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Mark Wheeler
John 1:1-18
“We Believe in the Light: Illuminating Peace”
First Sunday of Advent, 11/29/2020
Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church
The “great light” prophesied by Isaiah in today’s Call to Worship is echoed in the first strains of John’s Gospel Good News: the light that brings peace–that saves the people from all that would extinguish it–has been here from the beginning. The Word is made flesh and dwells among us. This reign is now… will we believe it? Will we continue to put flesh on it, embodying the peace meant for all humanity?
Open with “Light of the World”
Holy One, we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gift of peace on earth.
Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we aren’t sure that goodwill among us can be found, ignite the flame of peace within us,
Help us face the pain of life
and embrace the assurance that light is already here, and is always coming. Amen.
Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Peace of Christ be with you.”
Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.
For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.
Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Feel free to laugh at our efforts … and pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.
Listen now and join in as we read our Isaiah prophecy – and those at home, if you have candles, light a candle and keep it near you in this time of worship and prayer – as we light our Advent Wreath.
Our song of praise today sings of Christ’s presence and the Peace He offers! – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – led by Julie on the piano, and Donna & Ken singing for us (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).
Through the Written Word,
And endorsed by our spoken word,
May we know Your Living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
On this week of “peace,” we encounter a prophesy from Isaiah that lays out the qualities of a just and righteous ruler. The “authority” that rests upon the shoulders of good rulers is dependent upon the “endless” peace that they can provide for their people, where the weak are protected from the strong who may perpetrate violence against them and “lord” privilege over them. There is some debate about what “child” Isaiah is describing (a descendant of David already born or yet to be born? Or are these attributes referring to God?) but the description is in keeping with other instances in Hebrew texts that describe a peace that is not a false one where some are muzzled in order to “keep the peace.”
Of course there is no doubt in John’s Gospel that Jesus is the fulfillment of this “child” come to bring peace. And that Jesus is God incarnate! Jesus, the Word, was in the beginning with God and present throughout human history.
John’s Gospel is written later than the others and is meant to inspire people to faith, to see the Jesus’ story as the origin story from the beginning of time. Listen to how closely it resembles Genesis 1. And so it is logical that Jesus would be described as light – the first act of creation. This light then becomes flesh and makes a home among us, gifting humankind with a well-lit room in that house and a clear vision of the pathway to enlarging the peace – enlarging the houses of God that we create to all people – John 14:6, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me”.
Listen here to the Word of God … John 1:1-18 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]
1 1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
At this time of year, we see lights everywhere that remind us of the coming of that true Light that John tells us about. Trees are adorned with lights, streets that are lined with lights, homes and businesses are outlined with lights. One of my favorite activities of the season is to drive around and look at all of the beautiful lights. That’s why each Sunday of the Advent season, we light candles on the Advent wreath.
John’s Gospel tells us that God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone would believe. John wasn’t the light, he only came to tell others about the light. Who was the light that John came to tell people about? That’s right, it was the “always-correct-children’s-message-answer”, Jesus. The one true light, who gives light to everyone.
Like John the Baptist, we are to testify to the light – the light that is Jesus and in the way that light shines now in others.
Let’s invest a few minutes sharing stories – Where have you witnessed the “light of peace?”
- A couple weeks ago when Owen Sandusky and Dick Sawdy were right next door to each other at DMC, allowing Kathy and Marlene to share prayers with and for each other!
- The gift of brothers and sisters in Christ willingly giving of their time ad abilities to help each other out.
- If You Could Save Just One offering so many different ways to take care of families in need, especially when nothing is simple these days!
Let’s remember that the lights of this season are a symbol of the one true Light, Jesus, who brought light into the darkness of this world!
As we light the candles on our advent wreath, the four candles remind us that Jesus brings peace, love, joy, and hope into the world. It is true, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin, the Light of the world is Jesus!“
As we move into a time of prayer together – let me talk with our kids for a minute – all-y’all can listen in:
This Advent we’re going to learn a little sign-language – because that’s a beautiful way to bring light into the darkness deafness. This year is the 100th anniversary of the great song “This Little Light of Mine”. Let’s sing it quietly, and let’s add the sign language that goes with it:
Prayer Page –
Leader: We believe that humans seem to have a penchant for conflict AND
People: We believe that we are capable of learning non-violent ways
to negotiate difference.
We believe that we have perpetrated deep suffering upon each other AND
We believe that we can face up to the facts of racial-privilege and work for equity.
We believe that our fear has told us that we must “win” in order to survive AND
We believe that “winning” at the cost of others can be called out and changed.
We believe, even when we are discouraged.
We believe, that when we are discouraged,
raising our voices for justice will offer us peace!
Believe, with a peaceful heart!
Believe, and shine Your light!
Believe, because the song we sing is sung for all!
And now let the weak say, “I am strong;”
let the poor say, “I am rich
because of what our God has done for us.”
Believe!
And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer …. “Have mercy on us, O Lord.” [Lord’s Prayer] Amen.
– Christmas Joy Offering & Pledge Cards and our Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE) or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”
This Advent Season – while we all are suffering to some degree because of the COVID pandemic and all of the hoopla and restrictions that goes with it, our closing song will what is known as Christmas Carols of Resistance:
Our Carol of Resistance this week is part of the repertoire of Christmas songs that were created by people who endured brutal hardships as the result of African colonization and North American slavery. But, though people of African descent were ripped from much of their cultural heritage, they maintained their heritage of group song, punctuated by West African rhythms and vocal stylings. Of course the safest thing for oppressed peoples to sing about was the religious beliefs that gave many hope in the midst of suffering. “Go Tell It On The Mountain” is probably the best-known African American Christmas song and some of the words are thought by some to have been code words for those seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. It was made popular by the Fisk Jubilee Singers 150 years ago as these college students – themselves freed slaves – traveled the country to raise money and awareness. They were turned away from hotels, railway waiting rooms, and even some churches because of the color of their skin. As we sing, let us honor them, honor all who have endured slavery and the continued systemic racism caused by slavery. Let us… as Dick McCarter … leads us in …
Expedition Song – Go Tell It on the Mountain! ….
Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.
We close with this benediction: In this Advent Season of waiting know this …
We wait for peace but we do not wait to work to eliminate hatred.
We wait for justice but we do not wait to work for change;
We wait for restored health but we do not wait to work to heal;
We wait for wholeness but we do not wait to work at binding brokenness;
And so, my friends, like bells ringing out the news
that the light has dawned and shines on all people,
fill the night left by fear with messages of peace.
Go into your lives humming the tunes that keep that peace alive in you
and that spur you on in your work of justice and reconciliation.
Raise your voices and repeat after me…
“We believe when!”
“We believe even when!”
Amen!
Postlude: “It Is Well with My Soul”, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC
Resources:
McFee, Marcia; Worship Design Studio; Advent 2020.
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