Sunday, December 10, 2023
The Gospel of Peace - Complicity
Music
Introit
Hymn #88
Hymn #85
Hymn #69
Hymn #106
Hymn #92
Sermon Notes
By Jeff Gilstrap
Scripture:
Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 5:9Theme:
We have sinned by participating in acts of violence, both structural and physical, or by our failure to respond to acts and threats of violence with ministries of justice, healing and reconciliation.
Reflections:
We started on the journey last week of preparing for the coming of Christ by examining the centrality of Christ’s ministry of peacemaking. We cannot be followers of Christ and not be engaged in the work of peace making. We continue this week by examining one aspect of peacemaking and that is how we often fail to respond to what is called “structural violence”. Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm disadvantaged individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can or will be held responsible in contrast to behavioral violence. One key aspect of structural violence is that it is often hard to see. Even more difficult than identifying structural violence is assigning culpability. When a baby dies of malnutrition, or from a vaccine-preventable disease, who should we blame? Slavery was a form of structural violence toward a race of people. It was supported by the structures within our government and society. It oppressed a particular group of people. A certain race of people was denied the basic needs and freedoms of life. They were oppressed, and the system created pain, suffering and unneeded death.
Jesus worked to eliminate and eradicate all types of violence and especially structural violence. He exposed the ways in which the society and the leaders were oppressing the people and he called out the people who lead this oppression – primarily the Romans and the Pharisees. We as followers of the Jesus way cannot ignore structural violence. We cannot be complacent. We must act and follow Jesus and use our resources to challenge structural violence in the hope that peace will abound.
Questions/Thoughts:
- Why did Jesus so often struggle with the ways of the Jewish leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, etc.) ?
- Where do you witness structural violence in our community?
- What can we do to remove or break the barriers created by structural violence?
- Why is structural violence so hard to identify and name?
Music Notes
By Kenneth Jones
Reflections:
Second Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the liturgical calendar, a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Christ.
Introit: For the four Sundys of Advent, the choir will sing a verse of “Creator of the Stars of Night”. The original Latin text is from the 9th century. From verse two, “When this old world drew on toward night, you came, but not in splendor bright.”
Opening Hymn: The traditional Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. The titles of the coming Christ come from Vesper antiphons that were sung the week before Christmas.
Candle Lighting Response: A hymn that underscores the ‘waiting’ of the Advent Season. We will sing one verse each week; verse two this week for the Advent Candle of Peace.
Special Music: The Chancel Choir will offer our second preview of our Christmas program (12/17); “Thou Shalt Know Him”, by Mark Burrows.
Ordination Hymn: Our traditional hymn at St. Andrews for ordination, “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky” (Here I Am, Lord).
Sending Hymn: A hymn that has been in use in Sweden for nearly two hundred years, “Prepare the Way, O Zion”. The middle of the second verse alludes to our theme, “His rule is peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love.”
Benediction: For the four Sundays of Advent, we will sing verses from “While We Are Waiting, Come”, this week using verse two. The simple text, with it’s repitition of the word “come”, reinforces the anticipation of the season.