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Dear Covenant Family,
One way a weary world rejoices is by finding connection with one another. My favorite part of Sunday morning is hearing people talking before and after service, and during the celebration of community. It hasn’t been that long ago that we kept Christmas isolated at home, forced to quarantine by a virus that just wouldn’t let up. Now we can shake hands again, offer hugs, and sing as loudly as we want to!
Our theme for Advent this year is a question- How does a weary world rejoice? Each week we add another layer of response to this question. As Advent began, we started by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry- and we also affirmed that we are made for joy. Throughout Advent, as we spend time in community, our joy expands. When we can’t rejoice, we can carry each other’s joy. On December 13 at 5 pm we will hold a Longest Night Service for those who have experienced loss.
Next Sunday in worship, we will experience the joy of the annual Christmas Pageant. Our children and youth, with the help of the choir, will tell the story. You don’t want to miss it. Who doesn’t love angels, sheep, and the dog at the manger!
Lastly, I’ve come across some good words on joy that I want to share with you. The first video is a short clip from a sermon by Rev. Willie James Jennings. The second video is about 20 minutes long and is a conversation between theologians on joy.
Watch Willie James Jennings on joy that joins (In this short clip, Willie James Jennings names the harm of “segregated joy” imposed through white supremacy. Instead, he proclaims: “What I’ve learned from my people a long time ago was that Jesus presents a joy that gathers.”)
Watch Drs. Miroslav Volf and Willie James Jennings discuss the theological subject of joy, following the second Yale Center for Faith and Culture Theology of Joy consultation.
Theology of Joy: Willie James Jennings with Miroslav Volf
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