The Scriptures that we read today point that out. 

So lets go back and look at the passage from Isaiah more closely.  

We already have learned that  Isaiah takes the people to account because although they have been brought home from exile, they have failed to learn the lesson of what it means to be God’s people, and how to live in the way that pleases God.   

We began at verse 9 which says, Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;      you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.  Is 58: 9 NIV 

 

But what does the word THEN refer to? 

Those kinds of words are always clues that we need to look for what God has already spoken to indicate his desires.  

 

 

It is clear that God does not approve of the worship of the people.  It has become self-serving and indulgent. 

Listen to what Isaiah says:   

on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
    and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord? 

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness  will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Is 58: 3-8 

 

We cannot read or hear God’s word without being confronted with what God is asking of us.   

 

God will give us everything, grace, mercy, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, even the life of his own Son and all that he asks of us in return is 

to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
 

How many times do we encounter that commandment in Scripture? 

Micah goes so far as to link that commandment with Justice. 
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.  Micah 6:8  NIV 

What does the Lord require?  Justice.  Mercy.  Humbleness. 

Isaiah is reminding the people that they have received God’s promise of renewal but that they are failing to live in God’s justice. 

He reminds the people that they must live justly, because it is only as they seek justice and give love and mercy in how they live, that they will see the fulfillment of the promise of God. 

Living justly is embedded in the concept of NEPHESH which calls the people to give with the whole of their being. 

When we live with Justice and Mercy and share the gifts that God has given us then we will become the light that shines in the darkness, and will have a future in the land that God has given us.   

Some of the commentators pointed out that although Isaiah is addressing a congregation of the people, he also includes each individual in the congregation to be accountable for their own behaviour.   

Clearly the ways of the individual and the ways of the congregation are linked. That is important for all of us to remember.  We as individuals are accountable to God, but as a congregation we are also accountable to God.   

There were also those who spoke of looking at Isaiah with post-Easter eyes.  We see the life of Jesus, as the example of that person who lives in NEPHESH, who gives fully of himself in the pursuit of God’s justice.   

The Advent implications of our call to live giving ourselves wholly, and using Jesus as our inspiration is clear.   , We are called to  increase God’s justice in the world, and thereby to  increase God’s joy in the world.  When God’s joy is our strength, then living in NEPHESH is also to increase our joy. 

Some of the commentators also spoke of the disconnect between our theology and our behaviour.  Certainly we have all been guilty of that.  We forget to rely on God’s strength to be a part of our joyous living, and then we fail to please God with our exclusion of the poor, the lonely, the outcast or the least of these. 

It is into that situation that John the Baptist singles out the people who were coming for baptism and calling them a brood of vipers.    He was pointing out that baptism alone, with out a desire to change in the way we live,  was not enough. 

 

What is also needed is to produce fruit worthy of repentance.  Fruit worthy of repentance is what gives God joy.  For all who come to serve God, the way to produce that fruit is the same.   “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” 

But for others there are also specific instructions on how to be just and ethical in our living…. 

Tax collectors are reminded not to collect more than what is needed.  Don’t hurt people by taking more money away from them.  

Soldiers, are reminded to be content with their  pay and not  falsely accuse, arrest or punish people. 

That is what NEPHESH means for all of us.  Not only to give to the poor and help the least of these, but also to put all of ourselves in service to God’s justice in every part of our living.   

Or as Jesus would put it.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.   

The challenge of living in the Joy of God is to put our whole being into everything we do, every relationship we have; and to do so in a way that makes the world a better place.   

It sounds huge and overwhelming, but we don’t have to solve all of the world’s problems.  We just need to give our whole self in the places where God is calling us to go and to serve.   

You do your bit.  I do my bit.  You in your small corner and I in mine. 

And then…. Our Joy will be complete and we will live in the strength of God.   

Praise be to God.  Amen.   

 

 

Hymn:   126 On Jordan’s Bank

Offering and Doxology 830

Offertory Prayer
 

God as we navigate this journey of being justice in the world, we are reminded that John the Baptist’s followers once asked him, “What shall we do?”  we also ask, what shall we do?  Considering the state of the world, what is our answer? 

In the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we say:  We will not be discouraged by the weight of the world.  We will hold fast to hope.  Roll up our sleeves.  Feed the hungry.  Tend the garden.   

Today we give to you, not only our extra coat, but freely from the wealth you have given us, freely from the love with which you have filled our hearts, and freely from the hope we have in your grace. 

In our giving and in our living, we will do the good you have called us to do.  We will show you to the world, and we trust that you will show yourself through  us.  When you bless our giving, small acts of love can make a difference.  Amen. 

 

 

Gathering Prayer Requests
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession 

Loving Creator, There are days when the world feels like it’s on fire. There are days when we are inundated with bad news, days when we are up to our eyes in grief, days when we have reached the end of our rope. 

On those days, loving God, we reach for you. 

On those days, we return to this sanctuary. 

On those days, we light candles: candles of hope, peace and joy.. 

On those days, we sing of the promises of your love. 

Then in hopeful trust we bring you our prayers for ourselves, for others and for your world.   

God, hear our prayers: 

JOY  

 

 

 

 

CONCERNS 

Maria, Wendy 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD 

California wildfires 

The homeless and their need for justice 

 

 

For wars that cannot find an end, like the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia, and the conflicts between Israel and its neighbours.   

We bring the conflicts between nations in Africa and South America, for the places where the governments attack their own people.  We pray for all places and people who are oppressed.   

Holy God, draw near, speak peace into the anger, bring hope into the suffering.  . 

draw near O God and  remind us that when we inhabit the desire of our prayers that we too can make a difference. 

When the weight of the world overwhelms us, remind us that faith looks like giving your second coat away. 

Infuse us with hope. Swat away our insecurities.  Drown out our doubts. 

Remind  us that change always come even from our smallest acts of love.   

So with hope in our hearts, we roll up our sleeves. 

With hope in our hearts, we strive to do the good that is ours to do. 

With hope in our hearts, we unite our voices in prayer, saying the words your son taught us to pray. . . 

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever.  Amen 

 

Hymn:  141 Good Christians all rejoice

Benediction 

 Hear the calling of God:   Do not be discouraged by the weight of the world. Instead, hold fast to hope. 

Look for God wherever you go, be encouraged and rejoice because you see his love being shared through the world. 

Join with God in the restoration of justice.   Proclaim the good news.  Give yourselves in acts of mercy.  Point the way to Christ, who gathers the world together in hope, peace, joy and love. 

And may grace, blessings and mercy from God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you forevermore.   

Blessing Song:  114 Emmanuel

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, his name is called Emmanuel.  God with us, revealed in us, his name is called Emmanuel. 
C:  CA Music 

3 Fold Amen