EVERYBODY'S CHURCH WEBSITE
  • Home
  • Info
    • Need Help?
    • Mission
    • Welcoming
    • Inclusion
    • Community
    • Why I Go to Everybody's Church
    • Become a Member
    • Our Vision >
      • Jesus Christ >
        • Celebrating
      • Reaching
      • Serving
      • Connecting
      • Growing
    • map and directions
    • Our Staff
    • Staff Contact Information
    • Job Openings
    • Funeral Information
    • Church Leadership
    • What to Expect FAQs
    • COVID Masking Policy
    • Building Use Fees
    • Baptism
    • Communion
    • In the Presence of the Holy
    • Presbyterian Church USA
    • Our Stained Glass Windows
    • The Presbytery of Detroit
    • Community Resources
    • Contact
  • Worship
    • church at home, livestream
    • Recent Sermons
    • Bulletins
    • Worship Schedule
    • Easter Services
    • Maundy Thursday Worship
    • Good Friday Worship
    • Rejoicing Spirits Worship
    • Music Ministries >
      • Children's Choir
  • Serve
    • Mission Opportunities
    • Yucatan Peninsula Mission (YPM) Trip
    • Deacons
    • Volunteer Opportunities at FPC
    • Learn about Foster Care
    • Mission Funding
    • Our Efforts to Serve the Least
    • Alcott School Ministry
    • International Missions >
      • Kenya Mission Trip Story
      • Faith Kasoni - Kenya
      • Chang-Lopez
    • Local Missions >
      • Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care
    • In Our Church >
      • Deacons
      • Memorial Service Help
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care
    • Mission Videos
  • Learn
    • Matthew 25 >
      • Matthew 25 Events >
        • Listen - Matthew 25
        • Learn - Matthew 25
        • Lean In - Matthew 25
    • Children's and Family Ministries >
      • Resources re: Racism
      • Five Part Story
      • Worship Wonder
      • CrossWalks
      • Faith at Home Resources
      • Sacraments
      • Build a Bible For Kids
      • Milestones for Children
      • Inclusion Videos
    • Youth Ministries
    • Spiritual Practices
    • Education Videos >
      • Five Women Five Journeys
      • Health and Wellness
      • Theologian in Residence
      • Teacher Training Videos
      • Sacraments Videos
      • Bus Training Video
      • Children's Ministry
    • Adult Faith Formation >
      • Church History 101 >
        • The Jesus Community
        • The Church Expands
        • Constantine to the Reformation
        • The Reformation
        • The Church in America
      • Revelation Bible Study
      • Christian Faith Foundation
      • The Gospel of John >
        • Introduction
        • The Book of Signs >
          • John 1:1-18
      • Genesis Bible Study >
        • Genesis Chapters 1-11
        • Genesis Chapters 12-25
        • Genesis Chapters 26-36
        • Genesis Chapters 37-50
      • Exodus Bible Study >
        • Exodus 1-15
        • Exodus 16-23
      • John Calvin For Everyone
      • What is a Presbyterian Video Series
      • Two Year Bible Trek
      • Immigration Information
      • Faith Formation Groups
      • Fellowship and Ministry Groups
      • Classes and Events
    • Hand in Hand Early Learning Center
    • Belhar Confession
    • All Abilities Inclusion Ministry
    • Disability Inclusion Resources
  • Events
    • Holy Week
    • 24-Hour Prayer Vigil
    • Senior Adventures
    • Concerts at First
    • Vacation Bible Camp
    • Lunch and Learn
    • New Member Event
    • SAIL event
    • Calendar
  • News
    • Email Sign-up
    • First Things
  • Connect
    • Inclusive Communities Network
    • SAIL Solutions for Adult Independent Living
    • Faith Formation Groups
  • App/Members' Portal
  • Give
    • Contribute to FPC
    • Stewardship
    • 2023 Pledge Form
    • 2022 Financial Review
    • Community Rewards Programs >
      • Kroger Sign up/Re-register
      • Link to AmazonSmile
    • Deacons
    • First Foundation >
      • Donating
      • Grant Requests
      • Serving the World
      • History

Walking in Joy

12/12/2021

 

Rev. Dr. John Judson
December 12, 2021

Listen
Watch Service
Watch Sermon
Print Version

1 Samuel 1:21-28; Luke 1:39-45

      It is always nice in life to know that there are some things you can always depend upon.  For me one of those is our own Detroit Lions.  We can always depend on them to find a way to lose. I say that because this season they have lost three times on the final play of the game…and this last week appeared to be no different. Leading late in the fourth quarter, deep in their own territory, rather than punt the ball, they decided to go for a first down on fourth and one.  Needless to say, as only the Lions can do, not only did they not make the first down, but they fumbled the ball closer to the end zone.  Their opponents quickly drove into the endzone, took the lead, and people were headed toward the exits.  But then, a true Christmas miracle occurred. With less than two minutes to go, the Lions drove down the field and closed in on the end zone.  Finally, there was time for one last play.  Our quarterback stepped back in the pocket and drilled the ball to one of his receivers for a touchdown.  In that moment it was as if cork had been shot out of shaken champagne bottle.  There was an explosion of joy.  One player was running off the field with his finger raised…as if to say we are number one…even though I suppose it stood for one victory.   That, my friends, is what joy looks like.

      Joy is one of those words we often throw around without thinking about it.  We talk about being filled with joy; or perhaps say we are joyful;  or maybe say we enjoy something. But what is joy?  First, joy is not happiness.  Happiness is a state of being.  It is a sense of contentment with life.  Joy, on the other hand, is a moment, an event.  Joy is something that often takes us by surprise.  Joy is a moment of transcendent delight.  It was the joy on our grandson’s face when he was splashing in the tub and suddenly his yellow rubber ducky got dunked and then popped back to the surface.  It was the Lions transcendent delight in their first victory.  The strange thing about joy though, is that these moments of transcendent delight diminish as we get older.  It is easy to lose sight of joy when we remember what happened at Oxford High School, or the tornadoes this past week, or now two years of Covid pain. Joy escapes us.  Yet, if we listen to the scriptures, joy is something that God wants us to have even in the most difficult of times. Joy is a gift that God gives us through the Spirit. So this morning we are going to go looking for joy.

      We begin our exploration by acknowledging that there are two kinds of joy.  There is giving joy and there is receiving joy.  Giving joy is what Hannah experienced.  On the surface, there would appear to be little or no joy in what takes place in our morning’s story.  Hannah, as you heard last week, prayed desperately to God for a male child. If she has a male child, she promises God that her son would serve God as a priest in training.  Hannah conceives, gives birth, weans her son, and then brings him to the tent of meeting in order to lend him to God. For any parent this would hardly seem like a moment of joy.  Yet for Hannah it is.  I say this, first, because she brings a bull for a sacrifice; and when a bull is sacrificed the bull is not just consumed by fire, but most of it becomes a barbeque for a family celebration.  I say this is a moment of joy because Hannah is going to sing a song of praise to God…which we will look at next week. For Hannah this is a moment of joy because she gets to give back to God a gift that has been given to her; a gift that fulfilled her deepest desire.  There is joy in the giving…even if there is sadness in the parting.

      Our second story is a story of joy in receiving.  As Rev. Bethany talked about last week, Mary was given the opportunity to be the mother of the messiah. God considered her worthy of the task.  So, Mary, probably a bit afraid of society’s reaction to her as an unwed mother, goes to visit her cousin, Elizabeth.  As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting, the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaps for joy and Elizabeth is filled with the Spirit.  This causes her to cry out, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And why has this happened that the mother of my Lord comes to me?”  Can you hear the joy in her voice? Can you hear that this is a moment of transcendent delight?  This is pure, unexpected joy that comes to Elizabeth because God has given her an opportunity to share in the amazing, world-changing event that is going to be Mary’s son.  This is pure, unexpected joy because it says God has fulfilled God’s promise.  This is pure, unexpected joy because Elizabeth now knows that God has not forgotten God’s people.  There is joy in receiving.

      As I said a moment ago, the older we get, the less joy we seem to find in life.  It is as if we close ourselves off to the possibility that joy is out there waiting for us.  Yet joy is there for the experiencing.  Giving joy is possible.  I say this because I have seen this in the last couple of weeks.  I have been fortunate enough to watch many of you bring in your gifts for the angel tree.  And what I saw on many of your faces was transcendent delight.  There was a lightness in your steps. There were smiles on your faces.  My friends, this kind of giving is a moment to experience the joy of giving, not out of obligation, or guilt, but simply out of a joyous response to what God has given to us.  Receiving joy is possible…if we are open to it.  The unexpected joy of a beautiful sunrise or sunset; the unexpected joy of a word of thanks that surprises us; the unexpected joy of seeing someone you didn’t expect to see, or perhaps making a new friend; the unexpected joy of experiencing God’s love and grace in a new way.  All of these ways of giving and receiving joy are why we can talk about walking in joy…because there are moments of joy waiting for each of us if we are only willing to see them, to be open to them.

      I know that we are living in a moment when it is easy to look at the world and see nothing but bad news; Covid, gun violence, inflation, political gridlock…and on and on.  Yet we can never let those realities keep us from finding joy; keep us from experiencing the joy that comes to us in the love of God in Jesus Christ; or the joy that comes when we can share with others what we have been given.  So, my friends, my challenge to you is this: ask yourselves, how am I allowing myself to be open to joy…the joy God desires for me?


Comments are closed.

    Subscribe by Email

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Categories

    All
    Alive In A Global Uprising
    Alive In God's Creation
    Alive In The Spirit Of God
    Alive In The Story Of Jesus
    Alleluia People
    An Abundance Attitude
    Being God's People
    Being Human
    Claiming Our Identity
    Discipleship Defined
    Do You Hear What I Hear
    Encouragement Along The Way
    Giving From The Heart
    God's Imperfect Family
    Growing Our Faith
    Living In Ordinary Time
    Luke Looks At Money
    Matthew 25
    Mourning Mystery Mission
    New Beginnings
    On The Job Training
    Own Your Hope
    Pentecost
    People Get Ready
    Praying Like Jesus
    Rooted And Grounded In Love
    The Children Of God
    The Five Part Story
    The Force Is Awakening
    The Heart Of The Matter
    The Lord Is Our Shepherd
    The Mighty Acts Of God
    The Perfect Season
    The Vocabulary Of Faith
    The Voice Our Choice
    The Voice - Our Choice
    We Make The Road By Walking
    Youth Sunday

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    RSS Feed

First Presbyterian Church
Phone:  248-644-2040
Fax:       248-644-8047
Email:    contact@everybodyschurch.org
Address: 1669 W. Maple, Birmingham, MI 48009
Hand in Hand Early Learning Center
Phone:   248-644-2040 ext. 124
Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care
FAR Therapeutic Arts and Recreation 
Phone:   248-646-3347
Presbytery of Detroit


Presbyterian Church USA
​
More Light Presbyterians
​
Skyline Camp and Conference Center
Phone: 248-644-2043 (Birmingham Office)
             810-798-8240 (Almont Campus)
Samaritan Counseling Center
Phone: 248-474-4701
  • Home
  • Info
    • Need Help?
    • Mission
    • Welcoming
    • Inclusion
    • Community
    • Why I Go to Everybody's Church
    • Become a Member
    • Our Vision >
      • Jesus Christ >
        • Celebrating
      • Reaching
      • Serving
      • Connecting
      • Growing
    • map and directions
    • Our Staff
    • Staff Contact Information
    • Job Openings
    • Funeral Information
    • Church Leadership
    • What to Expect FAQs
    • COVID Masking Policy
    • Building Use Fees
    • Baptism
    • Communion
    • In the Presence of the Holy
    • Presbyterian Church USA
    • Our Stained Glass Windows
    • The Presbytery of Detroit
    • Community Resources
    • Contact
  • Worship
    • church at home, livestream
    • Recent Sermons
    • Bulletins
    • Worship Schedule
    • Easter Services
    • Maundy Thursday Worship
    • Good Friday Worship
    • Rejoicing Spirits Worship
    • Music Ministries >
      • Children's Choir
  • Serve
    • Mission Opportunities
    • Yucatan Peninsula Mission (YPM) Trip
    • Deacons
    • Volunteer Opportunities at FPC
    • Learn about Foster Care
    • Mission Funding
    • Our Efforts to Serve the Least
    • Alcott School Ministry
    • International Missions >
      • Kenya Mission Trip Story
      • Faith Kasoni - Kenya
      • Chang-Lopez
    • Local Missions >
      • Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care
    • In Our Church >
      • Deacons
      • Memorial Service Help
    • Stephen Ministry
    • Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care
    • Mission Videos
  • Learn
    • Matthew 25 >
      • Matthew 25 Events >
        • Listen - Matthew 25
        • Learn - Matthew 25
        • Lean In - Matthew 25
    • Children's and Family Ministries >
      • Resources re: Racism
      • Five Part Story
      • Worship Wonder
      • CrossWalks
      • Faith at Home Resources
      • Sacraments
      • Build a Bible For Kids
      • Milestones for Children
      • Inclusion Videos
    • Youth Ministries
    • Spiritual Practices
    • Education Videos >
      • Five Women Five Journeys
      • Health and Wellness
      • Theologian in Residence
      • Teacher Training Videos
      • Sacraments Videos
      • Bus Training Video
      • Children's Ministry
    • Adult Faith Formation >
      • Church History 101 >
        • The Jesus Community
        • The Church Expands
        • Constantine to the Reformation
        • The Reformation
        • The Church in America
      • Revelation Bible Study
      • Christian Faith Foundation
      • The Gospel of John >
        • Introduction
        • The Book of Signs >
          • John 1:1-18
      • Genesis Bible Study >
        • Genesis Chapters 1-11
        • Genesis Chapters 12-25
        • Genesis Chapters 26-36
        • Genesis Chapters 37-50
      • Exodus Bible Study >
        • Exodus 1-15
        • Exodus 16-23
      • John Calvin For Everyone
      • What is a Presbyterian Video Series
      • Two Year Bible Trek
      • Immigration Information
      • Faith Formation Groups
      • Fellowship and Ministry Groups
      • Classes and Events
    • Hand in Hand Early Learning Center
    • Belhar Confession
    • All Abilities Inclusion Ministry
    • Disability Inclusion Resources
  • Events
    • Holy Week
    • 24-Hour Prayer Vigil
    • Senior Adventures
    • Concerts at First
    • Vacation Bible Camp
    • Lunch and Learn
    • New Member Event
    • SAIL event
    • Calendar
  • News
    • Email Sign-up
    • First Things
  • Connect
    • Inclusive Communities Network
    • SAIL Solutions for Adult Independent Living
    • Faith Formation Groups
  • App/Members' Portal
  • Give
    • Contribute to FPC
    • Stewardship
    • 2023 Pledge Form
    • 2022 Financial Review
    • Community Rewards Programs >
      • Kroger Sign up/Re-register
      • Link to AmazonSmile
    • Deacons
    • First Foundation >
      • Donating
      • Grant Requests
      • Serving the World
      • History