This past Sunday, December 6th, was the second Sunday of Advent and here at Woodlawn Christian we lit the 'Peace' Candle. As I stated in the sermon, it almost seems ludicrous to talk of 'peace' with the violence going on all around the globe. For us here in America this violence was so recently punctuated by the massacre in San Bernardino, CA just a few days ago.
The truth is that the world will always be a violent place and if we search for our 'peace' in the world we shall never find it. It is only through our unfailing faith in our Lord that our souls will ever know peace on this side of life. Thankfully, we as Christians have this faith and can find this peace. We can as long as we don't allow the craziness of daily living get in the way, we can if we don't let the evil of mankind rob us of our belief that God loves not only ourselves but all of humanity.
Please take a listen to the sermon on the video below. I've also included the text for the reading for the lighting celebration of the 'Peace Candle'.
May this blog post find you all loved, blessed and at peace with your Lord.
In His Love,
Roy
Advent 2 – Candle of Peace, December 6, 2015
Reader 1:
Listen to the Prophet Isaiah:
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.
Reader 2:
Advent is about peace. And we do so long for peace. We live in a world of chaos and discord. The trademark of our time often seems to be turmoil. For far too many, our streets are dangerous places, with shootings and violence forcing good people to stay away. Our civil dialogue has given way to abusive rhetoric, we have forgotten how to disagree without being disagreeable. We hate others simply because they carry a different opinion or world view than our own. Our music and entertainment glorify violence and disrespect to others. Our leaders divide us, rather than unit us in good. Death, destruction, and terrorism are the topic of far too many stories in the nightly news. In all of this hatred and violence, we the people of Christ long for peace.
The state of the world often mirrors the state of our minds. We juggle hyperactive schedules, fragmented and broken families, and hypertensive pressures. We worry about our children, we agonize over how to care for our aging parents, about our retirement, about health care, and no job seems secure any longer. Far too many have turned their backs on the church, they grasp for gurus and scan self-help books in spiraling confusion. Stress is the name of our days.... and we so long for peace.
Candle-lighter: Light 2 blue candles
Advent Hymn - "One Candle Is Lit,” Hymn #128 verses 1 & 2
Reader 3:
Surely the peace of our world starts with the peace of our hearts. We are reminded that there is a peace in God which surpasses all understanding. At the core of each of us, if we will only listen, there is a still, small voice which can and will calm our fears, quiet our lives, and dispel our desperation. At the heart of each of us, if we only seek it, there is a spirit that rests in the grace of God. An assurance at the center of our lives that can and will tame the chaos at the edges.
This spirit of God, this spirit found in the human heart, is also the hope of our world. As we await the Bringer of Peace, the peace of God is already with us, it resides in all souls filled with the spirit of our God.
Prepare the way! The promise has come!
The lion shall dwell with the lamb.
Prepare the way! The old with the young!
A child shall teach us to stand.
Prepare the way! Make the paths straight!
The Earth shall fill her deep valleys!
The Way of the Lamb is approaching... and peace is at hand!
Prepare the way! The promise has come!
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