“God’s Joy-Bringing Word”

Bulletin: December 11, 2022

Newsletter: December 11-18, 2022

Scriptures: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Songs:

NEW Introit: Come and Worship – Bebo Norman (video)
O Thou Joyful, O Thou Wonderful (lyrics, melody & background, video, harp, meditation)
How Great Our Joy (lyrics & melody, children’s choir, Veggietales)
Long Ago Prophets Knew (background, video)
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (Celtic Women, Kutless, background & meditation)

Joel Russell-MacLean

John the Baptist had announced the joyful news that Jesus had come to complete God’s long-promised work of transforming the world. For his troubles, John was imprisoned by the local ruler, Herod, who sought to control the spread of the joy of the good news. He failed. In the end, Herod likely only succeeded at preventing joy from reaching his own heart.

John was not unaffected though.

From prison, John sent Jesus a message, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus sent a message back to the prophet so that he might endure to the end. Knowing Jesus was the source of John’s joy.

Sometimes, people or events seem to conspire to prevent us from having joy or receiving God’s word. The advent of Jesus is the source of our joy as well, and nothing can prevent him from coming to us.