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Church Service & Sermon: Advent

  • River Valley Community Church 888 S. Edgelawn Drive, Unit 1749 Aurora United States (map)

Most good stories– whether in history or fiction – start with a tragedy, with a threat, or with something that has gone deeply wrong. Then comes the hero, the one (or ones) who will stand against the danger and try to restore balance and save the day.

In the time of Christ, Herod was the threat. He was (and still is) a pretty good representative of corrupt leaders. He personifies the evil and corruption that threaten the people God created and loves so much then and now.

At this point in the story, we are usually introduced to the one who will stand against the evil threatening the world. So, the stage has been set for the conception of John, the wild-eyed prophet who will proclaim without fear or reservation the justice and judgment of God, and the coming of God’s messiah. He will die by the hand of another Herod.

Of course, there is Jesus, who will also die but rise again, declaring that the love of God is stronger than the hate of Herod. The life God gives is stronger than the death dealt out by evil of all kinds.

Yes, John and Jesus will stand against Herod.

But, notice this scene, where Luke describes the meeting of the two main characters and heroines in this story.

For in the gathering of these two equally improbably women – one too old to have a child, one still a virgin – we have a foretaste of God’s redemption.

What do they do when they are together? They greet one another, comfort and rejoice with each other, and sing songs of love and justice.

We will hear Mary’s song next week.

But this week, we will look at Elizabeth’s song of faith and courage, as she is willing to believe not only that the Lord will grant her a child but that in the womb of her young cousin is the one who will redeem the world.

She blesses Mary in her song, she blesses herself, and she blesses us.

We don't expect God to be at work here– out in the hill country, among two women armed with nothing but love and song.

But when God is on the move, He often is like that, showing up where we least expect God to be, granting mercy rather than punishment, and banishing fear not with strength but with love.

So perhaps we should not be surprised that the love and songs these two unlikely heroines share will be, as it turns out, powerful enough to make the tyrants of this world shake with fear. That’s just the way God works when He is on the move.

Join us this Sunday as we dig deeper into what this means for us.

Earlier Event: December 7
Christmas Craft Day
Later Event: December 8
Christmas Concert