Just to say I have been SO EXCITED to share this GOOD NEWS in this sermon this morning is an understatement. I have been SO EXCITED all week and ever since I actually got the scripture that helped ILLUMINATE  this year long sermon series – BEEN SO EXCITED – and I will recap today about Jesus being the Light. (And I have a special surprise for everyone) SO EXCITED!!!

TO quote Silent Night: “Son of God, love’s pure light – Radiant beams from Thy holy face – With the dawn of redeeming grace – Jesus Lord, at Thy birth…”

And let us reflect – Hey, that is a LIGHT joke – but really – we are to REFLECT the LIGHT OF THE WORLD –  we are to see and feel and comprehend this Light, to KNOW GOD, to experience this LIGHT and not hide it – and to SHOW LOVE to God and one another by reflecting this Light, to encourage with this LIGHT – the LIGHT of presence and the LIGHT of HOPE – which we can share to GROW COMMUNITY. 

As we heard in the John 1 scripture reading this morning: the light coming into the world. The Light SHINES in the darkness – And darkness has not overcome it… In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

YES!

For unto, us, a child is born, unto us a son is given…

Angels proclaimed to lowly shepherds about a Baby in the manger who is Christ the Lord: In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 

Scripture tells us that surely the generations and generations ached for this LIGHT to come into the world – after Abraham after Isaac after Jacob, after Moses,  after David but we are told by many prophets and especially Isaiah: that a Savior would come WHEN THE TIME WOULD BE RIGHT, right? That when the SAVIOR would come into the world, He would be the MESSIAH, the Wonderful Counselor Mighty God Prince of Peace.

The LIGHT has come into the world  –  darkness has not overcome it.

And I think there was lots and lots of darkness this week. I mean, I have to shut off the news quite often, but there was a lot this week. And somebody asked me at work if I knew why the flags were at half staff, and I had to say that I didn’t know – But I could imagine half a dozen reasons from this week alone… There’s a lot of darkness in the world.  But remember the victory of Jesus. Remember that the only Healer for this sin sick world  in Jesus and He has entered the world, Immanuel, God with us. And He WILL come again.

I’m sorry we could not gather last week for sharing a message with everyone due to the snow storm. And yet, that snow – that GLORIOUS SNOW – the snow was so brilliantly bright. I felt like I needed sunglasses, and even the next morning when the sun came out, I couldn’t believe how bright it was.

I drove my youngest up to work because you know, the Subaru was in its glory and the brightness of the fresh snow on the trees was immense. I can’t even imagine and my heart can start to feel how immense the light of Jesus coming into the darkness was a gazillion times brighter and IS a gazillion times brighter. When the angels announced to the shepherds about the baby and where to find Him, imagine the LIGHT and seeing the glory of God. But really, we are still not talking about the sunlight nor moonlight not even starlight, We are talking about the light of a Savior.

Quoting Simeon, who got to hold this baby Jesus in his arms, Simeon said this Savior is a consolation for the people of Israel and a LIGHT OF SALVATION TO THE GENTILES –  And as we lit the Advent candles this morning, remember the light was increasing more and more and more. And we talk about physical link to represent Jesus and we have to remember that we’re talking about internal light. We’re talking about direction, talking about the light of hope, the light of lighter burdens. We’re talking about the warmth of the light in the warmth of our hearts. And we also talk about growing community by sharing this hope by being God’s hands and feet, by giving reason for our hope in Jesus and that He goes with us… 

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And now I want us to discuss what this light means to us. And how we can share the impact. And don’t worry, I have not just one prop, knowing you love props, I have a prop for each one of us… and I want to give US the opportunity for each of US to talk about the LIGHT and how have experienced light… 

I will give you a minute to collect your thoughts about LIGHT – how you have experienced it or how you may SHINE it …  (Hand out bags of props) – YES! We ALL get to make a prop and take it home and let the LIGHT SHINE with it…

(HAND OUT THE BAGS)

Now before we open our bags – is there anyone who wants to share right away about LIGHT? talk about the LIGHT and how have experienced light? (wait…)

Well, I want you to find the three colorful fringed pieces of paper – each person gets one orange, one yellow and one white…  each person also gets a brown or black base… On these colorful pages, you will find old testament and new testament scriptures about LIGHT – what the LIGHT means – how we share – Who God is – and about faith…

Let us share some (not all) of these scriptures – who wants to pick one from the orange paper – the old testament references? One from the first column  – one from the second – or one from the third? Etc  And the yellow paper – these are many from the gospels and into the first acts… Then the white paper – the acts and the letters and the book of revelation.  Anyone care to read one from those papers? (pick on people if necessary)…   WAIT FOR READINGS

OK – what are we going to do with these scriptures and these props???

I had seen a tremendous show maybe 10 years ago – a new telling of Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol” – by the great grandson of Dickens, Gerald Dickens…  and there is always a tidbit of insight to be gained from the re-hearing this classic tale – even if I have seen Scrooge – a Christmas Carol a thousand times – this had a couple small sprinkles of “new to me” verbiage – because it was faithful to the original text which I never heard and is usually omitted from the glitzy productions –

We know that this A Christmas Carol is a redemption story certainly for Scrooge – a return – a repentance – a realization…

And although ghosts of Christmas past present and future are fictious, the part that struck me – and plays into our prop today is from my favorite of the Dickens’ ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Present – “the like of which you have never seen before” – because every Christmas making life fresh and renewed again…

The text that peaks my interest was/is about the Ghost of Christmas Present’s torch – not only did he shed the LIGHT for Scrooge to see – he SHARED the LIGHT in a fantastical way – the torch shared physical light – yes – but the original text mentions the Ghost sprinkling incense and water drops on people arguing in the streets to make them of good humor – WOW

Here is the text: Imagine Scrooge and the big jovial Ghost of Christmas present walking the streets: “ soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their gayest faces. And at the same time there emerged from scores of bye-streets, lanes, and nameless turnings, innumerable people, carrying their dinners to the bakers’ shops. The sight of these poor revellers appeared to interest the Spirit very much, for he stood with Scrooge beside him in a baker’s doorway, and taking off the covers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. And it was a very uncommon kind of torch, for once or twice when there were angry words between some dinner-carriers who had jostled each other, he shed a few drops of water on them from it, and their good humour was restored directly. For they said, it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day. And so it was. God love it, so it was.”

WOW – love that imagery and that truth that us – not sharing incense not dripping water or fire but sharing light and love – peace and prodding – sharing the living water from Jesus – from the Light? Giving needed relief to the poorest of souls  – all these things causing the people to become more friendly jovial and full of LIGHT especially at Christmas.

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SO let us make these torches!  THESE ARE ALL UNIQUE – don’t be afraid!      You will roll the orange paper first  – with the writing on the outside – insert it into the torch and flare the flames out –  and them the yellow paper – rolling  with writing on the outside – and insert it – and then finally white but this time with the writing – and insert that so that you can read the writing from the inside.

Let’s be that beacon  –  light that reflects our Lord – our Hope – our Jesus…

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Dickens knew improving the lot of life of those in the 1800’s AND all the world is what Christmas can bring about about – Christmas is an opportunity for us and for the Lord finding the lost and saving the world one soul at a time –

Christmas present is a heartfelt reminder to find peace on earth that is in Christmas – from Christmas – Immanuel God with us…  Reminding in  Christmas – redemption is 100% due to Christ’s birth AND His Sacrifice.

Like Tiny Tim says: God bless us everyone – and Tiny Tim, the character of a little boy with a crutch and legs supported by iron frames, states: “that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

Yes we know of Jesus as this Miracle worker but we ALSO know Him of our Salvation – and the Lord who shows us the Way: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is quoted as saying in John 8:12 SO LET US CHERISH AND FOLLOW THAT LIGHT OF LIFE

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So we wrap Up our Advent series  of sermons  still with anticipation of CARRYING this LIGHT – like  the Christ Candle in our hearts and on our wreath  – in our torches –  we remember Jesus, You are Light, You are Love, You are Hope, You are Joy – You are the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 59 2-4 reminds his people of Israel, of the jews, that: the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. And Isaiah foretells that also the Gentiles shall come to His light, and kings to the brightness of His rising.  Urging for all of us to Lift up your eyes all around, and see…”

Please Pray with me: In the beginning was the word, we know this powerful word is Jesus Lord and Savior that changes community lives, one person at a time.  And so let us take our selves – (take our props – whatever light you can shed and share) – yes AND our hearts and spirits and steps – and be that life of Christmas now – no ghost but real people reaching out to real people with the JOY and energy and HOPE of our Savior. God Love us!

AMEN