Advent 3
Philippians 4:4-7

Dear friends in Christ,
The past couple of weeks we have been moving through the season of Advent, looking forward to Christmas, with Christmas Eve now just one week away. Advent means coming, and in Advent we think about the ways Jesus comes to us. Two weeks ago we looked at the promise of his second Advent, his coming to bring final redemption at the end of time. It is not a time to be feared, but a time to rejoice that God’s work will finally be completed. Last week we focused on the first Advent, the birth of the savior at Bethlehem. We listened to the words of John the Baptist who called the people to repent and repair their lives in preparation for the savior. The gospel lesson today has John again calling the people to live lives worthy of receiving the promised Messiah, words worth hearing this final week before Christmas. There’s still time to do some act of service or giving that reflects our love and appreciation for the savior.
This morning I’d like to focus on Jesus coming to us today. It is true that we look forward to the second Advent at the end of time. It is true that we look forward to Christmas next week. But it is also true that we believe we don’t have to wait, that God in the presence of the Spirit is with us right here, today.
I think this is especially important to be reminded of one week before Christmas. At no other time of year is there such collective stress as right now. We all have our personal or family stresses throughout the year, but at Christmas everyone feels it, the vast majority of people have heightened stress as we get ready for the next couple of weeks. According to a Franklin Covey survey of 15,000 retail customers, 87% found the holidays stressful and 49% said they were glad when it’s over.
I like this example from the cartoon “Cathy” in the newspaper. She says to her boss: "My left brain is making lists of people I haven‘t sent cards to yet. My right brain is at the craft store, thinking up creative gifts I could make before (Christmas) . . . "My nerves are at the mall, worrying whether I should have gotten the other necktie for my Dad. My stomach is still at last night’s party begging for more Christmas cookies. "My heart is stuck in traffic somewhere between my mother’s house, my boyfriend’s house and the adorable man I saw at the post office." Her boss asks: "What is it you want, Cathy?" Cathy replies: "Can what’s left of me sneak home early and take a nap?" Some of us may be feeling just that frazzled. But in the midst of all that you have come to worship. And you just heard read the words of Paul, who lifts up the promise of God’s presence and really gives some very good instruction on how to handle the stresses and pressures of the season.
The first thing he says is “Rejoice.” In fact, he doesn’t say it once, he says it twice. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Now these are words written by a man who was at the time in prison. He didn’t know if he would be released, live, or die. It makes our holiday stresses seem rather inconsequential by comparison. And still Paul can say, “Rejoice.”
One practical remedy to the stress of the season is to rejoice and give thanks for the blessings that we do have. Comedian Dom DeLuise tells about one of the best Christmas gifts he ever received. He says there was a time when nothing made him laugh. "Everything was wrong. Life was hopeless and I was feeling useless." When his son asked what he wanted for Christmas, DeLuise replied, "Happiness ”, and you can’t give it to me." On Christmas day his son handed him a piece of cardboard with HAPPINESS written on it. "You see, Dad," his son said, "I can give you happiness!" For a moment at least, DeLuise smiled and forgot about his problems, his day brightened by the innocence of his son.
When the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherd, they did so by saying “We bring you good news of great joy which will come to all the people.” In the midst of the added stress, let us not forget that this is the season of joy, for our savior has come. There can be lots of feelings this time of year, but our faith teaches us that the foundation of Christmas is built upon joy. God has entered our world as one of us, to save us forever from our sins. That’s reason to rejoice and give thanks. That’s reason to celebrate! “Joy to the world, the Lord has come!”
Paul says “Rejoice!” And then he goes on to say something that is in many ways even more remarkable. He says, “Do not worry about anything.” Are those words we need to hear at Christmas? I think so. There’s a lot to worry about right now. Will the shopping get done? Will your children like the presents you will be giving? Will the out of town guests arrive safely and get along? Will the turkey get done? As a pastor I worry about my Christmas message. I worry about the special services. Will it all come together and be a wonderful reminder of the joy and meaning of the season?
Let’s try a little litany together. I’ll suggest some things that would concern most people and you reply with the words, "Do not worry about anything!" You ready?.
"Pastor,  I am worried about some bad news I received about my health." "Do not worry about anything!"
"Pastor, I am anxious about our finances." "Do not worry about anything!"
"Pastor, I am worried about the friends my son is choosing." "Do not worry about anything!"
“Pastor, I’m so worried I won’t get everything done before Christmas.”
“Do not worry about anything.”
“Pastor, I worry about the violence in Iraq, our soldiers, and how that will all be resolved.”
“Do not worry about anything.”
You get the idea.  The point is that we are not to worry, period. Now that’s not to say we should not be concerned. That’s not to say we should not be responsible people and do what we can to make situations better. In fact Paul tells us the first thing we are always to do. He writes, "...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” 
The remedy for worry is a universal remedy.  That is, this applies to every possible worry.  "In everything..."   Paul says. In everything that comes our way, we are to turn first in prayer to the only One who will listen and act on our request in accordance with His will. We turn to God in prayer, trusting that God is there, even in the darkest times, and will guide us and our world through the darkness.
There are many occasions in ministry where clarity and answers and solutions are elusive. I don’t know how everything will turn out. That’s also true with day to day living. We feel it right now. How are we going to get through these upcoming days in one piece and enter the New Year with hope and enthusiasm. According to Paul, the first movement is honest, heartfelt prayer. The Apostle Peter says the same thing in 1 Peter 5:7,  "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."  I don’t think prayer is so much to inform God of our needs, for God already knows our needs and concerns. But in many significant ways prayer is for us. It is to commune with God. It is to look above, beyond ourselves and our problems, and to place our trust in our loving Creator. When we are done praying, even a brief prayer, we’ve made our needs known. There is a sense of peace. And there often comes insight as to the next step we need to take. So during the season when the stress so often seems to pile up, take a moment to pause and give it to the Lord. And then remember that as we move into the New Year. We don’t know what kinds of trials, challenges, and possible sorrows may lie ahead. Remember Paul’s words. Have no worry, but bring everything to God in prayer.
And then we close this message with a great promise. “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Peace comes when we truly believe that God is in charge of the situation. We pray, we do what we are able to do, to the very best of our ability, and then we trust. That is peace. I have on my wall in my office this note. “Good morning, Pastor Jeff. This is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help. So relax, and have a good day.” I wish I could say I always follow those instructions. It is a reminder that God is finally in control and God’s will, will be completed, even if I fail. In many ways that’s what allows me to sleep at night, knowing that God loves me, forgives me when I fall short, and will use me despite my failings.
Let me close with these thoughts on peace from a devotional written by Gary Wilkerson at Luther Seminary, “With a great cry of longing, we implore God for peace. We long for a word of peace that is stronger than oppression, stronger than greed and violence. We hunger for a word of peace that fills our spirits with hope, our nation with the fresh breath of creation, and our hearts with joy. We pray for a peace that is stronger than death.”
In the end, that’s the hope of Christmas. The savior has come to unite us with God forever. This is a peace stronger than death. It’s a peace that will come when God fulfills His redemptive plan at the end of time. It’s a peace that has come with the birth of the savior. And it is a peace that is here, right now, as we walk these days by faith. May this peace fill your hearts today, the peace of God that passes all human understanding and is greater than any worry before us. Amen