Featuring artists from Brick Church Community Theater, students ages 4-9 will gain experience in acting, improvisation, singing, dancing, and audition preparation. These performing arts classes will help students increase their confidence, build self-esteem, and explore self-expression in a supportive environment.   Class materials will be scripts and songbook from The Wizard of Oz. Click here to view photos from Cinderella and here for a look behind the scenes!

Luke 2:1-20 Luke’s Gospel is filled with powerful phrases but the one that has especially caught my attention this year is that marvelous phrase “ Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart .” Like many of us, Mary has been swept along by events. An angel appears to her; she’s going to have a child for which she had no decision-making power. Caesar proclaims the great taxation (thanks, Caesar!), so now she has to walk some 80 miles while nine months pregnant. Apparently, she had no family in Bethlehem and there's no proper place for her to sleep (since there was no room in the inn) much less a proper place to deliver her firstborn son. Then in the midst of this most unsanitary of places (perhaps a barn?) suddenly, shepherds show up and tell her a shocking story. Finally, finally, she’s able to take a moment to pause and reflect or, as Luke tells us, to ponder and to treasure. And it led me to thinking about the things that we treasure or “value” and the cost we’re willing to pay. And that perhaps all too often the cost we pay doesn’t align with the value we gain. Remember that  Furby Furblets Fierce & Fabulous 2-Pack  cost you so much, not just in the amount of money that you had to fork over but the hours that you had to wait in line. And then, much to your dismay you see this toy, that your child desperately insisted they had to have, has been unused, untouched, since it was opened last Christmas. As we shop for goods and services, we realize the cost of that trendy bauble is whatever we’re willing to put on our charge card. But the dust it gathers on the closet shelf discloses its value to us is as nothing. We spend too much capital—that is, money, time, emotional energy, relationship energy, and our intellect—on that which is not of true value. At times, we pay a high cost for a low return. The good news is that, overall, as Americans, we are a relatively satisfied group. The  Gallup Poll  conducted an interesting survey: The main life evaluation question asked in the poll is: “ Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you, and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? ” (This is also known as the “Cantril Ladder”.) The United States measured 6.5 on the ladder, whereas unsurprisingly those in Haiti measured 3.6. But countries like Finland, Sweden, England, and others all scored higher than the U.S. There is a broad correlation between wealth and happiness, which we have known since the dawn of civilization; this is why Mary’s hopes for her child underscore her hope that he will bring good news to the poor. We all need food, shelter, health, and education. Without these, it’s very hard to be satisfied with life. Last century, the New York professor and psychologist, Abraham Maslow, explained that our ability to be satisfied with life is tied to a hierarchy of needs. And unless the base-level needs are met—food, water, shelter, and safety—then we can never be truly at peace. But because we have a hierarchy of needs, simply having our basic necessities met is not sufficient for lasting peace. We need to go a layer deeper than economic satisfaction. For though, overall, as a country, we are happier than most, there is a level of disease and disorientation in our country—especially among young people who are having a harder and harder time finding direction and purpose. And I think it’s because we fail to emulate Mary, who takes time to reflect. We may not feel we have the time to ponder and treasure, but truly we will be worse for it. “ Reflection, meditation, and prayer help us to renew ourselves in God’s love, as we strive daily to become better people .” – Queen Elizabeth II Mary has charted a path for us that helps us to “buy” those things whose value is timeless and priceless. I know it sounds like I’m talking about shopping—I’m really not. And perhaps as we go deeper into Mary’s story, it will become clear. For Mary not only ponders the problems of the world, she treasures its gifts. She treasures her son—her healthy and strong firstborn son! She knows that birthing a child is dangerous for mother and child, so she treasures a successful birth! She treasures all that has led to this day to support her in this awesome task. She treasures even the appearance of the shepherds, for they have brought her an amazing story and showed her that hope is already reaching beyond her. She is showing how to reach beyond our basic needs; it requires a leap of faith. A leap of faith in which we no longer spend all our capital on things of fleeting value. And once again, I don’t mean money. Mary believed the angel! She invested her whole life in this promise. Jesus called it “ the pearl of great price.”  When a man finds this pearl of inestimable value, he will sell everything he has in order to obtain it. Mary is going to pay the hardest cost that any mother can. But she has seen the value for the whole world. For she knew, based on the mission Jesus would have, that the Messiah—her very own son’s life—would not be easy. Perhaps Mary was tempted—tempted to shelter her child from this high calling; tempted to lead him away from this path in order to keep him safe, as is our parental instinct. There would be a great cost to pay for everyone, especially her child. As Adam Smith, titan of economic theory, wrote: “ The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it .” In some ways, classic economic theory describes perfectly the path that God took to save humanity through the birth of Jesus. God paid a great price in becoming human; Jesus paid the price of scorn, rejection, ridicule, and a painful physical death. Jesus paid everything He possibly could because He valued you and me and everyone.  He was not going to leave humanity sitting on a shelf gathering dust. And for God, cost and value align perfectly. There is a moment for Mary, and for all of us who seek a life of meaning, that we must take a leap. A leap beyond our own base needs. It’s this which enables us to pay a high cost for that which is of true value. As people of faith, we believe that God did not make us only to eat, drink, and work but to engage in the sublime, the beautiful, the mysterious, the sacred, and the holy. And especially in the most transcendent thing of all—a love that knows no boundary, measure, or barrier. As Mary pondered and treasured, it was clear that she had fully embraced God’s plan. She placed high hopes in this child to bring good news to the whole world. The baby shows us that we are treasured by God. This is what Mary is reflecting upon—she is treasuring God's treasuring of us. This is what Mary treasured the most—the depth of love God has for us shown in the gift of this child. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on December 22, 2024. O God of every good and perfect gift, in your great love you chose to illumine the darkness with the Light that is Jesus Christ.  May his Light guide us in our pilgrimage through this world and lead us, at the end, into the perfect brilliance of your eternal glory.   May your Spirit rule our coming Christmas celebrations.  May that spirit which dwelt in Jesus find us and form us - his spirit of unhesitating and boundless love, overflowing joy, and resolute commitment to peace.   We pray that the gifts given and received in this season, recalling as they do the gifts of the Magi, might in the joy they bring, lead us toward an unselfishness of spirit that lasts beyond Christmas and finds its highest joy in the joy of others.   May the Christmas feasts we sit down to this season remind us of the great blessings of our lives and incline us toward a deep gratitude for all that comes to us.  In the midst of our great plenty, may we remember the poor, the hungry and the homeless.  May the One born in borrowed lodgings to a poor family deepen our commitment to the well-being of all your children everywhere.   May the family reunions of these days lead love to grow among all families.  May old hurts be forgiven and even stronger ties come to bind husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister, friend and friend.   In the peace of a city Sunday, we pray this day for our nation and our world, especially that our leaders may find hearts of wisdom and wills resolute for peace.    We praise you this day for the gift of your Son Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior, who was born humbly, lived simply, and died at the hands of a sinful humanity.  We praise you that he still lives in and for the world he loves.  In the cold of the day, may we again be overtaken by the warmth of his love.  May our words speak it, may our priorities declare it, may the very living of our lives show it.  Amen.

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) In our society, there are many different types of speech: casual conversations, sermons, lectures, stump speeches, and more. But there is a type of speech found in Scripture that is largely neglected in the modern world. And I believe we are worse for it. Luke’s Christmas story features several examples of this unique way of speaking known as blessings or benedictions. The word “benediction” comes from Latin: “bene” (good) and “dicere” (to say) — meaning “good word.” It is markedly different from a simple compliment. A benediction is a good word infused with godliness. It is something the preacher does at the end of every service. And when we say them, we do so with a clear-eyed focus that we want nothing less for those gathered than the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, than the amazing fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and the profound love of God. Our benedictions are drawn from Scripture and so they not only express what is in my heart, and Caroline’s heart, and Adam’s heart, but what is in the heart of God. Offering the benediction is one of the greatest privileges that we have. In reciting these words, I can feel God expanding my own heart. As we look out on the congregation, we see people filled with great joy and deep sorrow — people who are just growing their families and others who have had them shattered. But in reciting these scriptural benedictions, we realize that God knows the heart of each person who hears it. But this is where we fail, for by no means are benedictions meant only to come from pastors. This morning we shall explore how Elizabeth offers a benediction to Mary as a template so that all of you would feel equipped to offer blessings for others. A Christmas gift that you can give, perhaps unlike any other. As a reminder, Elizabeth is expecting John, the forerunner of the Messiah. Upon greeting her cousin Mary, she offers a good word to capture the power of the moment. “ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. ” Clearly, Elizabeth had some divine insight when Mary arrived, for a child moving in a mother's womb is an everyday occurrence for an expectant mother. But Elizabeth senses something more. This encounter becomes something greater than the meeting of two cousins: something greater than the meeting of two expectant mothers. It shapes the encounter into a holy moment. The fact that Elizabeth translated a kick in the gut as a transcendent moment is the first step to being able to offer a benediction. We must cultivate our ability to see the presence of God in the world. By the way, this is why hateful speech can be so damaging. Because rather than recognizing God within a person, you are essentially saying the opposite; that you see evil and weakness. The different parts of Elizabeth’s blessing each serve to enrich her gift to Mary. “Blessed are you among women” Elizabeth’s first words acknowledge that God has looked upon Mary with divine favor, that she has special status. It would help put Mary at ease, assuring her that her previous vision of an angel wasn’t a delusion, and that her cousin believes in her. “And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Elizabeth is letting Mary know that simply being in her presence is a gift. This was my personal experience with several of my professors in seminary. One in particular, J. Christian Becker, was an irascible sort who surprisingly used a lot of four-letter words in his lectures. He was not what one might call refined or “holy” in appearance. But as I reflect on his power to open the depths of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, I realize I count myself as extremely lucky to have had the chance to hear him. I wish I had thought to tell him as much. Don’t miss those moments to let others know that you are blessed simply by knowing them. “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This moves us into one of the most unique and powerful aspects of benedictions. Elizabeth is telling Mary about her future. She’s expressing a confidence that Mary will bring this child into the world and that this child will be a source of enrichment for the world. By using the word “blessed,” she’s declaring that this is not happenstance but part of God’s design; that God has a plan for Mary’s future that will bring life to others. “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” At this point Elizabeth has moved from talking about God’s goodness and her own personal joy, to Mary. This final piece is crucial. She is observing the unique character and strength of Mary. These words expressed confidence not only in God but in her young cousin who was about to bear child out of wedlock, at such a young age, with such a huge responsibility. These words would have given Mary confidence that she was up to the task. She’s recognizing Mary’s trust  is a key strength to what will take place.   One friend of mine had a gargantuan task to help bring a sense of peace to his extended family after the tragic loss of his young niece. But he remembered some words that were offered to him by his colleague. This is what he told me, “ Hebrews 13:5 promises, 'I will never leave or forsake you.' I am stamping this on my heart and claiming this promise for you! I have been praying for you and you are all prayed up .” Then came the point in the service when he had to speak. He simply did not think he could go through with it.  “…Right before the service I teared up. …didn’t think I could do it. Then I remembered the text and I thought, yes, I could do it.” When his friend wrote,  “You are all prayed up,”  she was essentially saying,  “I know you can do this. I know you are going to do it. You are going to be the gift your family needs.”  Her belief not only in God but in him gave him confidence to face one of the hardest things in his life that brought hope to his whole family.  The benediction not only realizes that God’s future will come to pass but that that individual will play a part in it and they will need strength of character to do so.  Giving someone a benediction or a blessing may sound a bit daunting at first. But it’s surprising how meaningful just a handful of words can be. It’s not uncommon in the South, when you’re going through the McDonald’s drive-through, for the cashier to tell you to, “ Have a blessed day .” And there are moments when you realize that they truly mean it. And it means something—it truly does. But you don’t have to use the word “blessed.” I remember at a restaurant one mother was doing an especially excellent job with three very young children. Near the end of the meal a stranger walked up to her and said you are an amazing mother. It was obvious to everyone how incredibly patient, wise, and loving she was with her children. And not to mention somewhat exasperated. But when that stranger offered those words, you could see in her weary face an exceeding joy. Elizabeth knew such joy in meeting Mary. And wanted to give her this special gift, for perhaps she knew that the years ahead we’re not going to be kind to Mary or her child.  Jesus’ friends from His hometown would reject Him. He would have difficulty relating to his own family. His people would not accept them. And one day, Mary would face the greatest heartbreak that any mother could possibly confront—the death of her son. Elizabeth was giving Mary a crucial gift in this benediction, the gift of courage. In recognizing Mary’s ability to trust that a miraculous child was going to be born to her, she was also saying that she was going to have the strength of character to see this journey all the way to its conclusion. For the blessing of us all. Amen

High School Students are invited to join us June 15–21 for an unforgettable and life-changing experience in Boston, Massachusetts . The Mission Trip is an incredible opportunity for us to come together as a community, united in our shared purpose of service, learning, and personal growth.  Register by March 1, 2025.   Register here  |  Pay here

The All-Church Nominating Committee (ACNC) is seeking your suggestions for Brick Church officers. Your involvement is crucial to identify the best possible candidates whom God is calling to take positions of responsibility at The Brick Church. The ACNC is identifying candidates for Deacons, Ruling Elders, Trustees, and 2026 ACNC members . Please prayerfully consider recommending members of The Brick Church as candidates for these positions. Important criteria to consider include a commitment to the Church, regular attendance at Worship, time, and willingness to serve, and personal characteristics of dedication, good judgment, and the ability to work well with others. Self-nominations are also accepted. The deadline for recommendation submissions is January 19, 2025.

Luke 1:5-25 Over the years, I have been thankful for the opportunities to complete several items on my bucket list: Hiking out west with our daughter, Liz Evensong at Westminster Abbey A pint at The Eagle and Child, the bar where Tolkien and C.S. Lewis mused about the meaning of life A train trip across our beautiful country Living in a great city like New York Each of these experiences has added to my sense of the fullness of life and the beauty of this world. For several of these, I waited a good number of decades to complete them. The priests of Israel all had the same item on their bucket list—to enter the sanctuary and offer incense. This was more than a typical item on a bucket list. It was done at the altar made with gold and acacia wood, which was placed at the veil that separated the rest of the temple from the Holy of Holies—the very place where God resided. It was as if the priest was literally going into the presence of God to offer prayers for all of Israel. It was the crystallization and culmination of their life’s work and an affirmation that God’s blessing was upon them. They could only do it once in their lifetime, and it took the luck of the dice to have the opportunity. So long ago, that lot fell to Zechariah. He entered the temple with one thought in his mind, I imagine: the supreme gift of coming before the Lord, lighting that incense, and then emerging to offer the crowds a few words and a prayer as was the custom. Perhaps this was a healing moment as well because he entered the temple with a burden. Though he and his wife Elizabeth were blameless people, God had not blessed them with a child. This would have cast a shadow on his character and Elizabeth’s, for they believed God blessed the righteous and punished the wicked. In those days, being childless was considered a punishment. So, as he approached the altar, there might have been a cleansing feeling in his heart, for certainly, God would not have given him the privilege of lighting incense if he was truly sinful as perhaps the rumors suggested. Conceivably, he imagined that when he left the temple and offered the prayers, the people would view him differently. But apparently, he had so utterly given up hope of having a child that, at the altar, he wouldn’t even believe an angel— the  angel Gabriel at that. Gabriel was one of the archangels, only dispatched for especially momentous tasks. God entrusted those tasks to Gabriel. Gabriel tells Zechariah first not to fear because, perhaps you recall, most of Gabriel’s tasks included smiting. Then he tells Zechariah his prayer has been heard and his wife will bear a son. Zechariah’s prayers at the altar (and this is critical to the story) would not have been for a child; these prayers were offered on behalf of all of Israel. They would have been prayers for redemption, for deliverance… they would have been prayers for the Messiah. After he heard the description of his child, to be named John, Zechariah realized that Gabriel was promising everything he could possibly have hoped for: a child, personal redemption, liberation for his people, and the Messiah. Unsurprisingly, Zechariah asks for a sign—a dicey, bold move. As a priest, he would’ve known the biblical history. On the one hand, centuries before, Isaiah told King Ahaz to ask for a sign “ as high as the heavens or as low as Sheol. ” Ahaz refused and incurred wrath for not asking for a sign. On the other hand, when the people of Israel wandered through the wilderness, they were castigated for asking for a sign. Gabriel decided, perhaps through his own “angelic” impatience, to punish Zechariah. I fault Gabriel. Curiously, Zechariah’s punishment becomes a sign for everyone else. For he is mute over the course of months, and it is not until his child is born and he agrees with Elizabeth that his name should be John that suddenly he’s able to speak. This moment gives so much: the restoration of his reputation, the release of pain he and Elizabeth had experienced over the years, the pinnacle of his personal calling as a priest, and the realization of Israel’s hopes. It was a catharsis, and it leads him to offer these incredible words known as the  Benedictus. He begins not from his own personal healing but with his people: “ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably upon his people and redeemed them .” Zechariah’s first thought was for the public good. What does that mean for New York City—seeking the public good, or, using the language we have adopted this year at Brick, being a "Beacon of Hope"? I saw it a few weeks ago. We had a concert in Watson Hall. It was a partnership between Daniel’s Music Foundation and Brick. For those of you who don’t know, the foundation’s mission is to change lives through music. I know it changed mine. Here is the website description of their work: “ We’re creating a community for individuals of all abilities to thrive, express themselves, and enjoy music together. By sharing their talents and their stories, we’re helping build a more enriching, inclusive world for all. ” Their work is based on the premise that music isn’t a privilege—it is a right. And I would add that it is a right given by God. If God implants music in the soul of a human being, it must be opened. As you’re listening to the music from those who have various physical challenges, at first, you are in awe, even confounded by their fortitude to overcome. And that’s part of the power of the event—the human spirit rising high. But then there’s a moment in which their challenges fade into the background, and you are simply mesmerized by the beauty and power of the music. This is the sound of soul. Hearing the music and seeing their expressions, suddenly we can see the core of a human being created by God. This is the abundant life for which Jesus came into the world. And it represents our desire at Brick to become a Beacon of God’s power—to ensure that more and more people in this city, whoever they are, fully realize all that God intends for them. It happens today in the same way it happened for Zechariah. In that story, we see that as God brought a gift to the whole world, a fracture was healed in Zechariah and Elizabeth’s hearts. That’s the essence of Daniel’s Music Foundation. An individual cultivates their gift, and then we are all blessed by enjoying their music. Zechariah and Elizabeth were hurting for so many years, but Israel was hurting even longer. Through a child named John, God’s plan for salvation came to pass. There is another item on my bucket list: to help Brick Church realize its limitless potential—the potential to meet the spiritual needs of individuals coming through these doors, while at the same time being used to bring abundant life to so many more around this city and around the globe. At the pinnacle of Zechariah’s career, while lighting the incense in the temple, the moment of hope was realized for his people. Many of us have a drive to excel, to hone our craft, to be recognized by our peers, and to have that moment of professional satisfaction that lasts a lifetime. But Zechariah shows us that even that moment is not ultimately about us. It is about the privilege that God gives us. So, yes, we should bask in those bucket list moments, giving thanks to God, and then turn them so that they might bring abundant life to all those dear to our Lord. And now, listen to Zechariah’s words of praise, as he turned his blessings into a blessing for us all. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on December 15, 2024. God of grace, thank you for this season of waiting.  Thank you for the joy of children waiting for the excitement of gift giving. Thank you for the gift of familiar carols, whose joyful music touches waiting hearts. Thank you for widespread family and friends that we cannot wait to see this season.  And thank you Lord for the gift of Jesus Christ; the Savior we have been waiting for…   God of peace, create in us hearts devoted to shaping the world in the ways you have called us to.  We pray especially for those whom such a world seems only a distant dream – the poor, the imprisoned, the ill, the lonely, and the despised.  Open our hearts, Spirit of Life, to the news of angels and the wonder of shepherds that these days may renew us for the days to come…. Loving God - as we approach the day of Christ's birth help us to throw wide the doors of our hearts in preparation.  To remember the words of the angels, the prophets, and the teachers of old, and to celebrate all the promises that you made through them.  Help us to take firm hold of the meaning of all these things, and to know in the depths of our being, that even now you are seeking to work in us, and through us, to fulfil the promises you have made....   Lord - may this Advent season and the Christmas celebrations ahead be for us, and for those around us, a time of healing, a time of hope, and of love and of joy, may it be a time of true sharing, and of rejoicing in all the earth…   Gracious God, throughout the world, in, and on, and under it, waiting happens, waiting grows and gathers, the earth is expectant waiting for redemption.  In eager anticipation we wait for the revelation of the Son of God.  Lord be with us, occupy Christmas.  Hallelujah.  Amen.

Please joi n us af ter the Sunday worship service to learn more about how to get involved in the Brick Church's Deacons ministries and to help us make sandwiches with one of our partners, Grassroots Grocery. Afterwards, we will donate the sandwiches to Grassroots' community fridge. All ages are welcome! Sandwich Making Party Dates Sunday, October 20, 2024 Sunday, January 12, 2025 Sunday, February 9, 2025 - Super Bowl Food themed! Sunday, April 13, 2025

Luke 3:1-6 Every year, the second week in Advent, we are reminded to repent. This is a critical process in preparing ourselves for the birth of the Christ child. But John the Baptist is not asking us: • to beat our breasts, • to lower our heads, and say, “ Woe is me, for I’m a man of unclean lips, living amongst a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts .” Now, this may or may not be true, but that is not how we repent in the Christian life. We repent not by feeling sorry, but by submitting: • submitting to the sacraments of the faith, • submitting to prayer, • submitting to worship. These are the ways that God purifies us. That’s what the verses following John’s call to repent describe—the straightening out of the crooked ways of life so that all may see the salvation of God. Metanoia  is the word that marks the power of baptism to change us. We don’t change by our will but by the power of God. It doesn’t happen through our force of will, in which we say, “I’m going to do better tomorrow.” It happens through immersion. In baptism, it’s a metaphor for totally encompassing yourself with the numinous presence of God. For the rest of the proclamation of God’s Word, the choir will offer us a gift: the path by which we can all repent—that is, be transformed. This will come through Benjamin Britten’s  Ceremony of Carols . These carols focus on praising the Christ child for the simplicity and lowliness of his birth, for the animals of creation that pay Him homage, for His perseverance, and for His great sacrifice that heals the sin of humankind. Come before the Lord. Repent and submit by using these carols to let the God of all creation straighten our sometimes-crooked hearts, to smooth out the pieces of ourselves made rough by the hard knocks in life, so that all of us may see the salvation of God. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on December 8, 2024. Almighty and gracious God, as we continue our journey through Advent, we are grateful for all the good things you provide us: For beautiful music that lifts our spirits up to you; for festivities and times of fellowship; and most importantly, for the coming of Jesus and his kingdom. We thank you for being Immanuel—God with us—through Christ our Lord. For your unending goodness to us, we silently give you thanks.  God of all compassion, during this Advent season, we remember the suffering of those close to Jesus, and we pray for those who suffer similarly today: For those who, like Mary, experience the struggles of being an unwed mother; for those who, like the holy family, are pressed down by poverty; for those who, like John the Baptist, are victims of political repression and injustice. For all who are vulnerable, needy or unjustly marginalized, we silently pray.  God of all joy and comfort, during this Advent season, we pray for your church. We pray that the Advent festivities of our congregation—and of congregations around the world—would bear witness to your light and spread your joy. But we also pray for your comfort for all who are hurting: For those who are sick, for those who are grieving, for those who are lonely, for those who are depressed. We pray especially for those for whom the holidays are a difficult or painful time. For your church and your people, we silently pray.  We pray these things, Father God, in the name of your Son and through the power of your Spirit. Amen.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. - Luke 1:46b-47 This Advent invites us all to reframe the way we look at the world. Rather than looking through an earthly lens of the daily tasks we have to execute, we will view the world through the sacred story of scripture, especially the Christmas story.   In some ways, we're tempted to think that Scripture is outdated because its science is inaccurate. Some of the social norms are confusing, and some of the stories are confounding. But like Dr. Seuss's stories, they're meant to break our brain and shake us out of a stupor, enabling us to see the world from a new vantage point.   The lens of God's activity in the world manifests most clearly through the birth of Jesus Christ and His presence. And so suddenly, time itself transforms.   With a worldly lens, when things are going poorly, we get distressed. We get weighed down with anxiety. We get confused, and we sometimes get frozen in place. But in fact, what Scripture tells us is when the world is going bad, that's when we should lift up our heads.   As Christians, instead of those moments weighing us down, the call from Jesus is to look to the heavens because God is right around the corner and is about to arrive. And that doesn't make us sit in a waiting mode; it's supposed to energize us into action.   Advent Hope   For Advent, part of it is waiting and expectation, but the waiting requires preparation. In times of challenge, hardship, and busy schedules, we look to the heavens. We remember that God is right on the horizon, so we have hope.   Advent Praise   John the Baptist calls us to repent. But this doesn’t mean feeling sorry, it means turning our life in a new direction. This happens most powerfully through worship and prayer. Because Christ is coming into the world, that leads us, like the angels, to praise God. And then, through that act of praise, we become aware of all God's blessings we have received which empower us to transform through God’s presence.   Advent Blessings   Thus, Mary pours out her soul that is filled with joy. Even though she spoke of hardship in her song—her heart for the poor, her heart for the downtrodden weighed her down—yet her song is not one of despondency. It is one of exultant hope.   That's how she begins her song because she knows that God shall deliver. This is the act of faith. It's not only about a feeling inside your gut but a bold proclamation in the midst of apparent facts to the contrary that God has won the victory.   Advent Awe   These blessings then lead us to awe—an awe at the preciousness of life. In fact, oftentimes, it's only in those hard moments that we're fully aware of the wonder of God's love, the gift of the Christ child. Like the shepherds, we stand in awe—that this is the length that God is willing to go.   Then, we discover something more powerful and deep about the nature of God than we possibly could have imagined or conceived on our own. The story of Scripture is not one that we could predict, or even the most creative minds could invent on their own. It's too improbable.    But we know for a fact that it has changed the lives of millions and billions.  The evidence of its truth is found in the lives of the believers, the martyrs who sacrificed, the servants in churches, and the prisoners who are set free.   Prayer of Confession: Lord, the Christmas story is filled with fond memories and offers us deep comfort each and every year. But we confess that sometimes we fail to see its challenges. Your servants in the midst of the greatest story ever told made hard journeys, faced hunger, faced the oppression of rulers, and the neglect of friends. Through Your spirit’s power may we never forget the deep sacrifices made for our sake so that we might be willing to see the faces of the people for whom the Christ Child came – the poor, the tired, the hungry, and the forgotten. Amen.