Reflections on "Gospel Notes" Psalm 96; Luke 1: 39-56

My apologies for not having the initial sermon blog with my notes last Thursday.  My time management while in Washington, DC did not work out for me to do the blog.

The sermon went ok.  I thought the delivery was a bit sloppy, especially in the Sanctuary service.  I am preaching without the pulpit in that service, and I stumbled on the electrical outlet in the floor at the beginning of the service, so I was a bit leery about moving around for the rest of the sermon.

I thought the sermon had some good stories, but it was missing a clear call to respond.  When I went to a preaching seminar several years ago, one of the critiques of the sermons I presented was the sermons did not answer the question a listener has:  "what can I do when I leave the Sanctuary in response to the sermon."

I also had the thought that if I had planned it early enough, I could have had different soloists tie in songs with the sermon.  That would have been a pretty cool addition.

“The Gospel Notes” 3rd Advent; 12/13/15; Psalm 96; Luke Luke 3: 1-6

Introduction: This afternoon our youth go caroling, and I get to go with them. What a wonderful event. Lots of singing, good fellowship, visits with people who seem to appreciate the singing, and a progressive dinner along the way.

Going caroling also signifies that Christmas is just around the corner.

I have had some wonderful memories caroling.

At Dot West's house with the wind whipping across the highway, freezing to death.

White carpet – one year there was snow on the ground which meant our shoes were wet and muddy when we arrived at a couple's house to sing for them. The husband was very sick (this would be his last Christmas) and unable to come to the door. His wife invited us to come into the living room to sing to him where he was resting on the couch. We refused the offer at first, but she insisted.

We went in and sang. He would close his eyes and sing with us. A special moment.

When we left, I looked back at the carpet and the white carpet was now brown and in some places almost black from our snow boots. I have no doubt that they had to have their carpet cleaned. I have not doubt that the cost of the carpet cleaning was worth it to them.

Carolers with majestic, almost angelic singing.

Sometimes not so awesome singing.

Music plays an important role in Christmas preparations.

Secular vs. hymns

Advent or Christmas music

Christmas carols in stores

Singing in the Christmas story:

Elizabeth sings to Mary..

Mary speaks, but it becomes “The Magnificat”

Heavenly host in the skies sing God's praises to the shepherds when they announce the the Savior has been born

Surely Mary as she sits in the manger cradling her baby Jesus sings him a lullabye or two.

Move 1: Music speaks to the us in different ways.

a. “All humans are musical. Why else would the Lord give you a beating heart?” (Mitch Albom, the Magic Strings of Frankie Presto, 4).

1. I bet you have a favorite song or style of music.

2. when it starts playing, you automatically begin to tap your toe, or lip synch the song, or maybe begin singing.

3. Music touches us.

b. Stories from nursing homes

c. one reason we like caroling is because we get to sing and hear songs that speak to us.

Move 2: Music also gives us voice

a. This week while in Washington, DC, I had a few hours to spend in a museum.

1. one of the exhibits I saw was about how music was used in the 1960s to support or disagree with policies and events taking place during that time, many of which were related to the Vietnam War.

2. It was fascinating to discover how many songs were written to speak for or against issues.

3. In fact, several songs I recognized and know a few lines of the chorus, but never realized what all the lyrics were and how they spoke about a particular issue.

4. the songs giving voices to the concerns.

b. The biblical story is full of examples of music giving voice to the hopes and dreams of the Israelites.

1. remember when God parts the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to cross and escape from Pharaoh and then the Red Sea closes down on the Egyptian soldiers in their chariots?

2. Do you remember what happens immediately following the crossing?

3. Moses begins to sing a song about all that God has done to save the Israelites, a song that proclaim God's saving act.

4. As soon as Moses is done singing, his sister Miriam gathers tambourines for the women and the women sing of God's glory.
5. A spontaneous moment of song and worship that praise God and tell the story of what God has done.

6. Psalm 96 exhorts us to sing to God and sing about God.

Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

c. Singing in the Christmas story seems like the only adequate response.

1. You remember Elizabeth, Mary's cousin. She has gotten pregnant late in life. She is carrying in her womb John the Baptist, the one who will announce Christ's coming. Her husband, the priest Zechariah, has been struck mute.

2. Her cousin Mary, also pregnant, but as a very young woman, is not only carrying God's son, but she is comping to visit her cousin.

3. When Elizabeth greets Mary, her baby leaps in the womb and Elizabeth bursts into song.

4. Or the angel that announces Christ’s birth to the shepherds. It's not enough for the angel to announce the birth. The heavenly host have to sing down from the heavens about the birth of the Messiah.

5. Some events demand more than mere words – the coming of Christ demands a song!

Move 3: The carols proclaim the Gospel

a. The carolers who sing of Christmas joy sing not only as a response to what God has done, but to proclaim the gospel, to share the good news.

1. “Silent Night.”

2. College roommate loved C&W music. I grew to like it. But, I drew the line when it came to “Silent Night.”

3. I sometimes feel that way when I hear “silent Night” or “”star of Wonder” in the background in a retail store in November or the shopping crazy days of December.

4. But sometimes as I hear the song and listen to people hum along or softly sing the words, I smile at the thought that as they shop, they are singing the gospel, the good news.

b. Listen to the Ernest Gordon, author of “Through the River of the Kwai” said the most spiritual moment of his life was Christmas 1944. Out of deference to the men in the camp, they were not given work detail that day and were given a bit more food. He said that as they moved around the prison yard, they sensed that things were different. In one of the barracks (basically a thatched hut with a dirt floor and open sides where the men slept), one soldier began to sing a Christmas carol. It was echoed over the infirmary where men were dying. Then all around the camp, the men began to sing, and those who could, those who were ambulatory, came to the parade field and sat there in a great circle. Gordon said, "God touched us that day."

Gordon, who later became dean of the Chapel at Princeton University, said that the most sacred event that he had ever been involved with. No preaching, nothing of the usual church paraphernalia, just men united by their common misery, singing of God being with them and God's sovereignty. And he said, "We were touched by God.”

(From the book Through the River of the Kwai "Have I Got News For You!" Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Speaker The Rev. Dr. William L. Self December 17, 2005; you may also use this link to read a NY Times article written at his death http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/20/nyregion/no-headline-223891.html)

The gospel sung on Christmas day.

100. Story from caroling: in KY; older man; had some things happen in his life that separated him from God; did not want me to pray with him; caroling – youth sing; one of the adults says would you like to do the Lord's Prayer. Don't know where that came from – only time we've done the Lord's Prayer in all the years I have done

The gospel sung creates invited this man back to prayer with God.

Conclusion: Movie Christmas with the Kranks, based on John Grisham's novel, Skipping Christmas, follows the Kranks as they skip Christmas and buy tickets to go on a cruise.

Their decision infuriates their neighbors because the Kranks are not participating in any of the traditional customs. The neighbors strike back in a variety of ways to force the Kranks to celebrate Christmas.

One of the neighbors send carolers to the Kranks house. The Victorian dressed carolers gather in the front yard and on the fronts steps to sing Christmas carols. They sing with a vengeance and stare in the windows at the Kranks who are trying to hide from the carolers.

The husband suggests they call the police. ';you can't call the police on carolers,” says his wife.

“Sure you can,” he replies. “They're trespassing. They're uninvited.”

This afternoon of caroling is another afternoon of trespassing with a song or two;