Sermon Tone Analysis

Thank you for gifts

SEEd

Drivers for Cookies

Christmas Eve Carols during the hour

I remember one christmas concert in my school years: it was the year we sang My Favorite Things (Julie Andrews).

Every year I begin to think of a list of my favorite things about the season of Advent and the Christmas celebration.

-Songs to sing

-favorite holiday memories (xmas stories, experiences, and pictures)

-decorating the house for christmas

-snowman dishes

-smells of trees and greenery

-baking goods & treats

-snow capped mountains

-xmas lights popping up around town

I find it interesting that Christmas is significantly connected to our feelings and emotions:

We use words like:

Christmas Spirit

Holiday Cheer

You will get a sentimental feeling (rocking around the xmas tree)

Merry Christmas

Bah, humbug!

We sing songs & hear them sung throughout the season such as:

Feliz Navidad, prospera ano y felizidad.

I wanna wish you a merry christmas from the bottom of my heart.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you to be of good cheer, it’s the most wonderful time, it’s the hap-happiest season of all.

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas, it’s the best time of the year.

I don’t know if there’ll be snow, but have a cup of cheer.

The emotions and feelings of Christmas are spoken of in literature and cinema:

“From home to home and heart to heart, from one place to another.

The warmth and joy of Christmas brings us closer to each other.

(Emily Matthews)

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t coe from a store?

What if christmas perhaps means a little bit more?

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.

(The Grinch and Dr. Seuss).

He became as good a friend, as a good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

Some people lighted to see the alteration in him, but his own heart laughter; and that was quite enough for him.

he had no further intercouse with spirits; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.

May that be truly said of us, and all of us!

And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless US, every one!

Scrooge & Christmas Carol.

Hello Bedford Falls, Hello you wonderful ol building in loan, hello mister Potter!

Even Advertisers get into it:

It was once observed: “Once again we come to the holiday season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in their own way by going to the mall of their choice.

New trend among business is a movement from advertising about scarcity toward focus ad-campaigns that elicit or turn peoples emotional response into joy.

Hence the term joy marketing is becoming quite popular, where businesses are hoping to connect with their audience on a deeper more meaningful level.

Examples:

McDonalds—I’m loving it

Coca Cola- I’d like to buy the world a coke (1971) —> Taste the Feeling

Reddi-Whip—Unleash the Joy

West Jet (Canadian airline)

And Finally, there is a growing shift in the world of psychology that is focussing not on the problem but how to nurture and be aware of the things that bring happiness.

research on happiness reveals that 25$ billion was spent last year on psycho-pharmacy.

That’s $85 per US citizen a year.

People are not just wanting to have problem solved and survive on medication, but they want to thrive.

Studies such as the World Happiness Report are helping sociologist, politicians, civic leaders, and people in general identify practical and tangible ways to mitigate stress and maximize joy & happiness.

One scientist stated, related to the policies and values of a scandinavian country: the system doesn’t make them happy, but keeps people from doing what will make them unhappy.

As a mater of fact, scientist, sociologists, and psychologist are able to determine some fascinating things related to happiness:

directly linked to our happiness is pleasure, purpose, and pride.

That one’s happiness & joy can be qualified in threee ways:

pleasant life (companionship, natural environment, and bodily needs)

good life (previous things stated, along with deep sense of fulfillment & employing them creatively to enhance your life)

meaningful life (previous things stated, along with a deep sense of fulfillment by mobilizing strengths for a purpose greater than one self)

Paying attention to what brings happiness and joy reveals the contrast of the individualist approach of life to the altruistic approach.

movement to decrease individualism and place more emphasis on self-sacrifice.

Why do I bring this up to talk about Advent & Christmas Joy?

I find it interesting that this Christian Holiday and the way that it has expanded in expression and celebration, speaks to and highlights elements that resonate deep within our souls, our great human needs, and sparks great desires & longings.

Something about Christmas has the potential to lift our spirits and exploit our vulnerabilities.

As Christians this comes as no surprise, even when people do not know the entire story or the story gets lost among the clutter of commercialism.

Yet if we pay attention at Christmas, and throughout the year, humanity and the world is yearning for something that the messages and themes of Advent & Christmas speak directly to.

This morning I am attempting to highlight the emotion and feelings of Christmas, that aren't just something once a year, but a part of what makes us human.

And I want to make sure to point us to the source of God’s response & perspective of these emotions and feelings.

Joy in Scriptures:

Isaiah 61:8-11

SPEAK to essence of this passage

-reminder of God’s favor and year of Jubilee

For whom was God reaching out to?

-the promised one’s (House of David)

the barren

humble servants

those who fear him

not for the proud, mighty, rich, or exalted.

the hungry

where is emotion and feeling here?

How is God speaking to Mary?

-greatly favored one

-greatly favored one

greatly troubled

do not be afraid

he will be, references

Surrender and let it be according to your word.

Let there be joy!

centered in the story of God at work in our lives, is this invitation to joy

centered in the story of God at work in our lives, is this invitation to joy

he has considered our estate

provided the means to respond to our brokenness, our affirmities, oppression, injusices, and wickedness.

reminder of the means by which God will go to reveal his love and redeem us from our sin.

Can’t overlook the invitation to joy, in spite of a lack of feeling happy &jyful or having emotions that are the opposite of happy and joyful.

-personally I struggle with being happy and joyful (tend to be fearful and anxious; in my life I have often asked God where He was and how will you ever bring good out of such immense pain and sorrow?

This Advent season has been pretty rough: my mom is in the midst of chemo therapy for breast cancer and both of the families of my brother are going through some pretty intense stuff.