Finding Hope. And Letting It Go.
Sunday, December 21, 2025
Scriptures: Luke 2:22-35
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Summary: In the fourth sermon of Advent The Musical, Jeremy walks us through the fourth song of Advent, nunc dimittis. This is found in the story of Simeon meeting the infant Jesus in the temple. First, he looks at how Advent and faith are both about longing and learning to trust in what we can’t yet see. Then Jeremy shows how Jesus grew up poor, and that matters because it shows us a God who fully enters human experience, even our very circumstances. He reminds us that love isn’t about exclusion, but about expanding our care outward from “me and mine” to the world around us. Jeremy then examines Simeon’s song and encourages us that even if we don’t see every promise fulfilled, peace comes from knowing we’re part of a story bigger than ourselves.
The Waiting: Jeremy explores the theme of waiting as essential to both Advent and our life of faith. Simeon's patient longing for the Messiah, he argues, can be a model for how we hold space for hope when resolution feels far off.
Purification Rites: Jeremy highlights Mary and Joseph’s financial situation by looking closely at their offering in the temple. He shows that Jesus was born into poverty. And this grounds the incarnation not just in divinity, but in lived human experience—particularly the experience of the marginalized.
The Ordo Amoris: He introduces us to the concept of an “order of loves” to challenge our instinct to prioritize only what’s close to us. Love extends beyond family and tribe into the wider world. Jeremy encourages us toward generosity and justice through rightly ordered priorities.
The Dismissal: Simeon’s final song is about peace in the midst of his unfinished story. Jeremy invites us to find comfort in knowing that our part in God’s unfolding work is meaningful, even if we don’t see the ending ourselves.
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: Simeon’s story is all about waiting. Waiting is a familiar part of our lives too.
Q: When was there a time in your life where you found it a serious challenge to wait for something you were expecting?
Share: Jeremy gave us some context around Mary and Joseph’s ritual offering at the temple. The poverty that Jesus is born into extends to his later ministry work, especially in Luke’s gospel account.
Q: What does this detail of Jesus’ family’s financial state say to your understanding of his arrival and ideas about his ministry?
Reflect: Reflect on ordo amoris. Jeremy walked us through what “ordered love” might look like. Take some time to reflect on what this might look like in your life.
Q: How might you reorder your loves—to move beyond “me and mine” without neglecting the people closest to you?
Engage: Engage with this idea of transitions that aren’t what you expected, or unmeet expectations about how things turned out, and the next steps you have to take to move on with your life. Consider Jeremy’s words,
“We behold the birth of a child. We celebrate the arrival of salvation. And then, we all wake up on December 26th.
And then—like Simeon—have to make peace with the fact we are part of a story that is bigger than our lives. And for Simeon, the nunc dimittis—the final song of Christmas—is about how much peace there can be in that realization.”Q: In what ways can you participate in a story that you might not see fully resolved? In other words, what helps you stay committed to long-term hope?
Take away: In this final week of Advent before Christmas, try reading each of the songs we looked at in this series, and spend some time reflecting on each of them as you think once again about the familiar nativity story. They are:
The Magnificat - 1:46-55
The Gloria - Luke 2:14
The Benedictus - Luke 1:68-79
Nunc Dimittis - Luke 2:29-32
Prayer from the sermon:
God of both glory and peace,
you come to us not in spectacle alone,
but often in the ordinary moments of ordinary lives.
You meet shepherds at work,
parents doing what is required them,
people who are tired, and distracted,
Perhaps those of us not even looking for you.And at Christmas, you remind us
that your favour does not rest on the special,
on the blameless,
or even the especially prepared—
but on all those simply willing to receive your gifts.
So as we gather today, one last time before the christ child arrives
Would you quiet our striving
and loosen our grip on who we think we need to be,
so that you might grant us eyes to see your presence
perhaps where we least expect;
with hearts open enough to receive
so that even our ordinary lives would welcome divine love
As we wait;
as we hope;
as we listen;
meet us here once again.
In the precious name of the Christ one we await.
We pray, Amen. -
CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 130
MUSIC Curated by Kevin Borst
Jeremy Riddle - Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Jeremy Riddle - O Come All Ye Faithful
All Sons & Daughters - God With Us
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever (Christmas Version)
ADVENT LITURGY: LOVE
Written by Bobbi SalkeldToday is the fourth week in the season of Advent.
This is the season where we wait for the approach of God’s love in human form.
We have waited for divine love to approach us in the form of a baby. We are reminded of love’s humble nature, soft embrace, and tender patience. God’s love is strong enough to be vulnerable and courageous enough to come close to you.
Today we light the fourth Advent candle: the candle of love.
[Light the “love” candle.]
PRAYER
Let us pray.
Advent God, this is a season where we are invited to let ourselves be loved by you.
Jesus, as your body was formed in the womb, we ask that you form us into a community of Christ’s body birthed for the world.In a loud world, will you help us to be still enough to hear your voice.
In an impatient place, will you slow us down to see new life taking shape.
In a sorrowful space, will you bring comfort that guards against bitterness.With the expectation of your arrival, we wait for your love.
AMEN.
SERIES BUMPER
Advent The Musical
