{"id":1060,"date":"2020-12-12T19:58:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T19:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=1060"},"modified":"2020-12-12T19:58:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-12T19:58:50","slug":"advent-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/12\/advent-iii\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent III"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/49204444553_1590a6610a_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>December 11, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye and Heather, and special thanks to Angus for sharing the Lord&#8217;s Prayer!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cAngels We Have Heard on High\u201d (French Traditional)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/angelswehaveheard.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>LIGHTING THE THIRD ADVENT CANDLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The light shines in the darkness, <br \/> and the darkness shall never overcome it. <br \/> <strong>We struggle to celebrate,<br \/> in the midst of all that we face.<\/strong><br \/> Send us JOY, and light our way,<br \/> that we might find joy and share joy today.<br \/> <strong>Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/ocomeocome1verse.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>O come, O Dayspring, from on high, <br \/> and cheer us by your drawing nigh;<br \/> disperse the gloomy clouds of night, <br \/> and death&#8217;s dark shadows put to flight.<br \/> Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel<br \/> shall come to thee, O Israel.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O come, O come, Emmanuel, <br \/> to the empty-handed and the heavy-hearted, <br \/> to the despairing and the despised.<br \/> Enter this world,<br \/> giving love to the lowly and hope to the downcast.<br \/> Dwell among us, and teach us your ways,<br \/> saving the lost and strengthening the weak.<br \/> Be made incarnate within us,<br \/> that we might cast away fear and live boldly by faith.<br \/> With gratitude that you come to be with us, <br \/> we worship joyfully this day.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cIt came upon the midnight clear\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/itcameupon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>It came upon the midnight clear, <br \/>     that glorious song of old,<br \/> from angels bending near the earth<br \/>     to touch their harps of gold,<br \/> &#8216;Peace on the earth, good will to all,<br \/>     from heaven&#8217;s all-gracious King!&#8217;<br \/> The world in solemn stillness lay<br \/>     to hear the angels sing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Still through the cloven skies they come<br \/>     with peaceful wings unfurled;<br \/> and still their heavenly music floats <br \/>     o&#8217;er all the weary world;<br \/> above its sad and lowly plains<br \/>     they bend on hovering wing,<br \/> and ever o&#8217;er its Babel sounds<br \/>     the blessed angels sing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Yet with the woes of sin and strife<br \/>     the world has suffered long;<br \/> beneath the angel strain have rolled<br \/>     two thousand years of wrong;<br \/> and warring humankind hears not<br \/>     the love song which they bring.<br \/> O hush the noise, and cease your strife,<br \/>     to hear the angels sing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>For, lo! the days are hastening on,<br \/>     by prophets seen of old,<br \/> when with the ever-circling years<br \/>     shall come the time foretold,<br \/> when peace shall over all the earth<br \/>     its ancient splendours fling,<br \/> and the whole world send back the song<br \/>     which now the angels sing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>O God, <br \/> be not distant from our hearts. <br \/> Be near to us.<br \/> Hold us in your presence<br \/> as a mother who enfolds her infant<br \/> within her arms.<br \/> May we, restless children that we are,<br \/> wait and hope for you.  <br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The Good News of this Advent season<br \/>is forgiveness of sin and new life.<br \/>Let us commit our lives<br \/>to Christ\u2019s way of hope and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/4528\/24131729367_cb6401d65c_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>December 10, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cLo, How a Rose E&#8217;er Blooming\u201d (Traditional German Carol)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Lo-How-a-Rose-Eer-Blooming.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 126<\/p>\n\n\n<p>When God brought Zion&#8217;s captives home,<br \/> it seemed to us like a dream.<br \/>     <strong>But then our mouths were full of laughter,<br \/>     and our tongues uttered shouts of joy.<\/strong><br \/> Then they said among the nations:<br \/> &#8216;God has done great things for them.&#8217;<br \/>     <strong>Truly God has done great things for us,<br \/>     and therefore we rejoice.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Restore our fortunes, O God, as streams refresh the Negev.<br \/>     <strong>Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.<\/strong><br \/> Those who go out weeping, carrying seed for sowing,<br \/>     <strong>shall come home with songs of joy,<br \/>     bringing in their sheaves.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Luke 1.46b-55<\/p>\n\n\n<p>My soul proclaims God&#8217;s greatness.<br \/>     <strong>My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.  <\/strong><br \/> For you have looked with favour on your lowly servant.<br \/>     <strong>From this day all generations will call me blessed.<\/strong><br \/> You have done great things for me, O Most Mighty.<br \/>     <strong>Hallowed be your Name!<\/strong><br \/> You have mercy on those who fear you,<br \/>      <strong>From one generation to another<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>You took action with a strong arm.<br \/>     <strong>You scattered the proud in their conceit.<\/strong><br \/> You pulled the mighty from their thrones.<br \/>     <strong>You raised the lowly.<\/strong><br \/> You filled the hungry with good things.<br \/>     <strong>You sent the rich away empty.<\/strong><br \/> You come to the aid of your servant, Israel,<br \/>     <strong>for you remembered your promise of mercy,<br \/>     to our ancestors, Abraham and Sarah, <br \/>     and to their children in every age.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cJoy is now in every place\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/joyisnowineveryplace.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Joy is now in every place,<br \/> Christmas lightens every face;<br \/> now be with us, in your grace,<br \/>     O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>May the star that shone that night,<br \/> making your poor stable bright,<br \/> fill our hearts with love and light,  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Through the New Year let it stay,<br \/> leading us upon your way,<br \/> making Christmas every day,  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Now and ever may we find<br \/> your good news to fill our mind:<br \/> peace and love to humankind,  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/4901\/45378704515_82f13bfd2d_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>December 9, 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/december13sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Margaret Keenan was the first person to get the \u201cthe jab,\u201d as they say in the UK.  The soon-to-be 91 year-old described receiving the vaccine as the \u201cbest early birthday present.\u201d  It was a lovely moment, but then came the second recipient, an 81 year-old with the unlikely name William Shakespeare.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Twitter erupted: \u201cThey really are prioritising the elderly,\u201d one person wrote, \u201cthis guy is 456.\u201d  Someone called it \u201cthe taming of the flu,\u201d while another said, \u201cI\u2019m surprised they let William Shakespeare have the vaccine. I thought he was Bard.\u201d  I should stop.  But one more: reflecting on the fame these two have gained after getting the jab, someone noted, \u201cA plague on neither of their houses.\u201d*<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Ignoring the bad puns, it\u2019s easy to feel joy and relief in the face of this long-awaited turn-of-events.  It has a \u201cbeginning of the end\u201d feeling to it, and somewhat perfectly timed, as we reach what are literally the darkest days of the year.  If this was a seasonal film, this would be the moment for someone to shout \u201cit\u2019s a Christmas miracle!\u201d  And it certainly feels that way.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And beyond the feeling, some remarkable things have taken place: the early word was that vaccines can take years to develop\u2014this one took about ten months.  The early word was that finding one vaccine would be lucky\u2014there are already three or more.  Even the manufacture of doses, something that was predicted to take months or years, was started months ago, on the off-chance that the vaccine would eventually be approved.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>So we praise God that we are here, waiting for the day we can get the jab, and we praise God for the gift of medicine, along with the gift of insight and imagination.  God has shown us once more what\u2019s possible when we focus all our attention on a problem.  We can do something revolutionary.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Revolutionary.  Revolutionary is one of those over-used words that has lost some of its power\u2014perhaps too many hair products or exercise machines have been described using the word.  When something is revolutionary\u2014like developing a vaccine in a matter of months\u2014it turns the existing order on its head, and it changes everything.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And the word also reminds us of political revolutions, a changing of the existing political order into something else altogether.  Again, the word is often misapplied, with the most famous example being the American Revolution.  For a revolution that proclaimed \u201call men are created equal,\u201d there remained the bitter reality that 700,000 African-Americans were enslaved at the end of the revolution, or nearly one-in-six Americans.  And this number would grow to 4,000,000 before slavery ended in 1865.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Turning to Oxford to help us understand what revolutionary truly means, we get \u201cinvolving or causing a complete or dramatic change.\u201d  Like the Song of Mary:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You took action with a strong arm.<br \/>     You scattered the proud in their conceit.<br \/> You pulled the mighty from their thrones.<br \/>     You raised the lowly.<br \/> You filled the hungry with good things.<br \/>     You sent the rich away empty.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s no surprise that when Latin-American theologians were trying to describe \u201ca theology of liberation,\u201d they pointed to Mary.  Between Mary and Moses, and some early Isaiah thrown in for good measure, we begin to understand the radical nature of scripture.  These three embody complete and dramatic change.  For Isaiah it was \u201cswords into plowshares,\u201d an idea so powerful that it is carved in front of the UN headquarters.  For Moses, it was literal liberation, the power of God to free God\u2019s people.  And for Mary it is predictive, a revolution that begins in Bethlehem and concludes at Calvary.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Why concludes?  I say it concludes at Calvary because the cross is a once-and-for-all event, an event to reconcile us with God, to end death, and to ensure our freedom in the Spirit.  The world no longer has hold over us, and we are free to live with love and mercy.  But every conclusion, of course, must have a beginning: and the beginning of this revolution is God\u2019s desire to enter the world in the most humble way possible, as a baby.  And this is truly revolutionary: no strongman, no advancing army, no tactical plan.  Just a baby, the most vulnerable form God could possibly assume.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>But before we shift all our focus to the birth of Jesus, we would do well to remember Mary.  For our Roman Catholic friends, she is the patron saint of all humanity, the Queen of Heaven, and the Our Lady of numerous locations.  Our Lady of Guadalupe, as an example, is the patron saint of the Americans.  And for all Christians, as declared at the Council of Ephesus (431), she is <em>Theotokos<\/em>, the Mother of God.  In addition, Mary is the only woman named in the Quran\u2014mentioned 70 times\u2014and exalted as \u201cthe greatest of women.\u201d  Listen again to the beginning of her song:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>My soul proclaims God&#8217;s greatness.<br \/>     My spirit rejoices in God my saviour.  <br \/> For you have looked with favour on your lowly servant.<br \/>     From this day all generations will call me blessed.<br \/> You have done great things for me, O Most Mighty.<br \/>     Hallowed be your Name!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>As prophetic utterances go, this one remains true.  From her lowly station she becomes mother, guardian, guide, follower, and witness to the resurrection.  She inspires and blesses all humanity, with her song of liberation and her life with God.  She reminds us that whatever seems fixed, or certain, or impossible to change can be quite the opposite.  And she reminds us that praise and gratitude are at the centre of a life of faith.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>May God see us through the dark days ahead, and may we never lose sight of hope, with Mary to guide us, Amen.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">*https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/world\/2020\/12\/08\/shakespeare-britain-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine\/<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/4690\/24131742987_fd289b9849_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>December 10, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We praise you, God of promise, <br \/>\nand give you thanks for Mary, a daughter of Israel:<br \/>\nwho sang the songs of David,<br \/>\nwho knew the deeds of Judith,<br \/>\nand held in her heart<br \/>\nthe burning words of Isaiah.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Enter our hearts, as we praise you with thanksgiving:<br \/>\nfor friends and family,<br \/>\nfor meaning in our lives,<br \/>\nfor warmth and food,<br \/>\nfor a roof over our heads. <br \/>\nHear us as we pray for ourselves and those close to us:<br \/>\nfor the anxious ones, <br \/>\nand the hurting ones,<br \/>\nfor the ill, and those who mourn. <br \/>\nFill our hearts, as we ask your blessing upon the world <br \/>\nand all its people:<br \/>\nthat peace may come,<br \/>\nthat justice may come,<br \/>\nthat joy may enter every heart.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We pray as Mary did:<br \/>\nmay your name be holy,<br \/>\nmay the hungry be filled,<br \/>\nmay the proud be scattered,<br \/>\nand the oppressed raised.<br \/>\nMay your love be ever with your people.  <br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lordsprayer-angus.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>hallowed be thy name.<br \/>Thy kingdom come,<br \/>Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>Give us this day our daily bread;<br \/>and forgive us our trespasses<br \/>as we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>and lead us not into temptation<br \/>but deliver us from evil.<br \/>For thine is the kingdom,<br \/>and the power, and the glory,<br \/>for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cThe virgin Mary had a baby boy\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/thevirginmary.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>The virgin Mary had a baby boy,<br \/> the virgin Mary had a baby boy,<br \/> the virgin Mary had a baby boy,<br \/> and they say that his name is Jesus.<br \/>     He come from the glory, (clap, clap)<br \/>         he come from the glorious kingdom.<br \/>     He come from the glory, (clap, clap)<br \/>         he come from the glorious kingdom.<br \/>     Oh, yes! believer! Oh, yes! believer!<br \/>     He come from the glory, (clap, clap)<br \/>         he come from the glorious kingdom.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The angels sang when the baby was born,<br \/> the angels sang when the baby was born,<br \/> the angels sang when the baby was born,<br \/> and they say that his name is Jesus.  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The shepherds came where the baby was born,<br \/> the shepherds came where the baby was born,<br \/> the shepherds came where the baby was born,<br \/> and they say that his name is Jesus.  R<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,<br \/>and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/>until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/>\u20141 Thessalonians 5:23<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>God be with you till we meet again;<br \/>loving counsels guide, uphold you,<br \/>with a shepherd\u2019s care enfold you;<br \/>God be with you till we meet again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/5489\/30786424124_e3ff3aecf6_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>December 11, 2016<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Taye and Heather, and special thanks to Angus for sharing &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/12\/12\/advent-iii\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advent III<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}