The Joy of Christ
Isaiah 35:1-10
The desert and the dry land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom like the crocus.
2 They will burst into bloom,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
They will receive the glory of Lebanon,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the Lord’s glory,
the splendor of our God.
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and support the unsteady knees.
4 Say to those who are panicking:
“Be strong! Don’t fear!
Here’s your God,
coming with vengeance;
with divine retribution
God will come to save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf will be cleared.
6 Then the lame will leap like the deer,
and the tongue of the speechless will sing.
Waters will spring up in the desert,
and streams in the wilderness.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground, fountains of water.
The jackals’ habitat, a pasture;[a]
grass will become reeds and rushes.
8 A highway will be there.
It will be called The Holy Way.
The unclean won’t travel on it,
but it will be for those walking on that way.[b]
Even fools won’t get lost on it;
9 no lion will be there,
and no predator will go up on it.
None of these will be there;
only the redeemed will walk on it.
10 The Lord’s ransomed ones will return and enter Zion with singing,
with everlasting joy upon their heads.
Happiness and joy will overwhelm them;
grief and groaning will flee away.
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
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This Sunday it's all about Joy!
And, for those of you who feel joyful about numbers and budgets... We will also be voting on the budget for 2026, right after worship!
Thank you to Gail Hester for your efforts and hard work on the budget again this year.
Copies of the proposed budget will be available. :)
Back to Joy, and the 3rd Sunday of Advent! We light the pink candle, which is different than the other candles we light. Philippians 4:4-5, extols readers to “rejoice” for “indeed the Lord is near.This week celebrates the joy of Jesus' first coming and second coming to earth. The Joy candle is also known as "the Shepherd Candle to highlight the joy the shepherds experienced when they received the good news about Christ’s birth (Luke 2:8-20). During the middle of the night, the darkest time, the shepherds encountered angels." (Crosswalk.com) During the dark times, there will still be light!
As we focus on Joy this Sunday, acknowledging the difficulty it can be to feel joy. "During a time where depression is at an all-time high and people seem to be in the most despair, this candle offers a bright light during a dark time." (Crosswalk.com) Having hope also gives us joy, and reminds us that even in the darkest of times, we can have Joy, and Hope for the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that He will return, which gives us Joy in the here and now, not just delayed Joy that we can look forward to.
A tension that is hard to hold for us is Joy and Despair, Joy and Depression, Joy and Difficulty.
Sometimes it can be very hard to explain how we can have this, do this, and practice! Joy is something we experience within, and we can also experience collectively. The sermon passage will be from Isaiah 35, and as I read this text, I experience a response from all of creation in joy, as God acts, and will act.
As we engage with Isaiah through Advent, I hope you notice the longings, the expectation, and the beautiful imagery of what we are longing God to do, how we can wait with hope, practice and live into peace, and experience joy right now, anticipating even more joy, when Jesus does come again.
On another note! There have been a lot of opporunties we have shared with you this fall and Advent, in ways to serve and give. Please know that these opportunities are not things you have to do- just because we are advertising them. I realize I have not done a better job of framing these ways to serve, as God will place on your heart. We all have different passions and areas we are desiring to give. Please do not feel obligated to do them all. Whatever ways you want to give or serve, please do, and if you are not able to, nor have capacity for, that is ok too! Let me know if you have any questions.
Have a wonderful weekend. Keep warm, and see you Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Kari
Sermon texts for this Sunday will be Psalm 146:5-10; Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-