Monday’s thoughts for the sermon for December 17th
Toys and Joys To The World
The worship theme for Sunday will center on the “Joy” of Christmas. My research will begin with an exploration of the Christmas Carol “Joy To The World”.
This song was written by Isaac Watts in 1719. It is a paraphrase of Psalm 98:4-9. The hymn proclaims the future establishment of God’s power on earth. The original first line was “Joy to the Earth” but “earth” was changed to “World” in the Methodist Hymnal in 1878.
Isaac Watts was born in England. He was the first of nine children and he received his early education in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew. He declined an opportunity to study for the Anglican priesthood and instead studied theology and philosophy and became ordained and became pastor of Mark Lane Independent Chapel in London. Because of failing health he retired early in life and spent his later years writing philosophical and theological books, among them Logic. His book was used at Oxford for many years. He wrote 600 hymns and the two best known are “O God Our Help In Ages Past”, and Joy To The World”.
There is joy in the season of Advent. It comes through the wait for the arrival of Christmas, but it also has its roots in the realities of what comes to us as we wait. If we assume that arrival is what Advent points to and we aim for Christmas as our destination, we will miss the arrivals that happen in the waiting; we will miss the joy that comes each day.
What are the joys of Advent?
1. The smiles on the faces of children
2. The searching out for the right thing to give the right person knowing that the thought is more important than the gift
3. The beautiful music of Advent/Christmas
4. The reawakening of magic in a world that is so matter of fact that it misses some of the most important facts
What are your joys at Advent?
What are your joys in Christmas?
One of my convictions for worship is something I’ve acted upon every year I’ve been a pastor is the singing of Christmas carols during Advent. Some see this as premature. Some would argue we ought to be singing Advent hymns during Advent and save the Christmas carols for Christmas and Epiphany(the season after Christmas in January). I like to sing the familiar carols at Advent because they put is into a framework of expectation more effectively than the very dour Advent hymns that reflect a protracted agony of fear and expectation.
What do you think about this? Do you like singing Christmas carols now or should we have waited to sing them at a more liturgically appropriate time?
I’d like to know your ideas on this and I would like your thought about Advent Joy. If you would like other people to see your reflections click on “comments” and put your ideas there. If you wish to respond so that I am the only one who reads your ideas write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
