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Joy Unspeakable
Luke 1:26-38, 46-55

Picture
     A young woman from Nazareth named Mary one day found herself addressed by a powerful, radiant angel named Gabriel. She was told she would conceive and give birth to God’s son, whom she would name Jesus. While joy unspeakable may have filled her, Mary did not understand how this might happen - it would take a miracle. Gabriel was ready with an example of God’s power at work in another impossible situation! Gabriel explained that Mary’s barren, elderly relative Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant and she would give birth to a son. As Mary took this news in, these are the last words she heard the angel deliver:  “Nothing is impossible with God."  I wonder how many times those words come to mind over her lifetime?  It was such a powerful promise, one that took faith, courage, and perhaps her entire lifetime to fully absorb. 
     This morning, I wonder if you and I believe the angel’s message?  Can we honestly say we believe in our heart that “nothing is impossible for God”? I want to invite you to put God’s promise to Mary to the test in your own life.  I want you to think right now about a deep concern you have: it may be a constant prayer you share with God, or some worry about a loved one. Please choose something personal, not a dilemma happening on another continent or posted in the national news.   
     Sum up the challenge in your mind using just a few words, briefly describe your burden. In a moment I’ll invite you to bring this to God. Would you bow your  head now and silently repeat this prayer after me: “O God - I ask you to be at work in what feels like a very hard - if  not impossible - situation.  Help me trust you, and also be ready to do whatever you ask of me. Amen.”  The Bible tells us that we have a good Father, who urges us to ask for what we sincerely need in our lives. Any time your “impossible” need or worry comes to mind, pray again; ask God to be at work in it and to lead you to do whatever is in your power to do.
     Sometimes what changes isn’t another person or their particular situation; it may be our own attitude or outlook that slowly changes. What once felt crushing may no longer feel so hard. What struck fear in us in times past may lose its impact.  Has that ever happened in your life?  
     The overarching message of Christmas is that “Emmanuel has come” - God is now with us. The boy child who entered our world through a virgin’s womb was a descendent of King David as prophesied long before.  I urge you to take the time to search through all of the Scriptures’ numerous prophesies. I predict that you’ll feel your heart beat fast with excitement as you see with your own eyes that each one was perfectly fulfilled through Jesus Christ.  He is the promised Messiah, sent by God to be the Savior of the world.  Jesus is my Lord and Savior - is He yours as well?   
     Right now, wherever you may be, God is watching over your life and mine with love. God, who knows when a sparrow falls from their nest, also knows our circumstances. I hope this amazing truth will strengthen and comfort you; so many of us need a reminder that we are not alone, that not all of our tomorrows will feel as bleak as they have felt this past year.
      This week, ponder in your heart Mary’s encounter with the angel Gabriel. It was written down and preserved through long centuries so you and I could read it and believe that “Nothing is impossible with God.”  My brothers and sisters in Christ, fear not and fret not, for God is with us and for us, just as God was for Mary.
     I want us to move forward in the timeline of Mary’s life now, to the day she sang a song that glorified God. In it she declared how God would one day make every wrong right again.  She proclaimed the faithfulness of God from one generation to the next. While we cannot know the tune of Mary’s song - that’s been lost in the sands of time - her richly descriptive verses inspire contagious joy.  
      I’ve been wondering how much joy you’ve felt during the Advent season this year.  I’m finding that traditional carols and contemporary Christmas music is making all the difference; it’s what is lifting my spirit, opening afresh wonder in my soul.   The message of Christmas is coming alive for me through so many carols and songs, by many artists and groups.  Are you, by any chance, also savoring the music of this holy season?  
      Lately I’ve been thinking about long it may have taken young Mary to write the words and compose the melody for her “Magnificat” song.  We have every reason to believe it was an original piece, a carefully crafted expression of her faith and joy.  Most of us may not have that gift, but we are grateful for those who do.   Singing is one of our most cherished ways of expressing our faith in God, but also our love of the church, our hope of heaven, our awe of God’s creation, the power of the cross, and so much more.  
     With almost two weeks still left before Christmas, I hope you’ll join with me in listening to familiar Christmas carols with a wide open, attentive heart. You may do that from the comfort of your own home, on your work commute, or perhaps on long rides that get you out of your house for a change of scenery. I bet many of us hum or sing along to songs we know- if we don’t have passengers with us! 
      Something you might choose to do this month is challenge yourself to memorize the verses to some of your favorite carols and songs. It really is quite fun to sing along, so consider making it your goal to build up your repertoire.  That reminds me of how long it’s been since we’ve had the chance to join our voices with others in church. Isn’t that something you miss?  I think it will be a precious experience when that privilege is one day restored to us. I doubt any of us will ever take for granted the beautiful opportunity we have to raise our voices as one in songs of praise in our beautiful church.
     Something else that’s sparked my interest of late is searching out new Christian  music, either by artists and groups I don’t know, or from recent releases of those I already know and enjoy.  That’s an area of growing interest for me; music has been something my husband and kids have had a much keener interest in than me.  I’m curious about what all of you favor when it comes to music genres.  I’m guessing that we have a pretty wide variety of tastes among us, and that diversity is good and can be enriching. 
      I recently asked my husband to create some CD’s of Christmas music to give away as gifts this year.  I believe the man has over 30 versions of Silent Night alone, so he has plenty of options to choose from. I think that giving or sharing the gift of Christian music with friends and family is a wonderful idea.  You can get a music CD for a pre-teen or college grad and help them discover all the options out there for contemporary music.  Seniors may like getting music as a gift; so can a friend going through a rough patch.  Music is listened to by many people who run, walk, and exercise.  And for anyone who has not yet begun their Christmas shopping (you know who you are), consider who on your list might appreciate the gift of music.
      Finally, if you are really excited about some new Christian music release, or just certain favorite songs, please share those titles and artists with our Music Director Cathy King, or with me.  We may use what you send our way during worship or post it on our Facebook page so it’s shared with our church family. Your joy could increase others’ joy!  I hope many of you will take a few minutes and make some recommendations, I bet your selections will be span the decades and come from a wide range of music styles!  
     
       I encourage you to join us for worship next week as we celebrate the fourth and final Sunday of Advent.  We now have a time of Fellowship through Zoom at 11 a.m. every Sunday morning.  
    Then four days later, on December 24th ,our special Christ Eve service will be posted online.  We hope you can join us for that beautiful celebration as well…  

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