Joy

Dear Cathedral Family,

This is the Sunday of joy, the pink candle Sunday of Advent. Traditionally the Third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete Sunday,” from the first word of the Latin introit, “Gaudete in Domine Semper”— “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).

While you may not feel especially joyful as Christmas fast approaches and you still have lots to do, the good news is that joy is not dependent on the material conditions of our lives. Not the same thing as happiness, joy is both possible and desirable in difficult or challenging times. As Christians, we have access to the deep and intentional joy that the angel proclaimed to the shepherds, the “good news of great joy for all people.” The shepherds found that joy in the stable in Bethlehem. You and I find it in unexpected encounters with grace in daily life, and we find it most directly in children.

This Sunday’s great joy begins at 9:30 a.m., before our worship, in our annual children’s Christmas Pageant. You may have noticed the large groups of children who have been in the procession for the last few Sundays as they have been preparing for this Sunday’s pageant. This Sunday we will enjoy the fruits of their labor. And we are also thankful for the loving work of preparation done by many of our adults: directors Miles Garver and Kayln Bales; Sunday School leader Julia Pope; Music Director Josh Coble; and all the parents and staff and leaders who have helped with the production—Molly Bolt, Barbara Mitchell, Hayley Van Antwerp, Leigh Taylor, and Carolyn Jeffers.

The pageant will be live streamed, but please do make the effort if you are able to be present in person for the joy of this season being brought to us by our children.

Faithfully,

Beverly+