{"id":3601,"date":"2023-12-18T16:12:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/?p=3601"},"modified":"2023-12-18T16:12:59","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T16:12:59","slug":"sounding-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/18\/sounding-joy\/","title":{"rendered":"Sounding Joy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sounding Joy<\/span>
\nThird Sunday of Advent<\/span>
\nPsalm 126 \/ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28<\/span>
\n\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Today we celebrate the joy that came with the birth of Jesus, the birth we await to celebrate in the season of Advent.\u00a0 Our Psalmist writes of a harvest of joy that includes laughter, shouts of joy, and rejoicing in the great things the Lord has done.<\/span><\/p>\n

What joy does the Christ child bring to us?\u00a0 What does it mean to have joy in the Lord?<\/span><\/p>\n

We will explore these questions, but first, let\u2019s continue with our third story in our Storybook Advent reading, \u201cSounding Joy,\u201d by Ellie Holcomb.<\/span><\/p>\n

(READ)<\/span><\/p>\n

In this storybook, the author explores the question, what does joy sound<\/em> like?\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure that I had ever considered what joy sounds like, rather I\u2019ve always related to what it feels<\/em> like, right?\u00a0 So I really enjoyed thinking about the sounds of joy brought to us in this story.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we think of that silent night, when Christ was born, what sounds would have been heard, and how would we have identified them with joy, I wonder?<\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, we looked at what the birds heard, the cooing, and the message received in the cooing was certainly a joy, wasn\u2019t it?\u00a0 I mean what more joyous message could we hear than the sound of peace?<\/span><\/p>\n

In our story today, we learn that there was a sound of wings, angels\u2019 wings.\u00a0 Let\u2019s pause just a moment, and listen for what we think the sound of wings would sound like to us, (pause) \u2026 and then let\u2019s imagine that sound in a bright light.\u00a0 Would you think of that sound, that image as joy?<\/span><\/p>\n

And what about angels singing!\u00a0 Certainly that sounds like joy!\u00a0 Don\u2019t we experience it every time we hear Alex and Bradley sing?\u00a0 What about when we hear Donna play the organ and the piano or when Eddy plays the violin?\u00a0 And wasn\u2019t there joy in the bells we heard ringing last Sunday?\u00a0 I would say yes!\u00a0 And I know you heard it too, because I heard all of you exclaiming after the service about how wonderful it was, indeed you were rejoicing with shouts of joy.<\/span><\/p>\n

When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he told them to rejoice always.\u00a0 He said, \u201cmay your spirit and soul and body, be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s consider what Paul advises us to do to keep sound.\u00a0 Rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances.\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.\u00a0 It\u2019s for you<\/em> because God knows what is best for you and what brings joy to your heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Staying sound is being accountable to the joy given to us by God.\u00a0 It\u2019s when we are able to identify something as pure and holy, and be self-disciplined enough to discern what is good for our souls.\u00a0 And when we identify it, we do not quench the Spirit, rather we embrace it.\u00a0 We hear it and we feel it with our hearts.<\/span><\/p>\n

So staying sound and having joy is an attitude of the heart that becomes a strong and intimate relationship with Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit.\u00a0 It\u2019s comforting and full of peace and brings contentment, so much so that as the joy of our Spirit grows, it becomes our strength.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the fruit of the Spirit, baby Jesus brought to earth love, peace, forgiveness, acceptance, and compassion \u2013 all the things that enhance our relationship and understanding of God.<\/span><\/p>\n

The joy of the Lord is when we have gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 This is a natural part of our Christian faith, an enduring attitude of the heart and Spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the book, \u201cFruit, Flourishing with the Fruit of the Spirit\u201d (Alabaster), the writer points out the following:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Luke\u2019s gospel records a song sung by Mary after she learns that she is chosen by God to carry and deliver Jesus, God\u2019s son (Luke 1:46-55).\u00a0 In this song, often called The Magnificat, Mary expresses that her soul has been filled with joy.\u00a0 Pointing to the goodness and faithfulness God has displayed in the past and anticipating hope and glory that is to come, Mary rejoices at the opportunity to be a part of God\u2019s plan for creation.\u00a0 We too are a part of this plan; each day offers us the opportunity to delight in God\u2019s joyful work in all things.\u2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, the Gospel of Luke tells us an angel appeared to shepherds bringing good news of great joy to ALL<\/u> people.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 birth marks the beginning of redemption for humanity, and the promise of eternal life.\u00a0 It is the good news.\u00a0 It is the joy of advent!<\/span><\/p>\n

Our story, \u201cSounding Joy,\u201d reminds us \u201cGlad tidings!\u00a0 Great joy!\u00a0 We are never alone!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Great joy indeed!\u00a0 We all have hope in the promise sent to us in a birth so long ago.\u00a0 The hope of love and peace and joy with our Lord in his eternal home!<\/span><\/p>\n

Let us lift our voices in joy, rejoicing always with Sounding Joy!<\/span><\/p>\n

*Cover Art by Unsplash, used with subscription<\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sounding Joy Third Sunday of Advent Psalm 126 \/ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 Today we celebrate the joy that came with the birth of Jesus, the birth we await to celebrate in the season of Advent.\u00a0 Our Psalmist writes of a harvest of joy that includes laughter, shouts of joy, and rejoicing in the great things […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nSounding Joy - First Presbyterian Church Valdosta<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/18\/sounding-joy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Sounding Joy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sounding Joy Third Sunday of Advent Psalm 126 \/ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 Today we celebrate the joy that came with the birth of Jesus, the birth we await to celebrate in the season of Advent.\u00a0 Our Psalmist writes of a harvest of joy that includes laughter, shouts of joy, and rejoicing in the great things […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/18\/sounding-joy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"First Presbyterian Church Valdosta\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-18T16:12:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Dec-17-Cover-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"FirstPresValdosta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"FirstPresValdosta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/18\/sounding-joy\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2023\/12\/18\/sounding-joy\/\",\"name\":\"Sounding Joy - 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