VOICE - Last Sunday the candle of peace was lit. We light it and the candle of hope again as we remember that Christ will come again and bring to the world everlasting peace.

(a person lights the candles of hope, and peace.)

VOICE - The third candle of Advent is the Candle of Joy. It reminds of the joy that Mary felt when the angel Gabriel told he that a special child would be born to her - a child who would save and deliver his people.

VOICE - God wants us all to have joy. The angel who announced to the shepherds that Jesus had been born told them: "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news of a great joy for all people - for to you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord."

VOICE - We light this candle to remember that Christ brings the promise of a new life - a life in which the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the prisoners are set free. We light it to remember that He is the bringer of true and everlasting joy.

Light the Third Candle

ALL SING - Verse Three and Chorus of the "ADVENT SONG"

VOICE - LET US PRAY - Loving God, we thank you for the joy you bring us. Help us prepare our hearts for this gift. Bless our worship. Help us to hear and to do your word. We ask it in the name of the one born in Bethlehem. Amen.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
St. Luke 1:47-55

Christmas is one of those mystical holidays while it can create pain for some, it brings joy to many. I love Christmas time! I love to give to others and I love to RECEIVE from others! I love to drive around at night and look at the beautiful Christmas lights. Each year I notice fewer and fewer lights largely due to the gift the electric companies send to us the following month!

Have you ever noticed the Christmas lights though? Have you noticed how homes that were once unnoticeable structures lost somehow in the dark suddenly take on personality and recognition?

I certainly enjoy reading Mary’s Song of praise in Luke’s Gospel. When I read about Mary in the birth narratives I can’t help but think of the gross prejudice within our world for women in ministry. Mary was a woman far more directly involved in ministry than any of us have ever been. Mary had to be a very special person to God for it was she whom God in all of His infinite wisdom chose as the Mother of Jesus - God’s only Son.

As I read the Scripture this morning did you hear her gloriously praising God? The phrase "The LORD magnifies my soul" is certainly a powerful offering of praise to God. I often think that Mary must have had a "glow" about her - a "radiance."

I often encounter mothers-to-be in my travels. Many times there is a special "glow" about their face that without any words being expressed you just knew this young lady was a mother-to-be. Mary probably had that kind of distinguishable radiance but far more intense for after all she was carrying the Son of God!

When I think about that "glow," I think about how as Disciples of Jesus - you and I ought to have a certain "glow" about us that says to the world - "Jesus lives inside of me."

Do we remember the words of Jesus?

"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house."

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

Or how about:

"The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"

Or:

"What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops."

That’s exactly what Mary was doing wasn’t it?! She was actively and directly involved in the proclamation of the Gospel - the Good News - that the Messiah whom God had promised was coming very soon!

We too ought to have the same degree of passion that Mary did. We should be shouting it from the rooftops that Jesus IS alive!

God sent His Son into a World filled with darkness to be the Light of the World providing The Way to reconciliation with God. Christmas lights on a dark house makes that otherwise dark house stand out and be seen!

God wants to be seen! `That is a part of His nature as outpouring love. Love always wants to be known.

Julian of Norwich tells of how once her "understanding was let down to the bottom of the sea," where she saw green hills and valleys. This is the meaning she derived from that experience:

"If a man or woman were there under the wide waters, if he could see God, as God is continually with man, he would be safe in soul and body, and come to no harm. And furthermore, he would have more consolation and strength than all this world can tell.

For it is God’s will that we believe that we see Him continually, though it seems to us that the sight be only partial; and through this belief He makes us always to gain more grace, for God wishes to be seen, and He wishes to be sought, and He wishes to be expected, and He wishes to be trusted."

I saw a commercial the other day about a movie that actually looked like it would be a good one. I didn’t get to see the movie which is not uncommon in our house because we are so busy doing other things, but the commercial really stayed with me.

Julie Andrews was looking all gooy-eyed at Jim Gardner as she said:

"I only believe in things I see." There are two ways and perhaps more of looking at that statement.

My first thoughts were "how sad for her." How sad it is when we cannot believe in things that are unseen and how limited our lives and relationships with other people must be.

Secondly I think we need to ask the question of ourselves "Can the world see the presence of Light in my life?" Men and women lead lives at the worst so painful, at the best so monotonous, poor and limited that the urge to escape, the longing to transcend themselves if only for a few moments, is and has always been one of the principal appetites of the soul. They are relentlessly driven to seek Doors in the Walls that entombs them in life.

Last year about this time we chartered a huge bus and took a trip to Tanglewood to view the spectacular display of Christmas lights. I KNOW that place is a blessing to the power company! I have often said that nothing compares to Tanglewood at Christmas. It has been without a doubt the best display of Christmas lights there is. But are they really?

The best Christmas lights, even if they form the shape of a manger or an angel, are not made of vacuum tubes and electrical filaments, or even of strong wicks and pure beeswax.

The best Christmas lights are those followers of Christ who are unashamed to live out their calling as the light of the world, all over the world.

Some Christians brighten up their community and world by carrying the torch into far corners that are dark and yet in need of the gospel light.

For us today , the Christmas season is a time to reflect on the dim prospects of those who don't know Christ, and to take the Light from this place and share the Good News of Christmas

You and I have a reason to exclaim with Mary "THE LORD MAGNIFIES MY SOUL!!!" Today is the third Sunday of Advent. Today we celebrate the JOY of Advent. Jesus gives us JOY REAL - JOY. HE is the source of our happiness and we ought proclaim it as Mary did! We should go to the highest hill and in the deepest valleys and share the JOY of knowing Jesus with others.

"In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace and goodwill toward men!"

Amen.

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