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Joy Fills Our Inmost Hearts Today!

“Chelsea, what’s this?” Lynn turned the package over and over.

“It’s a Christmas present, silly.”

“Christmas is still two weeks away. Do I have to wait?”

“No, just open it now.” Chelsea rolled her eyes.

“Did your friend bring you a present, Lynn? That’s lovely.” Mrs. Tribbett said.

“Ooh! It’s a picture frame. Thank you!”

“From now on, I’m going to draw pictures for you, too.”

“And I can put them in this picture frame like you do with mine? That’s so great. Thank you, Chelsea!”

“How do you feel, Lynn?” Mrs. Tribbett asked.

“I’m so happy, it feels like my heart is going to pop.” Lynn grabbed Chelsea and gave her a hug.

“Did you know there’s a word for that?” Mrs. Tribbett asked as she stepped back to the front of the Sunday School room.

“There is?” Lynn asked. “What is it?”

“That word is ‘Joy’ and it’s a funny coincidence because today is the Sunday of Joy.”

“It is?” Chelsea asked.

“Yes, the Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday or the Sunday of Joy. Gaudete is an old, old French word for Joy. We’re joyful for good friends, and Christmas presents, and nice houses to live in and what else?”

Lynn raised her hand.

“Lynn, what else gives us joy?”

“Baby Jesus!”

“That’s right. Very good. The Joy of Christmas is when Jesus came into the world so that people could have hope and learn how to love each other the way God loves us.”

“I love you, Lynn.” Chelsea whispered.

“Thank you, Chelsea. I love you, too. I’m glad you’re my best friend.”

“I’m glad your Uncle Ian came over with pizza yesterday.”

“He did? Is that where he was at?”

“Yep.” Chelsea giggled. “Everybody went nuts because I called him Uncle Ian.”

Lynn smiled. “Sounds good when you say it. I hope it comes true.”

“Me, too.” Chelsea picked up a crayon. “I’m going to draw a picture of their wedding.”

Kendra was looking around the crowd in the nave of the church. She spotted Dustin standing behind his dad.

Sadly, his acne was back and as splotchy as ever. He saw her looking at him and made his way over.

“Hi.” She said.

“Hi. How are you?”

“Grateful.”

“Well, this is the right place to be.”

She beckoned him closer. He knelt down to listen.

“Look, I didn’t tell anybody what I saw. I wanted to thank you for stopping those guys.”

“I appreciate that. Maybe, in a couple of years, we can both tell people what really happened.”

“I got you something.”

“You did?”

“You can open it later.”

“Thank you. This is very considerate. What’s your name?”

“I’m Kendra.”

“Nice to meet you. My name is Dustin.”

“Anyway, if you get a fan club some day, consider me the President.”

Dustin laughed. “Thanks. I’ll remember that. I’ve got to go put my alb on so Dad can start the service.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“I don’t mean to be rude, but your face…”

“It’s because of my powers. I have to eat like three times as much as a normal person just to keep from passing out when I go fast. I don’t always go fast, so it makes me break out. Slipstream told me he had the same problem when he was my age. Hopefully, I’ll soon grow out of it.”

“That will be good. You look more like a superhero when it clears up. Did you pick a name yet?”

“No, we’ll probably do that if I ever go on active duty.”

“Well, thank you. Either way, you’ll always be my hero.”

Dustin blushed and stood back up. “Thanks, Kendra. It’s people like you who make it worthwhile.” He shook the gift and smiled.

“Yeah, it’s penguin mints.” Kendra said as she turned to join her parents.

The Woodards and the Hannons all sat in the same pew this week, with Ian and Ivy in the middle. Kendra sat between Holly and Ivy. She looked over at her aunt to see that she was holding hands with Ian.

‘Uncle Ian?’ Kendra had been shocked when Chelsea said it yesterday. It didn’t actually sound that bad to her.

“Today is the Sunday of Joy.” Father Dave announced. “Gaudete Sunday is a special part of Advent. Some traditions have a rose candle on the Advent Wreath to denote the halfway point of this liturgical season. While the other weeks are symbolized with candles in the penitential shade of purple, the rose candle of the Sunday of Joy reminds us of Ecclesiastes 3:1. It says ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:’. It is a reminder that in this time of sober preparation, we can be mindful of the coming joy at the birth of Christ.”

Holly looked around the church. She thought it might be a nice place for her sister’s wedding.

“We’re also reminded of the story when Mary went to stay with Elizabeth. Upon arriving in her cousin’s house, Elizabeth’s baby leapt for joy in her womb at the presence of the Savior.”

And it would be a nice place to have Frank Jr. baptized. Chelsea seemed to like the Sunday School and Kendra said she liked the music.

“As Saint Paul instructed the church of Filippoi in Greece, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’. As people of God, we are to trust in Him for every need, knowing he will provide.”

Holly looked at Frank and saw in her husband that God had been providing for her and the girls through this wonderful man she was married to.

“Please rise and join in the hymn, Joy Fills Our Inmost Hearts Today!”

Holly held Frank and Kendra close as she sang along. In the years to come, her family would recall that her heart grew three sizes this Christmas.

Joy fills our inmost hearts today – Voices of Sierra Leone Choir

Rejoice, rejoice! Th’incarnate Word
Has come on earth to dwell;
No sweeter sound than this is heard
Emmanuel!

Joy fills our inmost hearts today!
The royal Child is born:
And angel hosts in glad array
His advent keep this morn.

Refrain

Low at the cradle throne we bend,
We wonder and adore;
And feel no bliss can ours transcend,
No joy was sweet before.

Refrain

For us the world must lose its charms
Before the manger shrine,
When, folded in Thy mother’s arms,
We see Thee, Babe divine.

Refrain

Thou Light of uncreated Light,
Shine on us, holy Child;
That we may keep Thy birthday bright,
With service undefiled.

Refrain