BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT / GAUDETE SUNDAY / JOY
DECEMBER 12, 2021
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Gathering Music / Carol Sing:
He is Born VU 50 (Words: trad. 19th-century French carol, trans. George Evans, 1963; Music: 18th-century French carol)
Refrain:
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
1 Through long ages of the past,
prophets have foretold His coming;
through long ages of the past,
now the time has come at last!
Chorus:
Il est ne, le divin Enfant,
Jouez, hautbois, resonnez, musettes;
Il est ne, le divin Enfant;
Chantons tous son avenement!
2 Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Que ses graces sont parfaites!
Ah! qu'il est beau, qu'il est charmant,
Qu'il est doux le divin Enfant!
Refrain:
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
play the oboe and bagpipes merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ Child;
sing we all of the Savior mild.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing VU 48 (vs. 1-2)
(Words: Charles Wesley, 1739; Felix Mendelssohn, 1840)
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"
2 Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate deity.
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel! R
Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal
Good day everyone! Welcome to this third Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Joy, as we prepare ourselves to welcome the birth of Jesus. This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday-a day of rejoicing, a respite from the penitential blues in Advent. Today, we embrace the meaning of joy symbolized by the pink colour. Whether you’re at home or elsewhere or joining us onsite, we are glad that you have joined us today.
We continue worshipping in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings at 10 am. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.
During this time of pandemic, the work of the church carries on. Please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org.
Friends, in the busyness of this Advent season, it is easy to get sidetracked with the business of preparing our homes and finding the perfect recipe for Christmas dinner. Let us take a moment to reflect and remember what Advent is meant to be: to make our hearts ready for the birth of Jesus, giver of joy. Let us now gather in worship.
Lighting of the Advent Candle: Joy Acolytes: The Berard Family
(Eric Hebert-Daly, Gathering ACE 2021-2022. Used with permission.)
Reader 1:
Today we light the candle of Joy.
Joy can be elusive.
In shadowed times, it is difficult for us to find joy.
Reader 2:
The night may feel like it is closing in on us on these shortest days of the year.
Yes, we believe that joy is possible.
We believe that light will return.
Reader 3:
Embracing joy in times of trouble is a choice.
May we find the strength to choose joy.
Reader 4:
May we let God lead us through the tears
to the places and people of joy.
May joy be found in a manger and throughout the world.
(The Advent candle of joy is lit.)
Sung Response: Hope is A Star (Verse 3) VU 7
(Words: Brian Wren, 1985; Music: Joan Collier Fogg, 1987)
Joy is a song that welcomes the dawn,
telling the world that the Saviour is born.
When God is a child there’s joy in our song.
The last shall be first and the weak shall be strong,
and none shall be afraid.
Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes
(Barbara Johns, Gathering ACE, 2021-2022, Used with permission.)
We come before God this day,
waiting, waiting.
With trepidation and longing.
With joy, anticipating the glorious news.
With expectant delight at the miraculous babe to be born.
With wonder at the promise of salvation.
With hearts open to God’s message of love.
We come before God this day
to worship as we wait!
Opening Prayer and Silent Confession
(Larry Doyle, Bob Root & Darrow Woods, Gathering, ACE 2013-2014, Used with permission.)
Let us pray…
God of light and love, today we rejoice and celebrate in your reign
And seek to participate in it through our acts of faithful living.
We celebrate justice and righteousness, and with joy,
we accept your Christmas presence as we strive to give you our presence.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray that you might bless us
with an audacious, daring and joyful faith.
Let’s take a moment of silent confession…
Silent Confession
Words of Assurance
(Catherine Tovell, Gathering, ACE 2017-2018. Used with permission.)
Even within the deepening shadows of this season, the joy of God abounds.
We are a pilgrim people. God will be with us wherever we go.
Let us not be discouraged. Let us rejoice and be open to the Light.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Advent Hymn: All Earth is Waiting VU 5
(Words & Music: Alberto Taule, 1972; English trans. Gertrude Suppe, 1987)
1. All earth is waiting to see the Promised One,
and open furrows await the seed of God.
All the world, bound and struggling, seeks true liberty;
it cries out for justice and searches for the truth.
2. Thus says the prophet to those of Israel:
'A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel,'
one whose name is 'God with us' our Saviour shall be;
through whom hope will blossom once more within our hearts.
3. Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain;
open new highways, new highways for our God,
who is now coming closer, so come all and see,
and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.
4. In lowly stable the Promised One appeared;
yet, feel the presence throughout the earth today,
for Christ lives in all Christians and is with us now;
again, on arriving, Christ brings us liberty.
Storytime for the Young at Heart Rev. Lorrie
Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? We have. Neil and I bought an artificial tree this year for our new little place. I kind of miss having a real tree – but this way I get to enjoy it for a longer time, so that’s good. The other thing that’s happening is that presents are starting to pile up under it already!
Take a look at this one, isn’t it pretty? I wonder what’s inside? Hmmm… I could just open it up now and take a look… No one else is home, so, if I’m really careful removing the tape, I bet I can wrap it up again and nobody will even know that I peeked… I am excited, just thinking about it! It’s from somebody I love, somebody who knows me well, so I know it is going to be really nice, something I will really love… oh, I wonder what it is!... maybe just a little peek…
But, you know what? I’m not going to do it. Just looking at this gift and knowing that it is there waiting for me under the tree, gives me joy. If I open it and see what’s inside today, I am sure it will make me happy, but after that? Well, the joy will be gone, or at least it will be a lot smaller; I will have to pretend to be surprised on Christmas morning, and every time I look at this present between now and Christmas, I think I might feel a little bit guilty. That’s not very joyful. So, I think I am going to leave it just the way it is and enjoy the feeling I have today right up to Christmas.
Today is the third Sunday of Advent. The candle we lit this morning is the candle for Joy. Did you notice that it is a different colour from the others in our wreath? The others are a dark blue or purple, but this one is pink. In this time of Advent, when we are waiting for Christmas, each candle gives us things to think about. We have been hearing stories about John the Baptist. In the first two Sundays, his words have helped us understand the meaning of Hope and Peace. He has had some hard messages for people to hear and some hard things for us to do to make sure that hope and peace are present in the world. Today, this pink candle reminds us that Joy is also important, because Joy gives light to the world, no matter how dark it sometimes seems. So, the candle today is a lighter colour to remind us of how Joy lightens the world and how important it is to spread that feeling around. We need Joy to help us as we wait – and work – to make the world a better place.
Advent is a busy time. As Christians, we take this time to reflect on the gift that Jesus was to the world. As Canadians in our culture, we also use this time to decorate and bake and shop and wrap and send cards and write letters to Santa… sometimes we just wish Christmas could just hurry up and be here! That would be fun, right? and then we wouldn’t have to do all this work to get ready. But, then it would all be over and we would miss all the good things that happen in this time of Advent – the Santa Claus parade, going to get our Christmas tree and decorating it, all the Christmas music, all the movies, all the lights and decorations, all the crafts and baking cookies, all the dreaming of what might be under the tree for us on Christmas morning.
So, I think this candle we lit today is a reminder to us to lighten up, to slow down, and to find the joy in all the busy-ness of waiting for Christmas. So, let’s take the time to notice the joyful parts of all this preparation and waiting. And, let’s not forget to spread joy to others while we’re at it! I think it will make the big celebration on Christmas day even more special. In fact, even the hard work of getting ready will begin to feel like a celebration too!
Let’s finish with another body prayer:
Holy One (reach up and out)
May your joy (put hands toward centre, wiggle fingers)
Sustain me (reach arms to sides, flexing fingers)
May your joy
Bubble up in me (wiggle fingers, bringing over head)
May your joy
Grow in all of creation (circle wiggling hands around head)
Amen (head down, hands at prayer with palms together)
Song: He Comes! - CGS/Bell Canto with Erin Berard
He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord our God.
Let all rejoice with heart and voice and thankful be.
The chosen one, God's only son, blessed is He.
Light for Him a candle, He is drawing near.
Sing for him a carol loud and clear!
He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord our God.
Let all rejoice with heart and voice and thankful be.
He comes, He comes!
He comes in the name of the Lord!
Prayer for Illumination Reader: Denis Watson
Show us the way, O God, to reshape our lives
with your Word of wisdom.
Open our hearts to rejoice in renewed relationships
so we can look forward to the birth of Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: Luke 3: 7-18 (NRSV)
The Ministry of John the Baptist
7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
May the joy of God dwell where the word is spoken. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “Advent’s Expectation: Justice Overload!” Rev. Kim & Keith Bailey
Introduction (Kim)
Prayer: Empower us all O God, by your indwelling Spirit, so that we may listen to your voice and move us to concrete actions. Amen.
I read an article this week entitled, “Who Are the Best Preachers?” In that article, about 150 people were asked what they value in a preacher. The responses were overwhelming. The characteristic most often mentioned was the sincerity, compassion and deep faith of the preacher. Others liked preachers whose sermons were short & sweet. Over half of the respondents commented on the importance of the sermon relating to their everyday life. A surprising number mentioned good preaching as one that is solidly grounded in the Bible and a sound theology. Names of modern preachers like Billy Graham, William Willimon and Barbara Brown Taylor came up. And the last word was a plea from one of the respondents to all preachers. He said: "Please talk to us. Apply what you preach. A pinch of humour would be nice. When I leave the sanctuary, I want to remember what the message was."
The plea of that fellow caught my attention. So, without the knowledge of the Worship/CE Committee, I invited a guest preacher today - one who might share good news or bad news depending how one listens to him. He doesn’t need any further introduction since I have introduced him to you in my sermon last Sunday. But just a word of warning, his words might offend or insult you. So, prepare yourself accordingly. Friends, on this third Sunday of Advent, please welcome our guest preacher, no other than the famous prophet, John the Baptist.
The Message of John the Baptist: (Keith)
So I see that another large crowd of you have come out here into this dry, rugged and barren wilderness to see and hear me, the one you call John, son of Zechariah, the priest. But some of you call me The Baptist! I know that everyone in Jerusalem and all of Judea is talking about me, this strange, smelly prophet ranting and raving out in the desert calling for repentance. Some of you have probably come here, just because you are curious; you want to see what I look like, and if I really dress as strangely as people say. You may even hope that I will reach down and pick up a bug or two and munch them down, because you have heard rumours that for food I eat locusts dipped in honey. Others among you may have heard that I am a fire and brimstone preacher, and with nothing better to do today, you thought you might as well come out here in the hope of hearing an inspiring message, so that you can return home feeling good. Feeling good? Hahaha! You wish!
You might have heard that I often harshly criticize those “brood of vipers” – those good-for-nothing, corrupt religious and political leaders of our time, and you have come in the hopes of being entertained by some of my famous rantings. But there may even be some of you, who are here because you are truly searching for ways in which you can be more faithful in your life, and more committed to serving God. For centuries our ancestors have been waiting for the coming of God's promised Messiah. God's special anointed servant who would come and fix all that is wrong with this crazy, mixed-up world, and make it the kind of place God intended it to be.
Well, I am here to tell you that our time of waiting is almost over, God's Messiah will soon come and God's love and power will be made real among us. But we need to prepare ourselves – to be ready and undergo a total make-over – a re-construction of our lives - or we might miss it. We could be so busy and preoccupied with the day to day tasks of life, that when the Messiah comes, we will not even notice.
We should remember what the great prophets taught, prophets like Isaiah who spoke to our ancestors when they were in exile as slaves in Babylon. Isaiah said that the Spirit of God would rest upon this Anointed One, so that he would rule with justice, equity, and righteousness, bringing good news to the poor, and release to the oppressed, while establishing a reign of peace and security for all of God’s people. Isaiah told the people of his day to prepare the way for this coming Anointed One, to make the road straight and smooth for him to travel. In the same way, our lives are the road on which the Anointed One will travel, and we need to get our lives ready, straightened, paved and levelled for his coming.
Now some of you might ask, “How do we get our lives ready for the arrival of the Anointed One?" Well, have you listened to your heart? Do you feel accountable of your sins and misdeeds? Each of you must look at your lives and consider what is most important to you in order to make sure that you have your priorities straight. Where do you spend most of your time, energy, and resources? What is it that hinders you from having a deeper faith in God? What limits your ability to live the way you know God wants you to live? What is it that holds you back from loving and being loved?
What did you say, brother Joseph? What should you do?” Well, you have a closet full of coats, while others have none. I’m sure you sleep well at night while others are shivering in the cold. Give away some of your coats! You there, brother Andrew – I know that you have pantries full of food and wine but your next-door neighbours don’t even have food and drink on the table. You want to be changed? Then go and share food and drink to your hungry neighbours! Or better yet, invite them to come to dinner!
Oh- who do we have here? Ah – the famous tax collectors who serve the temple and the emperor! What are you doing here? What did you say, Matthew? Are you asking me what you should do? Do you and all the tax collectors realize that people shun away from you because you were reputed to be scheming, dishonest and good-for-nothing cheaters! As long as you can exploit others with a big kick back in your pockets, you couldn’t care less. You want me to tell you what you should do? Simple! Collect no more than the amount prescribed to you! Do not cheat, do not lie. Treat others, especially the vulnerable, the gullible and the innocent fairly!
You – out there – yes – you in uniform! Have you come to be insulted by me? Is that you Cornelius? Are you asking me what you should do? Are you not here by the order of your commander to maintain peace and prevent chaos in case I might incite a rebellion? Don’t you represent the Imperial Rome in all its glory? Are you ready to be offended? Then listen to what I tell you! Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation and be satisfied with your wages! Do not take advantage of your authority or the weight of your badge. Do not take bribes – respect your position by respecting others. Do not assume that you are always correct. Treat others justly.
Repent!! See what things you need to change. Shift the direction of your lives and re-orient yourselves towards God. Don’t you go on waving your patriarchal cards at me; who cares if you are the descendants of Abraham? God could care less. Show you are serious by living justly! It is true that we have a covenantal relationship with God – a promise of hope, joy and reconciliation, but what is of true importance is what’s in our hearts. our own lives must reflect the faith we have in God today.
I do not know each of you well enough but I will say this. Do not use your power and influence to take advantage of others. Be completely honest in all you do, not just selfishly doing only that which is good for yourself and helps you get ahead, but also to consider the good of others in your dealings with them. I also encourage you to share what you have with those who are in need. Each of us must look at our own lives, and find the ways we can continue to serve God where we are, for this is how we prepare for the coming of the Messiah.
I know that I preach a harsh message of doom and gloom which is hardly good news in your hearing. But I make no apologies for being blunt. Whether you like it or not, the news I am announcing is good news. Because I believe there is hope. No matter how bad things seem to be in our world, or how far we ourselves have strayed from the path God has set for us, things can get better. We can change - we can change our own lives, and we can change the world, when we repent and turn to back to God. I know that change is not easy, and can be quite frightening. In fact, I think the more comfortable we are, the less we want to change. And yet it is obvious that if our world is to survive, there must be changes, and those changes start with us.
Some people say my message of change and transformation through repentance is radical. It upsets the status quo, and they want to stop me. Well the status quo needs to change too. We must never become complacent when it comes to our faith in God, and our love for God’s people. And even if I will be imprisoned or killed for preaching my message, that won’t stop the changes which are coming, because they are God’s changes, and the Messiah is on his way.
As a symbol of your changed lives, I invite each of you to come and be baptized in the Jordan River. Each of you needs a good refreshing, cleansing, renewing bath. Remember, I baptize you with water, symbolic of your change of heart, and renewed faith in God, but there is one coming after me who will baptize you with Holy Spirit and with fire; it is he that will truly fill your lives with the power of God's love. Now I tell you – Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near!
Closing Words (Kim)
Thank you, John, for engaging us in your radical message of repentance and transformation. Friends, like his audience in the past, we, too, must ask the same questions, “What should we do in this big messy world? What should we do with our lives so we can experience God’s news of salvation?” I’m sure John doesn’t mind telling us what to do as he did in his world. “Share your resources. Don’t accumulate things you don’t need. Don’t cheat. Live within your means. Give of yourself. Serve dinner to the community. Wrap gifts for the less privileged. Give food to the Food Bank. Stop worrying and start praying. Trust fully in God because God loves you unconditionally. Give thanks.”
“The whole tenor of Advent”, according to Walter Brueggemann, “is that God may act in us, through us and beyond us, more than we imagined because newness is on its way among us.” The good news of joy is almost here. God-in-the-flesh will soon come and will usher in a transformed world of kindness, generosity, compassion, justice and love. That is the good news John preached. It is the good news that we long to hear, the hope that sustains us, the vision toward which we work as a faith community. And it is no wonder then, why we celebrate this Sunday of Joy. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim
Our prayer today was written by Rev. Ted Dodd, a Diaconal Minister of the United Church of Canada. (Used with permission).
Holy One, Divine Friend, Spirit of Life,
these days of Advent, leading to Christmas, have a special magic,
but these days are also full of
the wrath of gender-based violence,
the raised stones of political polarity,
the tree axing of clear-cut forests, and
the fruitless languishing impact of COVID.
One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire,
renew and change us, and the world, during this Advent time.
One who gathers wheat into the granary,
pull us together as your people.
One who burns the chaff with unquenchable fire,
help us sort out what is important, essential, and faithful.
Holy One, what then shall we do?
You teach us to share, be generous, and to care for the needy and naked.
Encourage us to offer this kindness to those in our lives and
to work to convert the systems that keep poverty and hunger in place.
Divine Friend, what then shall we do?
You urge us to be honest, fair, and to not take more than our share.
Empower us to act in this way of integrity and grace in our personal lives,
and to insist this way is followed in our political, social structures.
Spirit of Life, what then shall we do?
You admonish us and tell us not to extort, not to threaten, not to accuse falsely.
In our relationships, our communities, our world,
inspire us to live without dominating, controlling, and power-grabbing.
Holy One, Divine Friend, Spirit of Life
proclaim your good news.
May joy ring through your children.
Advent heralds the coming of love,
may unexpected and amazing newness arrive in our midst again this year.
All these we ask in the name of the one whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, Jesus, who in his later life would teach his disciples this prayer that we all recite together:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kin-dom, the power and the glory,
Forever and ever, Amen.
Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie
Even in difficult times we remember that God has done great things for us. We choose to live our lives in joy, counting on the goodness of God in every way. As a sign of our trust in God, we share our gifts this morning, strengthening the ministry of this church as we seek together to extend joy to others. Let us gather our time, talents and treasures together and present them as an offering to God. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer (spaciousfaith.com)
Holy One, this Advent season we wait in joy,
and we give with joy.
Joy for all you have given us;
joy because of your sacred promises.
Receive these generous offerings,
and use them to spread your joy in our world. Amen.
Sending Forth Rev. Kim
Go into the world with joy.
We are not alone. God is with us.
Joy is promised in these Advent days.
God bless you as you wait.
God bless you as you work for joy.
Your rejoicing is blessed. Go in joy! Amen.
Hymn: Joy Shall Come VU 23 (Sung 3X)
(Words & Music: Israeli traditional)
Joy shall come, even to the wilderness,
and the parched land shall then know great gladness;
as the rose, as the rose shall deserts blossom,
deserts like a garden blossom.
For living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow;
for living springs shall give cool water,
in the desert streams shall flow.
Carol: Silent Night VU 67
Advent Memorial Flowers
Departing Music: You Shall Go Out with Joy – Mark Hayes
Announcements