Rejoice! A Sermon by Deacon Terry

​The Advent wreath that we just light, first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart.
He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays, and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.
Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible.
Our Advent candle tradition, involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas.
Each candle represents something different.
The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace. Usually the first, second, and fourth candles are purple; the third candle is rose-colored. That’s where we are today. The rose colored candle representing joy.

A fifth candle which is white in the middle is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ birth
This morning’s Gospel is a great reading and is full of things to talk about.
BUT
This morning, rather than focusing completely on the Gospel, I’d like to focus on the epistle reading that we just read from Philippians, because it speaks about joy, of which we celebrate on our Advent candle today.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Pretty good advice from the Apostle Paul, rejoice, be gentle, don’t be anxious, and in every situation, bring our requests to God, who will guard us.
If you were to read the next verse in this Epistle, Which is amongst my favorite scripture passages, you would hear Paul say.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things
I have a 3x5 index card of this reading on the visor of my truck. I try to reflect on that as much as possible to help me focus on “the right stuff”.
I can’t help but see it each time I sit in my truck. Reminding me to think on noble, pure, lovely thoughts. It helps me realize what I should be focusing on.
This reading seems so “Adventy”.
And during each Advent season I become a bit nostalgic, a bit more people focused, a bit more sentimental and a lot more grateful.
I think about all the people in my life of whom I am so grateful for.
My loving parents, who gave of themselves, my loving aunts and uncles who supported me, my beautiful wife who still loves me, just as I am. My children for fulfilling my wildest imaginations, my grandchildren for bringing me unconditional love, my friends who are still my friends in spite of who I am and finally you, my church family who show me how to be a loving Christian in so many ways.
I give thanks to God for all of those people, who have brought so much Joy to my life.
This reading in full, talks about wholesomeness. About pureness, about the things we value in relationships or in conversation with others. It’s about how we try so hard to teach our children, grandchildren and all those looking for guidance.
It’s positive – It’s joyful.
As we journey through the season of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of our Savior, I’d like to reflect on some of the teachings of Jesus.
I’d like to reflect on power of rejoicing always, being free from anxiety, engaging in fervent prayer, and focusing our minds on whatever is good.
Just as in this morning’s Gospel, where the tax collectors, the soldiers, and the crowds sought guidance from Jesus, we too seek His timeless wisdom to find answers for our own lives.
 
Rejoice Always: As followers of Christ, we are called to rejoice always, regardless of our circumstances. Rejoicing is not merely a fleeting emotion but a conscious decision to find joy in the Lord. Despite the challenges we face, let us remember that God's promises are steadfast, and His love for us is unwavering. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude, we can discover a deep sense of joy that transcends the ups and downs of life.
 
 Be Not Anxious: Jesus, in His profound teachings, emphasized the futility of anxiety. He lovingly invites us to cast our worries upon Him, for He cares for us. Instead of dwelling on our anxieties, we put our trust in God's providence, knowing that He holds our future in His hands.
 
Pray Fervently: Prayer is the lifeline that connects us to God.
It is through prayer that we find solace, guidance, and strength.
Jesus, being fully aware of the importance of prayer, often sought solitude to communicate with God the Father.
Just as He encouraged His disciples to pray, we to need to make prayer a priority in our lives. Through constant communication with God, we open our hearts to His power, his will and that will put us in the right spirit to follow his will.
Think about Whatever is Good:
The mind is a powerful instrument that can either uplift us or burden us.
Jesus teaches us to focus our thoughts on whatever is good, pure, and praiseworthy.
By nurturing positive and uplifting thoughts, we foster a healthy and joyful mindset.
All these teachings, as wonderful as they sound and they truly are, are sometimes hard to reflect on, to trust and to focus on.
With so much, we all face.
Some of us are struggling with health concerns, some of us have lost loved ones, and some of us struggle financially.
Advent and Christmas are a time to be joyful.
Waiting, anticipation of the coming of Jesus.
Santa Claus, family, friends, church.
All fun, all filling us with joy.
Our young people look to us as examples of love, peace and joy, just as we adults look to our Blessed Savoir for those same things.
Let us look to God through the eyes of our children, our grandchildren, our families, our friends and yes our church, each other.
These are places in our lives where we can find joy.
In the mist of our personal challenges let us truly live in this Advent season, let us reflect on the goodness of God, the hope of salvation, and the love that was demonstrated through the birth of Jesus. In doing so, we cultivate a spirit of gratitude and find renewed strength to navigate life's challenges.
As we navigate through this worldly, hectic the Advent season, let us heed the words of Jesus and embrace His teachings.
Rejoicing always, being free from anxiety, engaging in fervent prayer, and focusing our minds on whatever is good will lead us to experience peace, hope, joy, and love in abundance.
Just as Jesus provided guidance to the tax collectors, the soldiers, and the crowds, He stands ready to guide and transform our lives today. May we open our hearts to His wisdom and allow His teachings to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
As we continue along on this Advent journey, let us rejoice, pray, and seek the goodness and the joy that comes from walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
We are not alone, we have our Blessed Savior to share our journey with, and we have each other to share our journey with.
So – rejoice – be joyful in the coming of Jesus.
 Amen.
The Advent wreath that we just light, first appeared in Germany in 1839. A Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath out of the wheel of a cart.
He placed twenty small red candles and four large white candles inside the ring. The red candles were lit on weekdays, and the four white candles were lit on Sundays.
Eventually, the Advent wreath was created out of evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The circle reminds us of God’s unending love and the eternal life He makes possible.
Our Advent candle tradition, involves four candles. A new candle is lit on each of the four Sundays before Christmas.
Each candle represents something different.
The four candles traditionally represent hope, faith, joy, and peace. Usually the first, second, and fourth candles are purple; the third candle is rose-colored. That’s where we are today. The rose colored candle representing joy.

A fifth candle which is white in the middle is lit on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’ birth
This morning’s Gospel is a great reading and is full of things to talk about.
BUT
This morning, rather than focusing completely on the Gospel, I’d like to focus on the epistle reading that we just read from Philippians, because it speaks about joy, of which we celebrate on our Advent candle today.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Pretty good advice from the Apostle Paul, rejoice, be gentle, don’t be anxious, and in every situation, bring our requests to God, who will guard us.
If you were to read the next verse in this Epistle, Which is amongst my favorite scripture passages, you would hear Paul say.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things
I have a 3x5 index card of this reading on the visor of my truck. I try to reflect on that as much as possible to help me focus on “the right stuff”.
I can’t help but see it each time I sit in my truck. Reminding me to think on noble, pure, lovely thoughts. It helps me realize what I should be focusing on.
This reading seems so “Adventy”.
And during each Advent season I become a bit nostalgic, a bit more people focused, a bit more sentimental and a lot more grateful.
I think about all the people in my life of whom I am so grateful for.
My loving parents, who gave of themselves, my loving aunts and uncles who supported me, my beautiful wife who still loves me, just as I am. My children for fulfilling my wildest imaginations, my grandchildren for bringing me unconditional love, my friends who are still my friends in spite of who I am and finally you, my church family who show me how to be a loving Christian in so many ways.
I give thanks to God for all of those people, who have brought so much Joy to my life.
This reading in full, talks about wholesomeness. About pureness, about the things we value in relationships or in conversation with others. It’s about how we try so hard to teach our children, grandchildren and all those looking for guidance.
It’s positive – It’s joyful.
As we journey through the season of Advent, a time of anticipation and preparation for the birth of our Savior, I’d like to reflect on some of the teachings of Jesus.
I’d like to reflect on power of rejoicing always, being free from anxiety, engaging in fervent prayer, and focusing our minds on whatever is good.
Just as in this morning’s Gospel, where the tax collectors, the soldiers, and the crowds sought guidance from Jesus, we too seek His timeless wisdom to find answers for our own lives.
 
Rejoice Always: As followers of Christ, we are called to rejoice always, regardless of our circumstances. Rejoicing is not merely a fleeting emotion but a conscious decision to find joy in the Lord. Despite the challenges we face, let us remember that God's promises are steadfast, and His love for us is unwavering. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude, we can discover a deep sense of joy that transcends the ups and downs of life.
 
 Be Not Anxious: Jesus, in His profound teachings, emphasized the futility of anxiety. He lovingly invites us to cast our worries upon Him, for He cares for us. Instead of dwelling on our anxieties, we put our trust in God's providence, knowing that He holds our future in His hands.
 
Pray Fervently: Prayer is the lifeline that connects us to God.
It is through prayer that we find solace, guidance, and strength.
Jesus, being fully aware of the importance of prayer, often sought solitude to communicate with God the Father.
Just as He encouraged His disciples to pray, we to need to make prayer a priority in our lives. Through constant communication with God, we open our hearts to His power, his will and that will put us in the right spirit to follow his will.
Think about Whatever is Good:
The mind is a powerful instrument that can either uplift us or burden us.
Jesus teaches us to focus our thoughts on whatever is good, pure, and praiseworthy.
By nurturing positive and uplifting thoughts, we foster a healthy and joyful mindset.
All these teachings, as wonderful as they sound and they truly are, are sometimes hard to reflect on, to trust and to focus on.
With so much, we all face.
Some of us are struggling with health concerns, some of us have lost loved ones, and some of us struggle financially.
Advent and Christmas are a time to be joyful.
Waiting, anticipation of the coming of Jesus.
Santa Claus, family, friends, church.
All fun, all filling us with joy.
Our young people look to us as examples of love, peace and joy, just as we adults look to our Blessed Savoir for those same things.
Let us look to God through the eyes of our children, our grandchildren, our families, our friends and yes our church, each other.
These are places in our lives where we can find joy.
In the mist of our personal challenges let us truly live in this Advent season, let us reflect on the goodness of God, the hope of salvation, and the love that was demonstrated through the birth of Jesus. In doing so, we cultivate a spirit of gratitude and find renewed strength to navigate life's challenges.
As we navigate through this worldly, hectic the Advent season, let us heed the words of Jesus and embrace His teachings.
Rejoicing always, being free from anxiety, engaging in fervent prayer, and focusing our minds on whatever is good will lead us to experience peace, hope, joy, and love in abundance.
Just as Jesus provided guidance to the tax collectors, the soldiers, and the crowds, He stands ready to guide and transform our lives today. May we open our hearts to His wisdom and allow His teachings to shape our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.
As we continue along on this Advent journey, let us rejoice, pray, and seek the goodness and the joy that comes from walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
We are not alone, we have our Blessed Savior to share our journey with, and we have each other to share our journey with.
So – rejoice – be joyful in the coming of Jesus.
 Amen.