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UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
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33 – Sermons
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5 – Pastor's Devotions
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Recent TIW Installments

Sixth Sunday of Easter - B
Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Third Sunday of Easter - B
Easter Day - B
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Recent TIW Installments

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New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Elena Delhagen
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For May 5, 2024:
  • Longing for Belonging by Dean Feldmeyer — “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love and be loved and to belong.” — Brene Brown
  • Second Thoughts: Is Blood Thicker Than Water? by Elena Delhagen based on 1 John 5:1-6 and Acts 10:44-48.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48

CSSPlus

John Jamison
Object: Pieces you might use, like dice, a spinner, a ball, or any other “unusual” things you might find. I used a beanbag, a shoe, and a piece of paper.

* * *

StoryShare

John E. Sumwalt
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

Or you might of course, love Terry's chocolate orange, and feel it's something which would be good to share. But at the last moment, like cuddly Dawn French, you'd say, "No, it's mine, not Terry's, it's all mine!"

SermonStudio

Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.
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New & Featured This Week

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Special Occasion

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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
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Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



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The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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[format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. 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[safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [5] => Array ( [tid] => 6841 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6841 [vid] => 10 [name] => Elena Delhagen [description] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

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Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

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Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
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Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


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Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


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George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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[format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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[print_html_display] => 1 [print_html_display_comment] => 0 [print_html_display_urllist] => 1 [entity_view_prepared] => 1 [title_original] => The World Turned Upside Down [title_language] => und ) [#items] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3902 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://imageul/willadsen_10.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 4560 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1556553614 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) [#formatter] => image [0] => Array ( [#theme] => image_formatter [#item] => Array ( [fid] => 3902 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://imageul/willadsen_10.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 4560 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1556553614 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) [#image_style] => [#path] => Array ( [path] => node/75433 [options] => Array ( [entity_type] => node [entity] => stdClass Object ( [vid] => 75433 [uid] => 1 [title] => The World Turned Upside Down [log] => [status] => 1 [comment] => 2 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [ds_switch] => default [nid] => 75433 [type] => content [language] => und [created] => 1702303251 [changed] => 1702473175 [tnid] => 0 [translate] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1702473175 [revision_uid] => 1 [body] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Turned Upside Down [log] => [status] => 1 [comment] => 2 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [ds_switch] => default [nid] => 75433 [type] => content [language] => und [created] => 1702303251 [changed] => 1702473175 [tnid] => 0 [translate] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1702473175 [revision_uid] => 1 [body] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. 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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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The World Turned Upside Down

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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. 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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. 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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. 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Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) [attributes] => Array ( [typeof] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [property] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [#type] => link [#title] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [#href] => taxonomy/term/6777 [#options] => Array ( [entity_type] => taxonomy_term [entity] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. 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He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
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Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 4085 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 80 [height] => 90 [uid] => 1 [filename] => delhagen.jpg [uri] => public://delhagen_1.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 12258 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1676923725 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [6] => Array ( [tid] => 6777 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6777 [vid] => 10 [name] => Quantisha Mason-Doll [description] => Quantisha Mason-Doll has degrees from Warren Wilson College (BA) (Swannanoa, NC) and McCormick Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Between getting her undergraduate degree and going to seminary she spent a year as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV program) where she lived and volunteered in Daejeon, South Korea. Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean Feldmeyer From team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary Austin From team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
[summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => For December 17, 2023:

Tom WilladsenThe World Turned Upside Down
by Tom Willadsen
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; Luke 1:46b-55; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-28

Mary sings:
(The Lord) has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
(vv. 52-53, NRSVUE)

The humble Galilean virgin who has been selected by the Lord, who has accepted the perplexing mission the angel Gabriel presented to her, sings a song marveling at what the Lord will do, turn the world upside down.

The image of an inverted world appears in Acts 17. The story is that Paul and Silas are in Thessalonica and have had some success in spreading the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There has been some push back; a mob was formed who went looking for Silas and Paul at Jason’s house, where the pair had been staying. The mob dragged some members of Jason’s household before the authorities and said, “These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.” (Acts 17:7-8, NRSVUE)

Legend holds that when Lord Cornwallis surrendered to General George Washington at Yorktown, ending the American Revolution, the British army band played “The World Turned Upside Down.” A new age, or something like one, was being born near the Virginia countryside. A colonial power had been defeated; the world was turning upside down.

In the Scriptures
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
The traditional name for the Third Sunday of Advent is Gaudete, which comes from the first word in the introit in of Latin mass for this Sunday, Gaudete, rejoice. Grammatically it’s a command. A nearly identical sentiment is expressed at the start of the pericope from 1 Thessalonians this morning, “Rejoice always.” Again, it’s a command, and one of the shortest verses in scripture. Gaudete Sunday is a kind of breather in the season of Advent. It’s the day we light the rose or pink candle on the Advent wreath. I like to think of it as a sort of release valve on a pressure cooker. If we don’t let some of the steam/anticipation out at Week 3, the whole season might explode, leaving the kitchen walls of our hearts dripping with — I’ll stop now, just can’t sustain that metaphor.

Later in this reading there is another hint at how imminently Christ’s return was thought to be. The delay of Christ’s return was one of the things that spurred Paul to write to the Christians in Thessalonica.

Luke 1:46b-55
The Luke reading is the familiar Magnificat. Again, this name is taken from the first word in Latin.

There is an interesting combination of verb tenses in Mary’s song. Mary begins in the present tense, “My soul magnifies…my spirit rejoices.” In the next verse Mary foresees that “all generations will call me blessed.”

Verses 52 and 53 read this way in the NRSVUE:

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.


It is as though the Lord has already done these things, even though Mary has only come to accept that she is pregnant by the Holy Spirit with the one who will “be called the Son of the Most High,” (1:32, NRSV) who will sit on the throne of David. In Arabic things that are certain can be described as having already taken place, like “The sun rose tomorrow.” Perhaps Mary is displaying that kind of confidence, trust, and certainty in the Lord as she sings the Magnificat.

Some of Mary’s terminology echoes that found in the Isaiah reading, 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;
my whole being shall exult in my God…


John 1:6-8, 19-28
We see a different side of John the Baptizer in today’s gospel reading. The Fourth Gospel does not mention the Baptizer’s diet or clothing. Jewish leadership in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites out to John in Bethany, probably less than two miles away, to ask him what he was doing. John was clear that he was not the Messiah/Christ, that he was not Elijah, that he was the one preparing the way, the voice crying out in the wilderness to prepare.

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
The beginning of this reading probably sounds familiar. When Jesus returned to Nazareth following his baptism and temptation, he went to the synagogue in Nazareth, his hometown, and read Isaiah 61:1. Jesus added “and recovery of sight to the blind,” and went into the first line of v. 62, “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” While the reading from Isaiah was well-received, his remarks following its reading filled those in the synagogue with rage (Luke 4:28).

They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
(Isaiah 61:4)

While v. 4 is clearly a reference to rebuilding Jerusalem following its invasion and the Exile, it could easily be applied to the kibbutzim in Israel that were attacked by Hamas on October 7 and to Gaza as it has been attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces since.

Psalm 126
It is not clear whether today’s psalm was written in anticipation of returning from exile, or after the actual return. Whether the joy is anticipated or described, it is real. Laughter is often contrasted with tears in scripture. In this case, the tears appear later in the psalm, in v. 5, though the tears are those shed by people who planted, only to know laughter at harvest time.

In the News
Taylor Swift was named Person of the Year by Time Magazine. Her Eras Tour is the first ever to take in more than $1 billion.

Former President Trump’s civil trial continues in New York City. He still faces three criminal trials, but none of this keeps him from being the front runner among Republicans gearing up for the 2024 election.

Shohei Ohtani signed the largest contract in sports history, agreeing to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for ten years for $700 million dollars.

By far the biggest story in the news for months is the war between Israel and Hamas. Hopes were buoyed by a 7-day cease fire in the war, but the cease fire ended December 1. The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for a humanitarian cease fire and immediate release of all hostages on December 8. Great Britain abstained from the vote and the other 13 members of the Security Council were in favor. U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said, “the conditions for the effective delivery of humanitarian aid no longer exist.” People have no food or potable water. Electricity is so unreliable that hospitals are relying on generators, and they are running out of fuel to run the generators. Israel continues to wage war, seeking to eradicate Hamas. To date Hamas has not expressed any remorse over its October 7 attacks on Israel, which left at least 846 Israeli civilians dead, along with 416 Israeli soldiers and police officers. As of December 3, 2023, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 17,000 Palestinians, including over 7,000 children, have been killed, making this the deadliest war for children in modern times.

In the Sermon
What are you wearing this morning, preacher? Geneva robe with purple (or that one-time-a-year rose) stole? Are you preaching the words of Mary, the teenager from the small town who received a perplexing message from an angel? A message that promises to bring down the powerful and lift up the lowly, fill the hungry with good food and send the rich away empty?

Maybe you can spin it in a spiritual way. Preach to those who feel lonely, isolated, or left out of the joy of the season. They’re the ones who are lowly who will be lifted up. Some churches even offer Blue Christmas services for people who feel depressed or are grieving the first Christmas since the death of a loved one, or marriage.

Many people in the northern hemisphere experience Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) this time of year. For them, a reduction in daily sunlight brings on a season of lethargy and sadness. Common symptoms are sleeping too much, overeating, and lack of energy. Maybe an outdoor light display worthy of Clark Griswold will be enough to drive the blues away.

What do you think Mary’s words say to Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani?

Mary’s words are radical in the true sense of the word. The world would really be turned upside down if the hungry were fed and the rich sent away empty. Most of the people in our pews have never known the kind of poverty and devastation that we’re seeing in Gaza this month. Most have never survived a terrorist attack like the one Hamas carried out against Israel October 7. Have any of us seen our city in ruins and longed for it to be rebuilt?

We need to recognize that if the world really is turned upside down, this good news will not be good to us and our people.

We can also realize that both Israel and Hamas need to be lifted out of their fear, grief, and justified anger. When the valleys are lifted up, the hills need to be brought down. My friends, we are the hills, and we need to come down from on high. We need to love, and live our faith, sacrificially.


Chris KeatingSECOND THOUGHTS
Lighting the Barbie Candle
by Chris Keating
John 1:6-8, 19-28; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

He went to the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and for, and patted the children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of homes, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed of any walk, that anything, could give him so much happiness. (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

An angel came to visit the other day. I invited her to our preschool’s Chapel Time as an alternative to the impishly creepy elves who keep showing up on people’s bookcases during December. She’s a small cloth angel ornament claimed from the discount rack at Target. She shows up at Chapel Time every week in a different place, always bringing a special Advent message for the kids.

She was nameless when she arrived, but soon became known as Eileen. Apparently discount bin angels lack self-leveling platforms. When propped against the communion chalice, she leaned sideways; against the cross, she bowed forward. She was an immediate hit with the kids, though I do wonder if they’ll remember any of her messages.

Her antics will be front and center as we light the third Advent candle. It’s the candle the kids have been waiting to light — the rosy, pink candle that stands out from its purple siblings. Because their liturgical mindsets are still under construction, they’ll likely call it the Barbie candle. But who is going to argue with a giggling four-year-old, especially when they are likely hearing the story of Jesus’ birth for the first time?

Let them giggle. We need their laughter, particularly with Christmas approaching. We need reminders to rejoice, particularly at a time when the world is at war, our politics are fractured, and the post-traumatic impact of life in our world continues. I’ll gladly accept their laughter as a joyful witness to the coming of the light.

John the Baptist was quick to acknowledge the darkness of our world, even as he testified about the true light that would illumine all people. Not many will argue with John about the state of the world, either. The evidence is overwhelming: In Palestine, Christian churches have cancelled Christmas celebrations; in Jerusalem, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered reminders of those who are absent. Photos of Israeli hostages held hostage by Hamas appear on posters across Jerusalem, creating a somber start to Hanukkah. In the United States, antisemitic incidents increased 400% following Hamas’ attack of Israel in October.

America’s December darkness is further defined by pervasive economic anxieties, particularly among US voters under age 30. Younger voters also steadfastly believe their parents and grandparents had greater economic opportunities. Meanwhile, large swaths of the electorate freely admit their anxiety over a Trump-Biden rematch.

These are the realities we face — the realities of tensions between countries, communities, churches, and families. These sort of make Scrooge’s remarkable Christmas morning transformation seem even more far-fetched than Dickens imagined. These are the realities that make us wonder, “Exactly how does a weary world rejoice?”

Maria Francesca French wrestles with that question, acknowledging the difficulty of discovering a satisfactory answer. “There is no quick fix Bible verse or anecdotal story coming to the rescue when it comes to this important and timely question,” she writes, adding that the question invites “us to be honest about the state of our world and how our faith may speak to it. How can our faith make good on its promise to bring tidings of comfort and joy?”

The tension created by the question lingers as we light our candles and pray for Christ’s coming. There are no easy answers, of course, but the testimony of others who have encountered the good news of the incarnation offers us hope as we wait. There may be no better way to discover the possibilities of rejoicing than the witness of Paul and the testimony of John the Baptist.

Consider the impact of John as preparing the way for Jesus. He assumes the role of the expert witness whose testimony prepares the ground for Jesus’ ministry. Unlike the star witness at Donald Trump’s fraud trial, John’s testimony does not cost $900,000, though it will one day cost his life. It’s a reminder that testimony is not only costly, but risky, something that the former president may have considered in changing his mind about providing additional testimony.

For Paul, a Christian’s testimony provides the foundation for rejoicing. It emerges out of the experience of gratitude for God’s provision, and the assurance of grace. To those whose lives have been ringed by fear and grief, Paul offers signs of God’s presence. It is the assurance the Thessalonians are desperate to hear. But his insights are more than a smiley face emoji, or a pat on the back. Rather than offering a saccharine sweet dose of eggnog flavored Christmas cheer, Paul addresses the broken hearts of the Thessalonian community that have been riddled by grief. The trauma of grief and sadness cuts deep into a community’s life — as all of us who have survived the pandemic will agree. Yet Paul maintains that remaining a part of that community is exactly what they need. Paul prays that the church would become a strong, resilient community that seeks to live according to the gospel.

His instructions are simple yet remain a profound testimony to the promises of Christ: Rejoice, pray, give thanks, test, hold fast. These verbs could form the crux of our Advent prayers. They form the chorus of the faithful who are earnestly trying to make a way in the wilderness.

There are plenty of examples of how witnesses can shape a proceeding. We’ll soon be hearing testimony — for and against Rudy Guiliani — as a jury decides how much he should pay for defaming two election officials in Georgia. He’s already been found liable for defaming two women. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s testimony to the January 6 commission provided “harrowing details” of the former president’s decisions following the 2020 Election.

Less political, but no less harrowing, was the testimony in a federal bankruptcy proceeding by former Perdue Pharma president Richard Sackler that his family bear no responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Credibility remains a crucial test for all who testify.

That is why Paul’s instructions are so vital to the church. We light the pink candle at the darkest time of the year. It is also, perhaps, among the darkest moments in history. It feels awkward, if not insensitive, to smile and laugh. But our testimony reflects our witness that things shall not always be as they seem. Rejoice, we are told. It is the foundation of our witness in faith.

Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ will come again. Perhaps even by the light of the Barbie candle.



ILLUSTRATIONS

Dean FeldmeyerFrom team member Dean Feldmeyer:

Reversals – Pick any scene you like from the gospels and it’s a good bet that Jesus is pulling a reversal on people’s expectations, flip-flopping what they thought was true, and landing them smack in the middle of a new reality. Here are some other famous and/or historic reversals.

Plessy v. Ferguson reversed by Brown v. Board of Education
In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that race-based segregation was legal, a decision that was not overturned for more than 50 years.

The Plessy decision got its name from Homer A. Plessy, who challenged a Louisiana law that created separate rail cars for Blacks and whites, arguing it violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

In the case, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of segregation, introducing what became the “doctrine” of “separate but equal.”

In 1951, 13 parents, with Oliver Brown named as a plaintiff, sued Topeka’s Board of Education in Kansas in a direct challenge to the precedent. In 1954, the court overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, establishing that race-based segregation was unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children,” wrote Chief Justice Earl Warren in the unanimous opinion.

“To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone,” Warren continued.

* * *

Pace v. Alabama Reversed by Loving v. Virginia
Pace v. Alabama (1882) concerned Tony Pace, an African-American man, and Mary Cox, a white woman, who were charged with adultery and fornication in Alabama under a law that severely punished interracial relationships.

Pace took a legal challenge to the Supreme Court, arguing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. Justices ruled that Alabama’s law was not in conflict with the Constitution, despite more severe punishments levied against African-Americans in violation.

Nearly 100 years later, in Loving v. Virginia (1967), the Supreme Court reversed that ruling.

Mildred Jeter, a Black woman, and Richard Loving, a White man, were arrested in Virginia and sentenced to a year in jail for violating a law banning interracial marriages. Loving challenged the statute, arguing it was a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed.

“Under our Constitution the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual, and cannot be infringed by the State,” Chief Justice Earl Warren wrote in the majority opinion.

* * *

Reversals in Movies and Theater
In literature, a reversal is usually defined as, “a place in the plot where a character achieves the opposite of his or her aim, resulting in a change from good fortune to bad fortune.”

Reversals are the life blood of fiction writing, and nowhere is this truer than in writing for stage or screen. They happen in all kinds of stories but most often in horror and thriller genres. Even in the classics: Oedipus kills the king and beds the queen only to discover that she is his mother. Romeo, despondent over the death of Juliet, kills himself then Juliet wakes up, not dead at all and, despondent over Romeo’s death, kills herself.

Sometimes they come at the end of the story as in The Usual Suspects and No Way Out, but sometimes they come in the middle and even throughout the movie or play.

For a reversal to work, the story must take the reader (or audience) into a scene thinking one thing is going to happen (usually via the protagonist, but not always) and then change that expectation — or reverse it!

In the movie, Die Hard, John McClane (Bruce Willis) comes across the villain, Hans Gruber (in the top floors of the building — and Hans doesn’t have his gun (reversal #1). We think John McClane will bust Hans right away, but instead he accepts Hans’ claim that he is an escaped hostage, too, and even gives him a gun (reversal # 2). That’s it now… Hans is going to shoot McClane. But no — McClane had already busted him previously because he hadn’t loaded the gun! A triple whammy of reversals. Nice!

* * *

Chiasmus and Antimetabole — Reversals in language and grammar.
Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect.

“Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.”

Notice that the ending of the sentence is a logical and grammatical reversal. The same words are used in different order to create a whole new meaning. The second half of this sentence is an inverted form of the first half, both grammatically and logically.

An antimetabole is the repetition of words in consecutive clauses, but in an inverted or transposed order. For example:

“You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget.”

In contemporary grammar, the Chiasmus and Antimetabole are practically interchangeable forms. Some examples:

The use of chiasmus as a rhetorical device dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. Its traces have been found in the ancient texts of Sanskrit, and also in ancient Chinese writings. Greeks, however, developed an unmatched inclination for this device, and made it an essential part of the art of oration. Some examples:

Aeschylus, 5th-century BC, “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.”

Socrates, 5th-century BC, “Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.”

Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful? (By Oscar Hammerstein)

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful? Or are you beautiful because I love you?”
Quote (By John Marshall)

“In the blue grass region,
A paradox was born:
The corn was full of kernels
And the colonels full of corn.”

Common Army axiom: “Plan the work and work the plan.”

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 1) The Siege of Stalingrad (1942)
The siege of Stalingrad lasted for almost six months and was the largest confrontation to occur during World War II. In August of 1942, Adolf Hitler bombarded the industrial city of Stalingrad (now known as Volgograd) with air assaults before sending infantry in to attack in an attempt to seize control from the Soviet Union.

The Russians knew that beating the well-equipped, battle hardened, veteran, German Nazis with their own army was probably impossible and the early days of the battle nearly proved them right. The Russians didn’t try to win, they just stalled and played for time until they could field their most ferocious weapon, the Russian winter. Fights raged on for months until the winter came on in full force. The Russian army was so desperate that they enlisted volunteer citizens, some of whom were not even assigned a weapon but, by February 1942, the resilience of the Soviet forces, as well as the brutally cold conditions and supply shortages, led the German forces to surrender.

Almost 2 million people died during the siege. The battle would be the last time the Germans would advance on the eastern front.

* * *

Battlefield Reversals: 2) The Battle of Watling Street (61CE)
When King Prasutagus of the Iceni in Britain died, he left his lands to be divided between his daughters and the emperor, Nero. However, the Romans ignored Prasutagus’s will and seized his lands, flogged his widow Boudica, and raped their daughters.

While the Roman governor, Suetonius, was campaigning in Anglesey, Boudica amassed an army of nearly 100,000 Iceni warriors and led them in rebellion. She attacked Camulodunum (Colchester), where her troops slaughtered thousands and set fire to the temple of Claudius, killing those who sheltered inside. She then turned her attention on London, burning the city and killing anyone who could not escape.

Suetonius gathered his forces but could put together only 3-4 legions totaling around 10,000 men.

Boudica’s rebel forces and Suetonius’s vastly outnumbered (10/1) but well-drilled army met on the Roman road called Watling Street near Shropshire. The battleground was well chosen by the Roman Governor and was well suited to the Roman style of warfare. A narrow gorge protected his flanks and a forest protected his rear. With open plains to the front, Boudica was forced to engage the Romans in a massive frontal charge against the Roman phalanx, a charge that was funneled into a tight mass and cut down by volleys of javelin. Once the Britons were in disarray, Suetonius ordered his forces forward in typical Roman wedge-shaped formation. Despite their numbers the poorly armed Britons were no match for superior Roman discipline, armor, and weaponry. As the Britons retreated, the ring of wagons belonging to their families impeded their escape and they were massacred.

Casualties, according to Roman records: Rome: 400. Iceni: 80,000. In this final decisive battle of Boudica’s revolt against Roman rule in Britain, a large British force was routed by the heavily outnumbered Romans, under the command of Gaius Suetonius Paulinus. The battle marked the end of resistance to Roman rule in southern Britain, which was to last until 410 CE.

* * *

Testifying — One of the most, maybe even the most effective form of advertising, is the testimonial. In a testimonial, a person makes a statement and/or recommendation (testimonial) informing others about how a product or service benefited them. Testimonials can be written, spoken, filmed, recorded, or made in person. Christianity has relied on this specific form of advertising for centuries.

Modern Forms of Testifying
Experts warn that testimonials are not something one should ever fake. Not only is this an unethical and bad example of false advertising, but people can detect fake testimonials from a mile away. Honest, well-spoken testimonials work best. Here are some examples:
  1. Quote testimonials – These are short stories usually credible, and effective. They inspire trust in visitors that the choice they are considering is the right one.
  2. Peer testimonials – People are easily swayed by others. That’s why services like Yelp, TripAdvisor, FourSquare, GoodReads, and many others are so popular.
  3. Social testimonials – Brief, pithy, testimonials on social media can influence hundreds of people.
  4. Video testimonials – It’s no surprise that video has been one of the most common ways to consume content in a world where everyone carries a portable computer in their pocket. Videos are also widely shared and, if the content is captivating enough, it could go viral.
* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 1 – 1954 Army-McCarthy Hearings
During the peak of the Red Scare, when Americans worried about the spread of world communism, Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy heightened people's fears with his allegations that hundreds of Communists had infiltrated the State Department.

Using his platform as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, McCarthy conducted several hearings hoping to purge the federal government of alleged Communists and Soviet spies.

McCarthy then turned his accusations toward the Army, where he conducted nationally-televised hearings lasting from April until June of 1954.

On June 9, 1954, during one of the sessions, a dramatic moment occurred between McCarthy and Joseph Welch, the lawyer representing the Army in the hearings. McCarthy accused one of Welch's attorneys of harboring ties to a Communist organization.

“Until this moment, Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness,” Welch shot back, defending his employee. “Let us not assassinate this lad further, senator. You have done enough.”

McCarthy attempted to continue his accusations and Welch exclaimed, “Have you no sense of decency?”

The hearings irreparably damage McCarthy's credibility and, once the hearings were over, McCarthy's fellow Senate colleagues voted to censure him.

* * *

Bombshell Testimony No. 2 – John Dean and Alexander Butterfield – 1973 Watergate hearings
The Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities — known colloquially as the Watergate Committee — began holding hearings in 1973 to investigate “illegal, improper, or unethical activities” related to the 1972 presidential race between Richard Nixon and George McGovern.

The investigation was launched after a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's Headquarters at the Watergate hotel was connected to Nixon campaign aides.

Among the notable testimonies from the hearings was that of former White House counsel John Dean, who testified that President Nixon himself knew about the cover-up of the burglary at the DNC's headquarters.

On June 28, 1973, ranking minority member Howard Baker famously asked, “What did the president know and when did he know it?”

On July 16, 1973, Nixon's aide Alexander Butterfield revealed that Nixon recorded tapes in the Oval Office of his conversations, leading to the tapes being subpoenaed. Those tapes later revealed an 18.5-minute gap that the White House couldn't explain.

The end result of the hearings was incredibly influential — it ultimately resulted in a president's resignation for the first and only time in American history.

* * *

Expert Witness Testimony
In criminal trials, witnesses can attest only to what they have personally seen and heard. The one exception to this rule, however, is the “expert” witness. Expert witnesses can testify to their opinion in areas that they have been certified to be called a witness. Expert witnesses are often extremely influential when giving their testimony:

The O.J. Simpson trial, one of the most highly publicized cases of the 20th century, featured expert witness testimony from several different professionals. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on DNA evidence, as well as testimony from a variety of expert witnesses. These included an entomologist, a toxicologist, a handwriting analyst, a crime scene investigator, a blood spatter analyst, a cellular phone expert, and several more. In addition, the defense team employed its own set of expert witnesses in an attempt to discredit the prosecution’s evidence. Among the expert witnesses used by the defense were a private investigator, an analyst specializing in DNA testing, and a private pathologist. Ultimately, the jury found Simpson not guilty of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. The expert witness testimonies played an integral role in this historic verdict.

The Michael Jackson case, the Casey Anthony case, and the Brock Turner case are all examples where expert testimony played a pivotal role in the trial.


* * * * * *

Mary AustinFrom team member Mary Austin:

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Release for the Prisoners

In her book The Gravity of Joy, Angela Gorrell Williams tells about leading a Bible study in a women’s prison. The work was to convey hope, even to people who felt hopeless about their situation.

She writes, “Rachel was already crying joyfully when we got to her turn to speak. Rachel had never come on a Wednesday night. She said that she prayed before bed a few weeks earlier that God would speak to her. After she prayed, she dreamed that night about the number 121. Rachel described waking up the next morning and reading Psalm 121, since Psalms is the only book in the Bible with over 120 chapters. Rachel said that the words from Psalm 121 had been comforting her for a few weeks. And when she put her hand into the box, to her astonishment, she pulled out Psalm 121:1–2, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Angela Gorrell Williams adds, “We were all filled with a stunned joy as Rachel explained her tears of delight after reading these verses. When we look for and notice that God is present to and active within our lives, it can bring us great joy.” Isaiah’s promise of release comes true in all kinds of ways.

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Building Again

Speaking for God, the prophet Isaiah promises restoration for God’s beleaguered people. In the empty places, new things will arise. [The people] “will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.”

In her memoir of divorce and personal devastation, poet Maggie Smith describes a similar process on an individual level. She observes that, “Post-traumatic stress is a familiar idea. We have come to accept, if not expect, that trauma results in psychological and physical damage. But what about post-traumatic growth?” she asks. What about the growth that comes, as Isaiah describes, after great sorrow?

“Researchers have found that humans not only “bounce back” after traumatic events but actually push forward — taking professional risks, strengthening their relationships, and feeling a deeper sense of gratitude. So often we think of loss as only destructive, but it is also generative — because every ending is also a beginning. Of course, when we grieve, we are mourning a loss, but why not also ask what might grow in that barren place? Why not ask: What could I plant there? Serotinous is a word I cherish because it reminds me of what is made possible by disaster, what fire gives even as it takes.”

She adds, “I wish I could go back and tell the fearful young person I was what I know now about fire and growth. What would I say to her? Even if you do not feel brave, practice bravery. There will be times in your life when you feel as if life is burning down around you but know that renewal is in its wake. Trust in what will open, what will grow, after something else has burned away, even when the landscape is charred black. And trust that one of the things guaranteed to grow — time after time, fire after fire — is you. Possibilities, like seeds, are being released into the air.” (from Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change)

* * *

Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
God’s Generosity

Writer and pastor John Claypool says that the universe only exists because of God’s generosity. He says, “What I am affirming is that generosity was the primal motivation that caused all things to come out of nothingness into existence. It was an act of total and complete graciousness. Medieval theologians used to speak of “the unnecessary-ness of creation.” There is no hint in either creation account of there being any lack in God or any selfish motive that prompted this One to act. The process of giving life to “all things visible and invisible” was, in C. S. Lewis’s words, an act of unabashed “gift-love.” According to Genesis, such generosity of spirit is our reason for being,” (from God the Ingenious Alchemist: Transforming Tragedy Into Blessing)

That same generosity is at work as God reveals a new creation through the prophet Isaiah. God promises
“good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn.”

More unfathomable generosity!

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-28
Testifying to the Light

The gospel tells us that John the Baptist came “to testify to the light.” In the divine way that everything is woven together, light itself is a messenger. Science writer Helen Czerski says, “Look upwards on a clear dark night and the majesty of our galaxy stretches across the sky. It’s familiar, overwhelming, and a constant reminder that our planet is part of something bigger: a universe. It’s easy to take the night sky for granted, but we shouldn’t. The rest of the universe is a very long way away, and the only reason we even know that it exists is that light travels from out there to us down here, flowing for years across the vast expanses of space through our atmosphere to find us on the ground.”

The light, she says, reveals the majesty of the universe. “If those messages did not reach us so easily, our personal perspective on ourselves and on what it means to inhabit planet Earth would be completely different. We are astonishingly dependent on such messengers, because otherwise we would live only in the world we could touch, without any way of knowing what lies any further away than we can reach. In our own lives, the main messengers are light and sound, and these create our view of our world.”

God’s light reaches us in miraculous ways.

* * *

John 1:6-8, 19-26
More Light, Please

In North America, these are short, dark days. John’s message of the coming of the light has particular meaning at this time of year, as we struggle with the dark. Researcher and writer Ingrid Fetell Lee says this craving for light is universal, and light adds to our well-being.

She writes, “The joy we find in a sunlit room is matched by tangible measures of well-being. Research consistently shows that increasing exposure to daylight reduces blood pressure and improves mood, alertness, and productivity. Employees who sit near windows report higher energy levels and tend to be more physically active both in and out of the office. In a study of elementary schools, students in classrooms with the most daylight advanced as much as 26 percent faster in reading and 20 percent faster in math over the course of a year. Hospital patients assigned to sunnier rooms were discharged sooner and required less pain medication than those in rooms with less light.” (from Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness) John is addressing a deep need for God’s people.


* * * * * *

George ReedWORSHIP
by George Reed

Call to Worship
One: When God restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
All: Then our mouths were filled with laughter.
One: The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
All: Restore our fortunes, O God, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
One: Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,
All: shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

OR

One: God created us out of one earth and with one breath.
All: We are people of God’s earth and God’s Spirit.
One: We were created in God’s image, a unity in diversity.
All: We rejoice in the community God has created for us.
One: God desires our broken community to be made whole.
All: With God’s help we will restore all to wholeness.

Hymns and Songs
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
UMH: 211
H82: 56
PH: 9
GTG: 88
AAHH: 188
NNBH: 116
NCH: 119
CH: 34
LBW: 257
ELW: 154
W&P: 102
AMEC: 225

I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light
UMH: 206
H82: 490
GTG: 377
ELW: 815
W&P: 248
Renew: 152

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
UMH: 203
H82: 616
AAHH: 187
NCH: 104
CH: 140
LBW: 87
ELW: 311
AMEC: 107
Renew: 101

My Soul Gives Glory to My God
UMH: 198
GTG: 99
CH: 130
ELW: 882

Tell Out, My Soul
UMH: 200
H82: 437/438
W&P: 41

Blessed Be the God of Israel
UMH: 209
H82: 444
GTG: 109
CH: 135
ELW: 552
W&P: 158
Renew: 128

Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service
UMH: 581
H82: 610
PH: 427
CH: 461
LBW: 423
ELW: 712
W&P: 575
Renew: 286

Lord, You Give the Great Commission
UMH: 584
H82: 528
PH: 429
GTG: 298
CH: 459
ELW: 579
W&P: 592
Renew: 305

O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright
UMH: 247
PH: 89
GTG: 827
NCH: 158
CH: 105
LBW: 76
ELW: 308
W&P: 230

Joy to the World
UMH: 246
H82: 100
PH: 40
GTG: 134/266
AAHH: 197
NNBH: 94
NCH: 132
CH: 143
LBW: 39
ELW: 267
W&P: 179
AMEC: 120
STLT 245

Our God Reigns
CCB: 33

Jesus, Name Above All Names
CCB: 35
Renew: 26

Music Resources Key
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
GTG: Glory to God, The Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELW: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
STLT: Singing the Living Tradition
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship

Prayer for the Day/Collect
O God who see creation as you intended it to be:
Grant us the vision to see as your see
and the will to work to complete you plan;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

OR

We praise you, O God, because you have a plan for your creation. You see us as we are meant to be. Help us to see your plan and to work with you to bring it to fulfillment. Amen.

Prayer of Confession
One: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins and especially our fixation on our own wants and desires while ignoring the needs of others.

All: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love. Amen.

One: God desires for all of us to enjoy the wonders and bounty of creation. Rejoice in what God has gifted us with and delight in sharing it with others.

Prayers of the People
Praise and glory to you, O God of bountiful creation. Your love is evident in the abundance of all you create.

(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)

We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have shown us your desire for your creation, but we ignore your plans and try to make things to favor ourselves. We see creation as something for us to have and to use for ourselves instead of as something to honor and share with others. We place ourselves and our wants above the needs of others. Forgive our selfish ways and renew us in your love.

We give you thanks for the fruits of your creation which supply the needs of all your children. We thank you for fertile fields and bountiful orchards. We thank the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. You have given us all we need to prosper and grow.

(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)

We pray for those who are in need. We pray for those who do without because so many of us have more than enough. We pray for those who suffer because others want more than they can use. We pray for hearts that are tender and compassionate so that we may assist in bringing all your children to a place of goodness and wholeness.

(Other intercessions may be offered.)

Hear us as we pray for others: (Time for silent or spoken prayer.)

All these things we ask in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ who taught us to pray saying:

Our Father....Amen.

(Or if the Our Father is not used at this point in the service.)

All this we ask in the name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.



* * * * * *

Katy StentaCHILDREN'S SERMON
Pink Sunday
by Katy Stenta

Supplies: Consider having a pink carnation for every child or a pink ribbon/bookmark/pink candle printout to hand out to remind them that it is joy week

Today is the third Sunday in Advent, when we light the three Advent candles. Advent candles are a fairly recent tradition in Christianity. Christianity is 2,000 years old, and the meanings of candles shift and change over the years. Sometimes they mean Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels.

Sometimes they mean Hope, Peace, Joy and Love—and the order can shift too.

The outside candles are purple or blue, often a dark color. Do you know why purple or blue might be used? Who wore purple in ancient times? (If no one knows, tell them it was a royal color, or maybe tell the children that dye was super expensive and that’s why only royalty used it.)

We use purple for royalty or waiting, but that can be different to depending on your local tradition.

Do you know a movie wear a lot of pink is used? (Expect Barbie.)

Sometimes people wear pink out of joy! Pink has become a girl color, but before that it meant joy!

(Use this if it seems appropriate for your age group. Some adults may remember a movie where the popular girls wore Pink on Wednesdays. Pink is now associated as a Girl power color.)

Some churches even light an extra peace candle all year, in honor of Jesus being the Prince of Peace, and being present with us.

Let’s look at our center candle, what does it look like? Why do you think it’s that way? What are some other ways it might look like?


(Cool answers might include gold for King, rainbow for God’s promises, red and green for Christmas, silver for Prince of Peace.)

The colors and meaning of Advent is really about the context in your particular culture. And it may shift depending on the time. Every way to celebrate Advent is special and important because it’s good practice to wait for Jesus Christ.

The joy of Christ coming and the celebration of that dates back longer than Advent candles. Everyone used to wear rose or pink color vestments: The pastor, the priest, and the choir remind us that the waiting would be over and Christ will come!

This is why we light a pink candle for Joy Sunday, Rejoice Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday. (Gaudete is the Latin word for rejoice.)

Let’s Pray

(Invite them to repeat after you.)

Dear God,
Thank you,
For reminding us,
Of your coming
With waiting practices
And Joyful practices too
Help us, to celebrate
In a way that fits us
We pray.
Amen.



* * * * * * * * * * * * *


The Immediate Word, December 17, 2023 issue.

Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.

All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
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He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3642 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 120 [height] => 120 [uid] => 1 [filename] => willadsen.jpg [uri] => public://willadsen.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 16059 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1522754709 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => The Reverend Doctor Thomas Willadsen has been a Presbyterian minister for more than 30 years, leading congregations in Minnesota, Maryland, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. He served The Cresset, Valparaiso University’s Review of Literature, the Arts and Public Affairs as humorist from 1996 until 2021. He is the author of OMG! LOL! Faith and Laughter published by Gemma Open Door in 2012 and Gratitude on the Prairie published by CSS Publishing in 2020. He is currently a Transitional Pastor at a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in suburban Reno, Nevada. [safe_summary] => ) ) ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [1] => Array ( [tid] => 6021 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6021 [vid] => 10 [name] => Dean Feldmeyer [description] => Dean Feldmeyer is the pastor of Wilmington United Methodist Church in Wilmington, Ohio, where he also teaches public speaking classes on the adjunct faculty of Wilmington College. He is an award-winning author of four novels, three nonfiction books, three plays, and numerous articles, essays, and short stories. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and bluegrass music, but not at the same time.
[format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3428 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 75 [height] => 75 [uid] => 1 [filename] => feldmeyer.jpg [uri] => public://feldmeyer.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 5201 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1501416953 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [2] => Array ( [tid] => 5846 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 5846 [vid] => 10 [name] => Mary Austin [description] => Mary Austin is the Senior Pastor of Gaithersburg Presbyterian Church, a diverse Presbyterian congregation in the Washington, DC area. She has served churches in New Jersey and Michigan, and also loved being a hospice chaplain. She is the author of Meeting God at the Mall, published by CSS. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3481 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 75 [height] => 75 [uid] => 1 [filename] => austin.jpg [uri] => public://austin.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 25224 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1505748111 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [3] => Array ( [tid] => 6703 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6703 [vid] => 10 [name] => Christopher Keating [description] => Chris Keating is the pastor of Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian Church in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. He is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Chris is a regular contributor to the Belief St. Louis blog for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and his articles have also appeared in the Church of the Brethren's monthly magazine, Messenger. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3429 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 75 [height] => 75 [uid] => 1 [filename] => keating.jpg [uri] => public://keating.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 7354 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1501417927 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( ) [rdf_mapping] => Array ( [rdftype] => Array ( [0] => skos:Concept ) [name] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => rdfs:label [1] => skos:prefLabel ) ) [description] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:definition ) ) [vid] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:inScheme ) [type] => rel ) [parent] => Array ( [predicates] => Array ( [0] => skos:broader ) [type] => rel ) ) [path] => Array ( [pathauto] => 1 ) ) ) [4] => Array ( [tid] => 6772 [taxonomy_term] => stdClass Object ( [tid] => 6772 [vid] => 10 [name] => Katy Stenta [description] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [format] => full_html [weight] => 0 [vocabulary_machine_name] => contributor [field_auth] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [fid] => 3996 [alt] => [title] => [width] => 100 [height] => 100 [uid] => 1 [filename] => stenta.jpg [uri] => public://stenta.jpg [filemime] => image/jpeg [filesize] => 14386 [status] => 1 [timestamp] => 1609181938 [rdf_mapping] => Array ( ) ) ) ) [field_custom_description] => Array ( [und] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Katy Stenta is the solo revitalization pastor at the bigger on the inside New Covenant Presbyterian church located in Albany, NY, since 2010. She is also the co-founder/leader of TrailPraisers an Inclusive New Worshipping Community. She writes narrative lectionary and other liturgical prayers at www.katyandtheword.com and is a pursuing a Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Katy loves reading as much fantasy as possible and playing with her three children Franklin (11), Westley (9) and Ashburn (7) who she often takes  to the public library where her husband Anthony works. Katy, a Xiennial, is excited about the new greater church that is emerging and loves helping people hearths call of God. 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Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. 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She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. [summary] => [format] => full_html [safe_value] => Elena Delhagen holds an undergraduate degree in Theological Studies from Alvernia University and is in her final year at Northeastern Seminary, where she will graduate in December 2023 with her M.Div and continue on with the ordination process. Having a particular interest in peacemaking and global ecumenical relations, her ministry career has taken her all across North America, as well as to West Africa and Israel/Palestine. She lives in the Capital Region of New York State with her husband, their two children, and her four-legged fur babies. She writes at www.elenadelhagen.com, and her first book, Until the Bones Shine, was published in 2022 by Midwinter Press. 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Following her M.Div. work she participated in the Global Ecumenical Theological Institution (Arusha, Tanzania 2018) through the World Council of Churches. She participated in the 2018 Global mission assembly held in Arusha, Tanzania. In 2019 Quantisha was a recipient of the Eugene Carson Blake scholarship through the Presbyterian Church for the further study of ecumenism at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, Geneva, Switzerland, where she focused on ecumenical Biblical Hermeneutics as well as the formation of the Qu’ran in the ninth-century (c.e.). Recently she has been accepted to the University of Bönn in Germany to study in its Masters of Ecumenical Studies program. She had the privilege of participating in the Korean Peace delegation by the direction of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Seoul, South Korea, 2017.) 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The World Turned Upside Down

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The Immediate Word

The World Turned Upside Down

Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
For December 17, 2023:
UPCOMING WEEKS
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Easter 4
28 – Sermons
160+ – Illustrations / Stories
33 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
34 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 5
33 – Sermons
140+ – Illustrations / Stories
34 – Children's Sermons / Resources
30 – Worship Resources
35 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Easter 6
30 – Sermons
180+ – Illustrations / Stories
32 – Children's Sermons / Resources
23 – Worship Resources
31 – Commentary / Exegesis
5 – Pastor's Devotions
and more...
Plus thousands of non-lectionary, scripture based resources...
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Recent TIW Installments

Sixth Sunday of Easter - B
Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
Third Sunday of Easter - B
Easter Day - B

New & Featured This Week

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Elena Delhagen
Thomas Willadsen
Mary Austin
Christopher Keating
Quantisha Mason-Doll
George Reed
Katy Stenta
For May 5, 2024:
  • Longing for Belonging by Dean Feldmeyer — “A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love and be loved and to belong.” — Brene Brown
  • Second Thoughts: Is Blood Thicker Than Water? by Elena Delhagen based on 1 John 5:1-6 and Acts 10:44-48.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
It was a dark and stormy night. Lightning flashed and thunder crashed. Suddenly, Kimberly, our middle daughter, was standing next to our bed, sobbing in fear. My wife held and comforted her for a few minutes, and then I led her back to the room she shared with her older sister Kristyn. I tucked her tightly into the sandwich of her sheets and blankets, snugging things up for extra safety.
Bill Thomas
Mark Ellingsen
Frank Ramirez
Bonnie Bates
Acts 10:44-48

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John Jamison
Object: Pieces you might use, like dice, a spinner, a ball, or any other “unusual” things you might find. I used a beanbag, a shoe, and a piece of paper.

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John E. Sumwalt
This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (v. 12-13)

You have heard the saying “We are not called to be successful; we are called to be faithful.” Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” is an invitation to faithfulness. That might be described by the old-fashioned word “fidelity.”

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Do you love anyone enough to offer them your last Rolo? According to the advert, Rolos are so incredibly delicious that nobody could be that selfless. Those who consider offering their last Rolo to someone they love, snatch it back at the last moment and keep it for themselves.

Or you might of course, love Terry's chocolate orange, and feel it's something which would be good to share. But at the last moment, like cuddly Dawn French, you'd say, "No, it's mine, not Terry's, it's all mine!"

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Schuyler Rhodes
Anyone who has made a long road trip with children singing "99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall" can support the notion of "singing a new song." Children love the repetition of singing the same song over and over. Parents or youth group leaders who have been in this situation can identify with the need to sing a new song.
Nancy Kraft
Are you in love with God? In 1 John, the author has a lot to say about the love of God and the way that love changes our lives. We love because God first loved us. God's love fills us to overflowing so that it flows through us to other people. Annie Dillard said that we catch grace like a man filling a cup underneath a waterfall.1 That's the way we receive God's love. But there can be a problem for us when we put a lid on our cups and the water can't get inside. We're closing our hearts off to the love of God.

Harry N. Huxhold
A remarkable feature of Dwight D. Eisenhower's memoirs is the composure with which he greeted crises. He titled his autobiography At Ease, an appropriate description for not only his retirement, but the manner in which he appeared to be on top of life. Colleagues, of course, could recall how excited he could get in revealing his impatience with mediocrity and the failures of the people in his command. However, what was impressive was the way he took control in the European theater in World War II with no fear for his own life and great confidence in the Allied offensive.
E. Carver Mcgriff
Charles Wesley began one of the Methodist Church's favorite hymns with this line: "Come Holy Ghost, Our Hearts Inspire." Of course, tradition now uses the alternate term, "Holy Spirit." Wesley called it the "fountain of life and love." And so it is. Once we experience the Holy Spirit, we know it is exactly that: the source of life and love. The giving of that Spirit into the lives of us all is the point of this passage.

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