Weekly Lectionary Webinar

1. WeeklyLectionaryWebinar Readings for Sunday, December 12, 2010 Presented by staff and friends of Sunshine Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA

2. Contributors Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin Chief Programming Minister Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Senior Pastor Sunshine Cathedral Rev. Dr. Mona West Director, Office of Formation and Leadership Development Metropolitan Community Churches Rev. BK Hipsher Virtual Chaplain Sunshine Cathedral in Second Life

3. Weekly Theme Advent 3: Joy

4. First Reading • The Wisdom of Rabindranath Tagore: • The course of human life is like that of a great river which, by the force of its own swiftness, takes quite new and unforeseen channels where before there was no current. Such varied currents and unpremeditated changes are part of God’s purpose for our lives.

5. Gospel Reading • John 1.19-23, 26-28 (New Revised Standard Version) • 19This is the testimony given by John when… priests and Levites from Jerusalem [asked] him, “Who are you?” 20He confessed…, “I am not the Messiah.” 21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” …22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer… What do you say about yourself?” 23He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make [a clear path for] the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. 26John [then said], “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me…” 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

6. Reflections Rev. BK Hipsher Themes • Joy often comes in unexpected ways from unexpected sources • Serendipity plays a role in keeping our lives interesting and joyful • Our expectations can sometimes rob us of joy we might otherwise enjoy from unexpected consequences • Joyful expectation is woven through the Advent season • Joy is both an emotional response and a choice

7. Reflections Rev. Dr. Mona West Deeper With the Text • Advent was originally a penitential season. The third Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday—the Latin word for ‘rejoice.’ This Sunday gave people who were doing penance/fasting a break. • The reference to John the Baptist in the gospel lesson can be tied to the story of Elizabeth and Mary’s meeting in Luke. When Elizabeth hears Mary’s greeting the child in her womb—John—“lept for joy.”

8. Reflections Rev. Dr. Mona West Deeper With the Text • Anne Lamott quotes her pastor (Veronica) as saying, “Peace is joy at rest, while joy is peace on its feet.” • Joy is not the absence of sadness. It is not cheeriness in the midst of difficulty. It is not unbounded optimism. Joy runs deeper than any of these. Joy is not contingent on our emotions. It is a spiritual quality that sustains us in the midst of life’s sorrows as well as life’s gladness. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. • Joy is for the singing and the telling. (Especially in Luke’s gospel, everyone in the Christmas story breaks out into song: Mary, Zechariah, angels, Simeon, Anna.)

9. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts () Invocation Spirit of all that is good and gracious,             In this Advent season we wait for the Christ in us to shine forth with new intensity, but our waiting is not passive; it is a time for work, commitment, and enthusiastic renewal. And so, we affirm Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love for ourselves, our loved ones, our church, our community and our world and we give thanks that it is through and as us that Christ comes today. Amen. (Durrell Watkins)

10. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts () Advent Candle Lighting Prayer “As the budding flower bursts into bloom; as the glowing light kindles into flame, may the spirit of life and love bloom and flame within us, with ever-renewing light and love.” (Dorris Dow Alcott)

11. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts Song Suggestions: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (Veni Emmanuel) “Joys Are Flowing Like a River” (Tune: Blessed Quietness; Words: Manie Payne Ferguson) “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (Tune: Hymn to Joy; Words: Henry Van Dyke) “We Hail You God’s Anointed” (Tune: Ellacombe; Words: James Montgomery) “Joy to the World” (Tune: Antioch {Handel}; Words: Isaac Watts) “AdesteFidelis” ()

12. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpcUxwpOQ_A Muppet Ode To Joy Video (Beeker) Demonstrating the Joy of being one’s self and expressing one’s creativity

13. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts Sermon Notes: Thoughts on the First Reading – The changes and chances of life are part of the evolving narrative or adventure of life and they can lead ultimately to joy. They won’t always make us happy, and in fact there may be times when we are very sad, angry, or overwhelmed, but the condition of joy is woven into the divine fabric of life and the challenges can’t keep us from it unless we allow them to do so. Rabindranath Tagore

14. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts Thoughts on the Gospel – At the end of the First Century, more than a quarter of a century after the destruction of the Temple and almost 70 years after the execution of Jesus, the writer of “John’s” Gospel compares the erstwhile Temple system (“priests & Levites from Jerusalem”) to the Messianic tradition the writer represents. Those representing the “old” Temple system ask if John is the fulfillment of the legend that the prophet Elijah might one day return or could he be the anointed warrior who some hoped would lead the people to liberation and independence. John denies being either Elijah or the messiah.

15. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts The writer then places John into the Isaiac prophecy, claiming that he is a herald announcing the way of the “Lord.” Of course, Lord Caesar’s Empire had killed Jesus and destroyed the Temple, so to call Jesus “Lord” was incredibly seditious. The writer will go on to affirm that not only is one of their own “Lord” (over/against Lord Caesar), but “our Lord” (the person we choose to symbolize hope and empowerment) didn’t stay dead! Lord Caesar can’t even kill our Lord (or us for that matter) in any ultimate sense. Resurrection people just won’t stay dead (or certainly won’t let the threat of death deter them from anti-oppression work)!

16. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts This dramatic telling of possibilities for a post-Temple movement speaks to us who are part of a post-institutional Christianity. We have left Catholicism, the Latter Day Saints, Methodism, Anglicanism, et al, to find our JOY in a new movement that has grown out of and beyond the old systems that have sometimes been corrupted by the misuse of power. We have found the JOY of empowerment rather than the sorrow of accepting power being used against us.

17. Reflections Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Theology and the Arts Alternative Text: Matthew 11.2-11 This text also claims Messianic authority for Jesus (Matt. is written about a decade before John’s Gospel but still well after the destruction of the Temple). By claiming a divine anointing for Jesus, the followers of “The Way” share in the anointing and are affirming inward freedom even while being dominated by Rome and as they hope and wait for social/political liberation. The writer finally says that no one has been more impressive than John the Baptizer but in the divine Realm the “least” are greater than John. There is JOY in affirming our own sacred value and in choosing to believe that God does not participate in the oppressive systems of the world, but actually blesses our resistance to such systems.

18. Lectionary Discussion~Group Panel Reflection~Open Discussion

19. Weekly Lectionary Webinar Facebook Grouphttp://on.fb.me/weeklylectionary

20. Contributors Rev. Dr. Robert Griffin Chief Programming Minister Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins Senior Pastor Sunshine Cathedral Rev. Dr. Mona West Director, Office of Formation and Leadership Development Metropolitan Community Churches Rev. BK Hipsher Virtual Chaplain Sunshine Cathedral in Second Life

21. WeeklyLectionaryWebinar Next week’s discussion Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at noon Readings for Sunday, December 12, 2010 www.sunshinecathedral.org/lectionary.htm Presented by staff and friends of Sunshine Cathedral Metropolitan Community Church affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA