JOY

Third Sunday of Advent

 

 

 

Canticle of Mary (the Magnificat)

 

     “My soul magnifies the Lord, 
47       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
48  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. 
          Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 
          and holy is his name. 
50  His mercy is for those who fear him 
          from generation to generation. 
51  He has shown strength with his arm; 
          he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 
52  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 
          and lifted up the lowly; 
53  he has filled the hungry with good things, 
          and sent the rich away empty. 
54  He has helped his servant Israel, 
          in remembrance of his mercy, 
55  according to the promise he made to our ancestors, 
          to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Luke 1:47-55

 

 

The Meaning of the Magnificat - Bible Matrix

The Visitation (detail)

PONTORMO, Jacopo Carucci

1528-1529

Church of San Francesco e Michele, Carmignano

Florence

Italy

 

See this site for an interesting account of Visitation:

https://artway.eu/content.php?id=2864&lang=en&action=show

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy is not the same as happiness. We can be unhappy about many things, but joy can still be there because it comes from the knowledge of God's love for us. We are inclined to think that when we are sad we cannot be glad, but in the life of a God-centered person, sorrow and joy can exist together. That isn't easy to understand …  Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. It is a choice based on the knowledge that we belong to God and have found in God our refuge and our safety and that nothing, not even death, can take God away from us.

~ Henri Nouwen

 

 

Late on a sleepy, star-spangled night, 

those angels peeled back the sky 

just like you would tear open a sparkling Christmas present. 

Then, with light and joy pouring out of Heaven 

like water through a broken dam, 

they began to shout and sing the message 

that baby Jesus had been born. 

The world had a Savior! 

The angels called it "Good News, " 

 and it was.

 ~ Larry Libby

 

 

 

 

Brunch with Anne and Mark Vickstrom

Mark Vickstrom, David Cuin, Merit Hellman-Funk, Anne Vickstrom, Danna Cuin, Roger Ambrosier, Carolyn Alexander

 

   

 

 

  

 

Book Club

Ginny Boschen holding her cake with Mirror Frosting.

 

Bunco

Cindi, Cassie, T.C.

 

MANY THANKS TO HEIDI SMITHSON!

Heidi, on the left, received some thank you goodies presented by Vicki Kyle.

 

 

Our Rotary Meeting,

Friday Morning

We were greeted with Joy Bells by our three pastor members; 

Rev. Richard Aylor, Rev. Kimra Perkins, Rev. Jack Stapleton.

 

We had a snowman decorating event …

 

… and an Ugly Sweater Contest.

(President-elect Mindy Hanson, Mary Sheron)

 

Todd Bastian

 

It was exciting to have Henry, our former Exchange Student from Nepal,

visit us.  He is pictured here with Gail Sharp.

 

 

Friday Night Shabbat at Beth Evergreen

(Chanukah has ended and it is back to Shabbat … the Jewish Day of Rest.

Shabbat happens each week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.)

Rabbi Jamie and others led the evening of singing.

 

 

Several of our church members attended as an indicator of community support.

 

 

                  Joy to the World

(Verses 1 and 4)

                                                                           by Isaac Watts in 1719

 

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

 

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

                                                                     And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy to the World (2006) | The Tabernacle Choir  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLT9dSt8cwg

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 17, 2023  Third Sunday of Advent Year B

                

Previous OPQs may be found at: 

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not despise the words of prophets, 21but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.

23May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Agnus Day, by James Wetzsteinaa

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org 

 

comic

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org 

 

 

John 1:6–8, 19–28

Isenheim Altarpiece

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testifyconcerning 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.

 

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d]

 

26 “I baptize with[e] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11 

Psalm 126 or Luke 1:46b–55 

1 Thessalonians 5:16–24 

John 1:6–8, 19–28