Another word that is more than we might think

This Sunday is the third Sunday in Advent, the Sunday of Joy.

Joy is another one of those words that can be kind of tricky. As I mention in at least one of the sermons, it is one of those words that we understand at at trivial level “joy = happiness; happiness = joy” until we take a careful look at the word. Joy and happiness differ primarily in the source; happiness is our response to our external circumstances and joy is internal and independent of external circumstances.

In other news, tonight was the Knox Presbyterian children’s Christmas program. There are fewer and fewer things that I “have to have” for Christmas to be Christmas but one of them is still a group of kids doing something at church relating to Christmas in at least some way. Mission accomplished! And kudos to all the volunteers who put on such delightful things year after year.

Knox Presbyterian Joy

St. Mark’s Presbyterian Joy

There won’t be any sermons uploaded next week as Rev. John Ferrier is taking both services so the fine folks at both churches and celebrate Holy Communion in the Advent season and I’ll be going to my home church, First Baptist, a fine church that is so full of preachers that I have to go somewhere else to do it 🙂

Blessings,