“Joy to the world!” It is so easy to sing those familiar words but so much harder to feel truly joyful. Our world is so full of discord. We live in the tension between joy and sadness. Our emotions ricochet from merriment to melancholy in the blink of an eye depending on what thought or memory is currently playing on the screen in our minds. We bounce from tears of joy to pangs of grief at unexpected moments.
Yes, life is messy, but in the midst of it all we still pause to light a candle of Joy, the third candle of Advent. In word and the magic of music we dare to proclaim a message of Hope, Peace and Joy to a weary world starving for the Good News that God is still with us.
[Light 3rd Candle]
Please pray with me:
Dear God, remind us again that Jesus didn’t come into a Hallmark Christmas world, but a messy one where Herod killed babies and the Holy family became refugees. Assure us again today that we can find a source of deep joy in this dark, cold season because the everlasting message of Christmas is that you are always with us, in the best of times and the worst of times, the happy and the horrible; and everything in between.
We pray that this Advent season will prepare us for living between a promise and the coming of God’s kingdom, between corruption and justice for all; so that our tears will turn to rejoicing and our souls and our lives will magnify the Lord in all we think, say, and do. Amen
Northwest UMC, Columbus, OH,
Peacefully Harsh 
Dear Rev. Harsh, Thank you for one of the most uplifting Advent/Christmas message I have read at this time and in this world of upheaval and discord and everything but love and caring at the birth of our Divine Infant Savior, Jesus ! Like you I am hoping that PEACE will prevail in our hearts and our homes and that the world will welcome our infant King and His desire to bring PEACE to all of us as well as the ultimate joy of heaven splendor. Truly, Kathleen Reiss Dallas, PA 12/16/23
Thank you