Please join us between 9:30 and 9:55 am via Zoom
Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82512159155
phone-in for (audio only).Phone Number: (646) 558-8656
Welcome and Theme: Good morning to all and welcome to the fourth Sunday of Advent in which we explore how Mary and Joseph deal with startling annunciation news of the coming of the Christ child.
Opening Prayer: This morning we look to the ancient recorded history of two young people with a change of plans not of their own doing. Both share a kindness of heart, a willingness of spirit and a faith in the grace of God that enables them to act with uncommon courage. As we await Christmas, may we summon their openness to opportunity and possibility that brings God to earthly reality in the trying moments of our own lives. Amen.
Lighting of Advent Candles: Like our ancestors, we honor the cycles and the seasons that remind us of the ever-changing flow of life. Ritual acts give life meaning—they honor and acknowledge the unseen web of Life that connects us all.
As a someone lights all four candles of our Advent wreath, (and those on zoom do as well) Presider 2 prays:
We light this fourth candle and remember that we are called to create, share and be light in all our ways of relating to Creation. We commit ourselves to work for peace and justice in our world according to the light, hope, peace and love of the Divine.
All: Let us kindle the light of love!
Presider 2: Let us welcome the light within each other!
Opening Song: “Christmas Is Waiting for Us”
Written by Dave DeBonis, Vocalist Chris Cron
https://youtu.be/rwOQJPHZKMA?si=hF7tMpHkzRu426qS
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Reading 1: “Annunciation” by Denise Levertov
We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,
almost always a lectern, a book; always
the tall lily.
Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings,
the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,
whom she acknowledges, a guest.
But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions
courage.
The engendering Spirit
did not enter her without consent.
God waited.
She was free
to accept or to refuse, choice
integral to humanness.
Aren’t there annunciations
of one sort or another
in most lives?
Some unwillingly
undertake great destinies,
enact them in sullen pride,
uncomprehending.
More often
those moments
when roads of light and storm
open from darkness in a man or woman,
are turned away from in dread,
in a wave of weakness, in despair
and with relief.
Ordinary lives continue.
God does not smite them.
But the gates close, the pathway vanishes.
Mary was called to a momentous destiny
yet she did not quail,
only asked
a simple, ‘How can this be?’
gravely, courteously,
perceiving instantly
the astounding ministry she was offered.
These are the words of twentieth century British poet Denise Levertov and we affirm them with Amen.
Gospel Acclamation: opening of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” performed by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Singers
https://youtu.be/tUJ8HrsIytM?si=aeKXzhECgAMqBrFZ
Gospel: Reading from Mathew 1: 18 – 24
Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her husband, an upright person unwilling to disgrace her, decided to divorce her quietly.
This was Joseph’s intention when suddenly the angel of God appeared in a dream and said, “Joseph, heir to the house of David, don’t be afraid to wed Mary; it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived this child. She is to have a son and you are to name him Jesus— ‘Salvation’—because they will save the people from their sins.
All this happened to fulfill what God has said through the prophet:
“The virgin will be with child
And give birth,
And the child will be named
Immanuel
- — A name that means “God is with us”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of God directed, and they went ahead with the marriage.
These are the words of Mathew and we affirm them with Amen.
Gospel Reading from Luke: 1:26
The angel Gabriel was sent to a young woman named Mary; she was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. Upon arriving, the angel said to Mary, “Rejoice highly favored one! God is with you! Blessed are you among women!”
Mary was deeply troubled by these words and wondered what the angel’s greeting meant.
The angel went on to say to her, “Don’t be afraid Mary. You have found favor with God. You’ll conceive and bear a son, and give him the name Jesus — ‘Deliverance’. His dignity will be great and he will be called the Only Begotten of God. God will give Jesus the judgment seat of David, his ancestor, to rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will never end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be since I have never been with a man?’
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you—hence the child will be called the Holy One of God.
Mary said, “I am the servant of God. Let it be done to me as you say.”
With that, the angel left her.
These are the words of Luke and we affirm them with Amen.
(Pause to consider the readings silently)
Homily and Shared Reflections – Lynn
This morning, we consider Mary and Joseph as a couple, their original plans disarranged and their fate intertwined. Talk about waiting and preparing for Christmas — no couple ever had it like they did! Let’s remember that their engagement or betrothal was a legally binding contract of marriage before living together or consummating the marriage. Their two families had agreed on it and everyone in Nazareth probably knew of it.
“Divorce” is the word used to characterize the breaking of such an engagement. That’s where Joseph’s first inclination leads him before his own dreamlike annunciation (but does he know the full story?). Even in his sorrow and disappointment, maybe even shock, Joseph decides to “divorce” quietly to avoid Mary being stoned for her sin or disgraced for life; either of which was likely in the first century. Joseph can seem to be a merciful and anguished man in love before we know him as the accepting paternal presence he becomes in biblical myth-making. Perhaps, this makes him more human, more of a fully dimensional figure in our eyes.
And what of Mary? Her first thoughts upon hearing Gabriel’s message would likely have been shock and then just as quickly, fear for what Joseph might think and whether the two of them could get through it.
Lutheran Pastor David Lose in a blog titled “God Really With Us” puts it so well: “Angels usually get involved in the biblical story only when heavy-lifting is involved; I think it’s safe to say that the months leading up to Christ’s birth were not filled with one blissful baby shower after another but were fraught with anxiety and concern and flights of emotion we have all experienced at time ourselves.” I would add that, the cast of two families are involved too.
We know that Mary, like Joseph, has a choice, a fateful, momentous, humbling choice. We see her say “Yes” with both grace and courage but we might imagine that she is also scared for herself and her husband. She is a trembling young woman in that moment before she becomes the blue-robed Madonna with infant in swaddling clothes and halo.
Jesus has two willing, open-hearted and generous parents who are up to the task before them because of their faith in God and each other. And God’s faith in them.
If we give this young couple back their misgivings, their momentary disbelief we can identify with them. All things are possible with God but that doesn’t always mean foreseeable or simple. We know why the first words from an angel are always, “Do not be afraid.”
What are your thoughts about the readings?
Sources:
Lose, David. “God is Really with Us”.…In the Meantime. https://www.davidlose.net/2016/advent-4-a-god-really-with-us/
Pepe, Fabien, Linda “You Didn’t Hear That from Me”. 2013. http://www. Theological Stew.com.
Pilch, John J. “Historical Cultural Context – Jesus and John” The Sunday Website at Saint Louis University. http://liturgy.slu.edu/
Predmore, John S.J. “Ignatian Spirituality: Set the World Ablaze”. Predmore.blogspot.com 8 April 2013. The full-length poem by Denise Levertov can be found here.
Statement of Faith
We believe in the Holy One, a divine mystery
beyond all definition and rational understanding,
the heart of all that has ever existed,
that exists now, or that ever will exist.
We believe in Jesus, messenger of the Divine Word,
bringer of healing, heart of Divine compassion,
bright star in the firmament of the Holy One's
prophets, mystics, and saints.
We believe that we are called to follow Jesus
as a vehicle of divine love,
a source of wisdom and truth,
and an instrument of peace in the world.
We believe in the Spirit of the Holy One,
the life that is our innermost life,
the breath moving in our being,
the depth living in each of us.
We believe that the Divine kin-dom is here and now,
stretched out all around us for those
with eyes to see it, hearts to receive it,
and hands to make it happen.
Prayers of the Community:
Presider 2: As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of LIGHT and HOPE, we bring to this table our blessings, cares and concerns. Please feel free to voice your intentions beginning with the words, “I bring to the table….”
We pray for these our blessings, cares, and concerns and bring them to our table of friendship and love. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
With open hearts and hands let us pray our Eucharistic prayer as one voice:
All: Source of All That Is, we seek you in this season, when the earth is resting and preparing for new life. Like the earth, we long for new life and hopeful beginnings. This is the time of the pregnant woman, filled with life and hope powerful enough to topple structures of oppression. This is the time of her song of fidelity and celebration.
During this gentle season of Advent, we recognize that you have made us capable of bringing forth justice, like a rising sun. One with all who have gone before us, we sing a song of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy music by John Bacchus Dykes, words by Peter Mayer, video by Denise Hackert-Stoner
We thank you for those in times past who believed the good news, and lived what they believed. Blessed is Isaiah and every visionary who insisted on a better future that would break through the deception, disaster and broken promises of the age in which they lived.
Blessed is John, in the stark desert of careful focus, inviting the people to be born again in your love. Blessed is Miriam, who believed the words of Isaiah and opened herself up to the unbelievable. And blessed is her child Jesus, who felt the sorrows of humankind in his soul, and responded with deep and tender compassion.
Please extend your hands in blessing.
All: We are grateful for your Spirit at our Eucharistic Table and for this bread and wine which reminds us of our call to be the body of Christ in the world.
On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them, and to fix that memory clearly with them, he bent down and washed their feet.
All lift their plates and pray the following:
When he returned to his place at the table, he lifted the bread, spoke the blessing, broke the bread and offered it to them saying: Take and eat, this is my very self. (pause)
All lift their cups and pray the following:
Then he took the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
Take and drink. Whenever you remember me like this,
I am among you. (pause)
Presider 2: Let us share this bread and cup to proclaim and live the gospel of justice and peace. Please receive the bread and cup with the words, God has great faith in you
Communion Meditation/Song: “Oh, Spirit Guide Me Now” by Sara Thomsen
https://youtu.be/tUJ8HrsIytM?si=aeKXzhECgAMqBrFZ
Prayer after communion:
Holy One, we are grateful for the gift of Your Spirit,
always drawing beauty and balance out of chaos. And like Jesus…
Standing where he stood,
and for what he stood,
and with whom he stood,
we are united in your Spirit,
and worship you with our lives Amen.
Let us pray the Celtic Version of the Prayer of Jesus:
Holy One beyond all names
Eternal Wellspring
May love rise again in us today
With food for every table
Shelter for every family
And reverence for every person.
Forgive us our failings in love
And free us from all falseness
That the light of our souls may shine
And the strength of our spirits endure
For earth and all her people
This day, tonight and forever. Amen.
- — John Philip Newell
BLESSING
Please extend your hands and pray our blessing for each other
All:— May our love of the Spirit of the Holy One, bring us to know intimately
the life that is our innermost life, the breath moving in our being, the
depth living in each of us.
— May we share our light, our hope and our love with the humble courage of
Mary and Joseph. Amen
Closing Song: “Take Us Home by Another Way” by Christopher Grundy
https://youtu.be/Kow7kqKEcFA?si=P5tbARohMRj47Qi
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