Sermons
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 Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Gospel: Luke 2:21-40 According to Professor C. Michael Hawn, a professor of sacred music at Perkins School of Theology, Christmas and other liturgical season Carols originated in Europe as a way to share Biblical stories through an oral tradition, particularly for the non-literate in the medieval era and they were often shared outside of a church service. Christmas hymns were sung in church and they date even further back to the 4th Century during the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.) and subsequent councils, where the adoption of the Nicene Creed defined the nature of Christ in what became orthodox theology. Early Latin hymns from this time were polemical statements that explained the doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to Arianism, a concept that asserted that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was created by God at a specific point in time and was an entity distinct from God the Father, and therefore subordinate to the Father. “Corde natus de Parentis” (“Of the Father’s love begotten,” The United Methodist Hymnal, 184) is one of the most famous hymns from this era that is still sung. Since that time, telling the story of the birth of Christ in song has been an important tradition, especially in the Western Church. Let’s get warmed up in our journey of singing praises with the 1743 hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful written by John Francis Wade, a Roman Catholic layperson who taught music and was a copyist of musical scores at the Roman Catholic College and Ministry Center in Douay, France. It was originally written in Latin and translated into English 100 years later by Catholic Priest Reverend Frederick Oakley. Hymn #234 O Come, All Ye Faithful, verses 1, 3 & 5 Looking at today’s scriptures, our Isaiah scripture speaks of rejoicing because God is present. God is clothing God’s people in salvation and righteousness. The people have been rescued again. How fitting that this comes right after we celebrate the birth of Jesus - the Messiah. While he is just a baby, there is still hope just as a child born into any family brings hope. Think of the excitement of hearing that someone has a child, grandchild, niece or nephew on the way. Niece Abby’s announcement. The expectation of the pregnancy, the wonder of the birth and then the wonder of each first: smile, baptism, step, word etc. Mary and Joseph were rejoicing in God’s child as well, but even though Jesus was fully human and fully divine, he went through all of the normal firsts. In our Luke scripture today, some of those firsts were his circumcision, official naming, and his dedication to God, which included a sacrifice of two turtledoves or pigeons. Mary and Joseph also get more confirmation of Jesus’ divinity through Simeon who holds Baby Jesus and says as he prays to God, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all the peoples, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Here we have a true message of inclusion. Jesus is salvation for all people: Jews and Gentiles or non-Jews. The scripture says that “the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him”- they too are learning but they are also learning that Jesus’ path will not be easy as Simeon says he is destined to be opposed. The 84-year-old prophet Anna also came to see Jesus in the temple that day noting that all were looking to him for redemption. Despite all of this pressure, we next hear that the “child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; the favor of God was upon him.” What child is this is a hymn of wonder and praise of this new born king. According to Dr. Hawn, it was written by William Chatterton Dix (1837-1898), an Anglican layman, who was the son of a surgeon in Bristol, England. He spent most of his life as a businessman, working as a manager for the Maritime Insurance Company in Glasgow, Scotland. We know of his church affiliation only through his hymns that were published in Altar Songs, Verses on the Holy Eucharist, and A Vision of All Saints. The hymn was likely written to the tune of the 17th century melody Greensleeves. Stanza two makes fleeting reference to the less than ideal conditions—“mean estate”—under which the idyllic scene of the previous stanza is situated. Like stanza one, the poet begins with a rhetorical question, “Why lies he in such mean estate?” In essence, he asks why the Christ Child should be in such a humble setting “where ox and ass are feeding.” The original second half of this stanza, not found in the hymnal, provides a more complete response to this question: Nails, spear shall pierce him through; The cross he bore for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the Son of Mary! Dix’s answer to the reason for the “mean estate” under which Christ was born lies in his future suffering on the cross. Let’s sing this hymn of wonder and praise: Hymn #219 What Child is This? Take a minute and open your hymnal to Hymn #240 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Choose a few words or a line that sticks out to you - in a moment we will share them. This is one of 6000 hymns written by Charles Wesley. This was prompted by Luke 2:10: “Then the angel said to them (the shepherds) do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people. “ Wesley wrote this when he was 32 in 1739. Although it originally began “Hark, how all the welkin rings” welkin was an old English term for “the vault of heaven” and Wesley did not like people to change his verses, but his friend evangelist George Whitfield did change this one to Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” This is probably why we still sing it today. Let’s sing #240, Hark the Herald Angels Sing. We end our musical journey sermon today with “The First Noel”. Noel comes from the French and is believed to be related to natalis in Latin, which means birth but some also say it derives from nouvelle in French, which means new. “The First Noel” has its roots in the fifteenth century in its oral form, and it appeared on eighteenth-century broadsides in Helston, near Cornwall (Keyte and Parrott, 1992, 482). It was published first in the revised edition of Some Ancient Christmas Carols (1823), edited by Davies Gilbert. Its publication in the famous Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern (1833), compiled by William Sandys in London (Sandys, 1833, 74–75) increased the carol’s prominence. Originally in nine stanzas, five are commonly used in most hymnals today. Though the angels’ appearance to the shepherds (Luke 2:1–20) is the subject of the first stanza, most of the carol focuses on the journey of the magi (Matthew 2:1–12), giving the carol an Epiphany focus. British hymnologist Erik Routley (1917–1982), never one to mince words, noted: “But may we not whisper that THE FIRST NOWELL, beloved though it is, is really a terrible tune?” He noted the extreme repetition as part of the problem and the belief is that it may have evolved from a kind of sing-song oral tradition where the story was more important than the melody. Pastor Michelle Fountain
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12/24/2023 0 Comments Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols 2023: From the perspective of the Innkeeper and Joseph Lesson 1 from the Innkeeper - Pastor Michelle Fountain
Inspired by and incorporating: Isaiah 7:14 & Isaiah 9:6-7 Oh hello! Thanks for coming. I love to share the story of that young couple who came to my Inn on this night so long ago. I was a lot younger then and, frankly, I did not put it all together at the time. Time, age, and a lot of prayerful reflection have helped me to weave together what I remember with scriptures and the stories of others to share what I have to tell you tonight. In fact, the story goes back even further than the decades ago when it happened. It began over 700 years ago when the prophets Isaiah and Micah lived. In fact, I was reflecting on those scriptures before the couple showed up at my Inn. You see, my people, the Jews, have been persecuted throughout history. Yet God has been there time and time again to rescue us from captivity and, at times, to remind us to stay faithful and to redirect us when we get off track. Living under the rule of the Roman Empire, I was wondering when God was going to step in again. This latest census that Caesar Augustus ordered had everyone returning to their home town to be counted so he could figure out how to tax us. Lots of people left Bethlehem and lots were also coming in. Luckily for me, my family had stayed put here for a long time so I did not have to go anywhere but the upstairs rooms that I rent out as an Inn were in high demand as were anyone else’s that were available. I had rented out my three rooms to three different families and, being fully booked, had to turn others away, I stole a few minutes for prayer reflecting on the scriptures when I remembered that my town, Bethlehem, had been mentioned by the Prophet Micah. He said that from Bethlehem will come one who will rule Israel that “when she who is in labor has brought forth” there will be a leader strong in the majesty of the Lord who will be the one of peace. This reminded me also of what the Prophet Isaiah said, “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel, God with us.” Isaiah also said this child would grow to be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” and that he would come from the line of David. When would this happen I wondered? It had already been 700 years. What was God waiting for? When would Emmauel come? Carol #211 O Come, O Come Emmanuel, verses 1, 2 & 4 But then I felt badly for rushing God. Just about then, I heard a knock on the door and knew I would have to turn away yet another person for my family and I were already planning to sleep in the kitchen as we truly had no room left. But I opened the door to see a man and his very pregnant wife, little did I know then how this couple would change my life and that of so many others. Some of their story Joseph told me then, but much of it I have learned in the decades since. But you should hear some of it in Joseph’s voice. Lesson 2 from Joseph - Russell Glitman Inspired by and incorporating: Luke 1: 26-38, Matthew 1: 18-25 and Luke 2: 1-5 Hello, I’m Joseph. My family is originally from Bethlehem and is of the line of David. I lived for many years in Nazareth, often working four miles away in the great city of Sepphoris where there is much need for my skills. You see, I am a tekton, the Greek word for an artisan trained in a variety of crafts. I can design and build just about anything from homes to temples and all the furnishings inside from inlaid mosaics to silver and gold altars. After I had established myself in my career, my parents began to look for a wife for me. They knew Yo-a-hym and Anna were a devout couple, he was a scroll scholar who helped care for the sacred scrolls in the temple in Sepphoris. They had a young daughter Mary, educated and strong in the faith whom my parents thought would be a good match. After conferring with them, the parents agreed and Mary, 13 at the time, and I were legally espoused. She moved in with me and my family, living in a separate room of course, as we began our one year engagement period. A few months into our engagement, Mary told me that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant and asked if she could go into the country to be with her to help her for a while since Elizabeth was much older and the pregnancy was harder for her. Of course, I agreed. Mary returned three months later and informed me that she was pregnant! You can imagine my shock and disappointment. She told me that she had not been with a man but that an angel had come from God and had informed her that she was to have God’s child, a child conceived of the Holy Spirit. Honestly, it was just too much for me. But by now I was in love with Mary and did not want anything bad to happen to her. Women pregnant before marriage could be stoned to death. No, I would not let that happen to Mary. I would divorce her, for our espousement was a legally binding contract, and quietly send her away to have her child. I decided to sleep on this idea and make a plan the next morning but God had another idea. That night an angel appeared to me in my dreams and said,” Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” And the angel reminded me that Isaiah had foretold this that a virgin would conceive and bear a son and he would be called Emmanuel, God with us. When I woke up, I found Mary and apologized for not believing her. She smiled and said she understood and she knew the Lord would lead me back to her. We were married but did not lie together during her pregnancy. In the 9th month of Mary’s pregnancy, Caesar Augustus put forth a decree requiring everyone to go to their hometowns for a census. I was worried about this as it was close to Mary’s time to give birth but we had to go. It was a 90-mile journey from Nazareth to my hometown of Bethlehem. I put Mary on a donkey and I walked. It took us almost a week to get there and we were both exhausted. Carol #230 O Little Town of Bethlehem Verses 1-3 Lesson 3 from the Innkeeper Inspired by and incorporating: Luke 2: 6-7 Innkeeper - So this young couple showed up on my doorstep. But, as I said before, there was absolutely no room in my Inn. Yet, as I looked at this exhausted couple, who told me their names were Joseph and Mary, she looking about ready to give birth, I knew I had to find something for them. “Joseph, it isn’t much but I keep some sheep and cattle in a little cave near here. It is warm and dry and all I have, would you and Mary like to stay there?” I asked. He gratefully accepted and I learned later that she gave birth that very night, wrapping the child in the strips of cloth we use to wrap the legs of baby lambs and lying him on the trough carved into the cave wall as a bed. (Put Mary, Joseph, and Jesus in the Stable) “That Boy Child of Mary” sung by George Thomson Lesson 4 from the Innkeeper Inspired by and incorporating: Luke 2: 8-16 Innkeeper - Some shepherds later told me that, that same night, after the child was born, a glowing angel appeared to them while they were out in the fields watching their sheep. At first, they were terrified but the angel said, “Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the City of David, a savior who is the messiah, the Lord. This shall be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth lying in a manger.” And as they tried to take that in, suddenly there was not just one angel but a whole heavenly choir of them singing: (Put the angel on the table) Carol #238 Angels we have heard on high verses 1-3 Lesson 5 from the Innkeeper Inspired by and incorporating: Matthew 2: 1-11 Innkeeper: So the shepherds went searching and found Mary, Joseph and the baby just as the angels had told them and shared this story with Mary and Joseph. They say that Mary smiled thoughtfully and looked as if she was thinking about all of this in wonder even as she held the savior in her arms. After paying him homage, the shepherds then came and told me and anyone else they could find about all of this. (Put the Shepherds in and around the stable) And you would think this would be enough excitement, but the story does not end there. Joseph and Mary stayed in my cave for a while as she was worn out from traveling here and from the birth. Meanwhile, the shepherds told everyone they knew, well, I told quite a number of people myself as well, and the word spread about the birth of Jesus that some were calling King of the Jews. Apparently, word traveled beyond our area and three kings from the east decided to visit the child following a bright star in the sky to find him. They went to King Herod and asked him, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising”. Herod felt threatened by the very idea of a child being king of the Jews and quickly consulted with the chief priests and scribes who shared the prophecies of Micah and Isaiah noting that the child was to be born in Bethlehem. Herod told the other kings and asked them to return to him with the details so he could also go and pay homage to him. The Wise Men set out following the star that led them to Baby Jesus. They knelt in that cave before the baby bringing him expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But upon leaving, they were warned in a dream not to go to Herod so they returned home by a different route. (Add the Three Kings to the Manger scene) Carol #254 We Three Kings verses 1-4 Innkeeper: Can you believe all of this took place where I kept my sheep? I am grateful that I found a place for Mary and Joseph, even though it was just in a cave. It has taken me years to collect all of the bits and pieces of the story and to process all of this. God’s son was born while my sheep looked on. Angels led shepherds and a star guided wisemen from the east to worship him. I can’t wait to hear about what Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will do for our world. |
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