Joy is the spark of resistance
(The third Sunday in Advent we have our annual Christmas play. The past two years we've done the ABCs of Christmas. This year I added a couple of parts as color commentators to acknowledge that not everyone is feeling joyful nor do they have to. Mostly what we need to do is to pay attention to how and where God is moving in the world and in our lives. Please feel free to adapt this as needed. The video of the service can be found here.)
One: Well, it’s that time of year again, and today is the third Sunday in Advent. You know what that means. It’s time for the Christmas play at New Ark United Church of Christ in Newark, DE.
Two: (grumpy) You forgot to say it’s the joy Sunday. You know, when we light the pink candle.
One: Well, I know you’re not quite in the Christmas spirit this year, so I didn’t want to push it.
Two: And why should I be? Like Charlie Brown said 60 years ago and every year since, it’s all so commercial. There’s so much awful stuff going on in the world right now. So much sadness and loss and suffering. Not to mention our democracy sliding into who knows what. All this hoopla just makes it all feel so much worse. Like it’s not even happening.
One: So, can we just give it a chance, okay? I mean, you don’t want to keep the kids waiting, do you?
Two: Okay, I guess not.
One: Fine, fine. Let’s listen in.
A is for an angel, named Gabriel, who began the story by telling Mary:
“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you. …Then the angel told Mary, “You have nothing to fear! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.”
Two: See, now that’s what I’m talking about – all so cheery! How does that help with anything?
One: Will you just be quiet and let the folks carry on? Sorry, everyone.
B is for Bethlehem, where our story takes place. People traveled from far and wide to get to Bethlehem, which was not a very big village but known for its hospitality. Bethlehem means “house of bread”.
C is for Census, which means counting all the people. This is the reason why so many people filled the city of Bethlehem.
D is for the donkey that Mary and Joseph brought with them for the long journey to Bethlehem.
E is for exhausted. That’s how everyone felt when they arrived – exhausted from all the traveling.
F is for family: Joseph and Mary, and their new baby Jesus, who was born that night in Bethlehem.
“…While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. Mary wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the guest room.”
G is for Good News. Here is what the angels said:
That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in Bethlehem a Savior was born for you, who is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him wrapped in blanket and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly many other angels filled the night sky and joined in praising God. They said:
“Praise God in heaven!
Peace on earth to everyone
with whom God is pleased.”
Carol: The First Nowell (verses 1 & 2)
H is for Hope. Hope is believing that things can be better. Hope is also working to make things better in this world. The birth of Jesus and the birth of every child is a source of hope.
One: Now that’s gotta count for something, right? I mean, they aren’t wrong.
Two: But every child deserves a better world than the one we’re giving them.
One: You’re exactly right. Keep listening.
I is for illumination, which means light or brightness. We celebrate Christmas with candlelight and Christmas lights. Illumination also means knowing something more about life and love and God. Jesus shows us how to be light in the world by teaching us how to love God and all people.
J is for Joy. Today we light the Advent candle of Joy. Joy is a choice we make to find goodness even when life is hard. Joy keeps us going. Joy increases when it is shared. The birth of Jesus gives us joy.
Two: Huh. I never thought of joy as a choice even when life is hard. Pretty hard, though, to find goodness some days.
One: But would you choose joy, would you try to find some goodness so someone else’s life could be a little bit better?
Two: Of course I would. You know I would. So that’s what Jesus is asking us to do?
One: Keep listening.
K is for kindred, for the relatives of Joseph who made room in their house for Mary and Joseph with the animals.
L is for love. Jesus tells us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We share love with one another at Christmas and all through the year.
M is for manger, a place that holds hay for animals but also kept Jesus warm and safe after he was born.
Carol: Away in a Manger
N is for Nativity, which means the place, the conditions, and the circumstances of being born. We put up nativity scenes to remind us of how Jesus was born.
O is for offering. There were gifts for Jesus when he was born. We give each other gifts at Christmas. Giving is a spiritual practice. We share what we have to help others.
One: Hey, do you want to come over to my house for Christmas, like for dinner that night? Nothing fancy. We don’t like having to cook a big meal, so we started doing this “put your own Dagwood sandwich together” thing and there are prizes for the ones who can get the most creative.
Two: You’re not doing this out of pity, are you, because I really don’t like that stuff.
One: Just say ‘yes’, silly. You know you want to.
Two: (scowls) Harumph.
P is for Peace. Peace is possible when we work for justice, when we listen to what others need to live full lives. Jesus healed people, fed the hungry, told us to put down our swords, and love our enemies.
Q is for questions. Did Jesus cry when he was a baby? Yes of course he did! What is frankincense and myrrh? Both are resins made from tree sap and they smell really nice when burned together.
R is for reverence, which means to regard something as holy and sacred. The shepherds and the wise ones who brought gifts to Jesus had reverence for him and Mary and Joseph, which is why they kneeled before them.
S is for star, the star that showed the shepherds and the wise ones how to find Jesus the night he was born.
Carol: The First Noel (verse 3, 4, 5)
T is for togetherness, for gathering with family and friends, just as Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where Joseph’s family was from.
Two: (sniffle, sniffle)
One: (tenderly) Are you okay?
Two: Hush, this is my favorite part. (blows nose loudly)
U is for unity, all different kinds of people brought together by Jesus’ birth to celebrate God’s love.
V is for vulnerable. Vulnerable means “helpless, tender, and in need of care to be safe”. Every baby is vulnerable when it is born and needs to be protected and held. We all feel vulnerable throughout our lives and need love from God and each other. We also need to give love.
W is for wonder, like looking up at the night sky at all the stars and planets and the moon, looking at the world around us and how beautiful it is, realizing that we are small in this universe. Yet there is no one else like us and we are not alone.
X is for Christ. X is the Greek letter Chi, the first letter in the word “Christ”. The X is one of the most ancient symbols of Christianity. People have been using the letter X to stand for Christ for centuries.
Y is for Yule, which is short for Yuletide, a winter festival from German peoples that was incorporated into our Christmas celebrations. For instance, carol singing is part of Yule.
Z is for Zzzzzz and getting a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fell asleep knowing they were safe and warm.
One: Well? What did you think?
Two: (sniffs, mops face) It really is a hopeful story, isn’t it? Can’t say I’m joyful, though.
One: Don’t have to be. I’m just glad you showed up today. Now, are you coming over for Dagwood sandwiches or not?
Two: (sigh) What time and what can I bring?
One and Two: Merry Christmas, everyone!
 |
| 15th-century French manuscript illumination depicting an intimate Nativity scene. Joseph sits on the floor holding baby Jesus while Mary sits up in bed reading a book. The scene includes a prominent red blanket covering Mary, and two animals, likely an ox and an ass, in the background stable area. |
One: Well, it’s that time of year again, and today is the third Sunday in Advent. You know what that means. It’s time for the Christmas play at New Ark United Church of Christ in Newark, DE.
Two: (grumpy) You forgot to say it’s the joy Sunday. You know, when we light the pink candle.
One: Well, I know you’re not quite in the Christmas spirit this year, so I didn’t want to push it.
Two: And why should I be? Like Charlie Brown said 60 years ago and every year since, it’s all so commercial. There’s so much awful stuff going on in the world right now. So much sadness and loss and suffering. Not to mention our democracy sliding into who knows what. All this hoopla just makes it all feel so much worse. Like it’s not even happening.
One: So, can we just give it a chance, okay? I mean, you don’t want to keep the kids waiting, do you?
Two: Okay, I guess not.
One: Fine, fine. Let’s listen in.
A is for an angel, named Gabriel, who began the story by telling Mary:
“Good morning! You’re beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out! God be with you. …Then the angel told Mary, “You have nothing to fear! God is pleased with you, and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus.”
Two: See, now that’s what I’m talking about – all so cheery! How does that help with anything?
One: Will you just be quiet and let the folks carry on? Sorry, everyone.
B is for Bethlehem, where our story takes place. People traveled from far and wide to get to Bethlehem, which was not a very big village but known for its hospitality. Bethlehem means “house of bread”.
C is for Census, which means counting all the people. This is the reason why so many people filled the city of Bethlehem.
D is for the donkey that Mary and Joseph brought with them for the long journey to Bethlehem.
E is for exhausted. That’s how everyone felt when they arrived – exhausted from all the traveling.
F is for family: Joseph and Mary, and their new baby Jesus, who was born that night in Bethlehem.
“…While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. Mary wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the guest room.”
G is for Good News. Here is what the angels said:
That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord's glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don't be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in Bethlehem a Savior was born for you, who is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him wrapped in blanket and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly many other angels filled the night sky and joined in praising God. They said:
“Praise God in heaven!
Peace on earth to everyone
with whom God is pleased.”
Carol: The First Nowell (verses 1 & 2)
H is for Hope. Hope is believing that things can be better. Hope is also working to make things better in this world. The birth of Jesus and the birth of every child is a source of hope.
One: Now that’s gotta count for something, right? I mean, they aren’t wrong.
Two: But every child deserves a better world than the one we’re giving them.
One: You’re exactly right. Keep listening.
I is for illumination, which means light or brightness. We celebrate Christmas with candlelight and Christmas lights. Illumination also means knowing something more about life and love and God. Jesus shows us how to be light in the world by teaching us how to love God and all people.
J is for Joy. Today we light the Advent candle of Joy. Joy is a choice we make to find goodness even when life is hard. Joy keeps us going. Joy increases when it is shared. The birth of Jesus gives us joy.
Two: Huh. I never thought of joy as a choice even when life is hard. Pretty hard, though, to find goodness some days.
One: But would you choose joy, would you try to find some goodness so someone else’s life could be a little bit better?
Two: Of course I would. You know I would. So that’s what Jesus is asking us to do?
One: Keep listening.
K is for kindred, for the relatives of Joseph who made room in their house for Mary and Joseph with the animals.
L is for love. Jesus tells us to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We share love with one another at Christmas and all through the year.
M is for manger, a place that holds hay for animals but also kept Jesus warm and safe after he was born.
Carol: Away in a Manger
N is for Nativity, which means the place, the conditions, and the circumstances of being born. We put up nativity scenes to remind us of how Jesus was born.
O is for offering. There were gifts for Jesus when he was born. We give each other gifts at Christmas. Giving is a spiritual practice. We share what we have to help others.
One: Hey, do you want to come over to my house for Christmas, like for dinner that night? Nothing fancy. We don’t like having to cook a big meal, so we started doing this “put your own Dagwood sandwich together” thing and there are prizes for the ones who can get the most creative.
Two: You’re not doing this out of pity, are you, because I really don’t like that stuff.
One: Just say ‘yes’, silly. You know you want to.
Two: (scowls) Harumph.
P is for Peace. Peace is possible when we work for justice, when we listen to what others need to live full lives. Jesus healed people, fed the hungry, told us to put down our swords, and love our enemies.
Q is for questions. Did Jesus cry when he was a baby? Yes of course he did! What is frankincense and myrrh? Both are resins made from tree sap and they smell really nice when burned together.
R is for reverence, which means to regard something as holy and sacred. The shepherds and the wise ones who brought gifts to Jesus had reverence for him and Mary and Joseph, which is why they kneeled before them.
S is for star, the star that showed the shepherds and the wise ones how to find Jesus the night he was born.
Carol: The First Noel (verse 3, 4, 5)
T is for togetherness, for gathering with family and friends, just as Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where Joseph’s family was from.
Two: (sniffle, sniffle)
One: (tenderly) Are you okay?
Two: Hush, this is my favorite part. (blows nose loudly)
U is for unity, all different kinds of people brought together by Jesus’ birth to celebrate God’s love.
V is for vulnerable. Vulnerable means “helpless, tender, and in need of care to be safe”. Every baby is vulnerable when it is born and needs to be protected and held. We all feel vulnerable throughout our lives and need love from God and each other. We also need to give love.
W is for wonder, like looking up at the night sky at all the stars and planets and the moon, looking at the world around us and how beautiful it is, realizing that we are small in this universe. Yet there is no one else like us and we are not alone.
X is for Christ. X is the Greek letter Chi, the first letter in the word “Christ”. The X is one of the most ancient symbols of Christianity. People have been using the letter X to stand for Christ for centuries.
Y is for Yule, which is short for Yuletide, a winter festival from German peoples that was incorporated into our Christmas celebrations. For instance, carol singing is part of Yule.
Z is for Zzzzzz and getting a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fell asleep knowing they were safe and warm.
One: Well? What did you think?
Two: (sniffs, mops face) It really is a hopeful story, isn’t it? Can’t say I’m joyful, though.
One: Don’t have to be. I’m just glad you showed up today. Now, are you coming over for Dagwood sandwiches or not?
Two: (sigh) What time and what can I bring?
One and Two: Merry Christmas, everyone!
Benediction - from "Awake! Awake and Greet the New Morn" #107 in the New Century Hymnal
Rejoice, rejoice, take heart in the night,
though cold the winter and cheerless,
the rising sun shall crown you with light,
be strong and gentle and fearless;
Love be our song and love our prayer,
and love, our endless story,
may God fill every day we share,
and bring us at last into glory.
Amen.
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