All About Joy! | Learning Guide

December 18th, 2022

10:15m I Facebook Live & Zoom

Watch last week's message here

Worship Lyrics

Title

All About Joy!

Text

Psalm 126 (NET)

Introduction:

“From Blossoms” by Li-Young Lee From blossoms comes this brown paper bag of peaches we bought from the boy at the bend in the road where we turned toward signs painted Peaches. From laden boughs, from hands, from sweet fellowship in the bins, comes nectar at the roadside, Succulent peaches we devour, dusty skin and all, comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat. O, to take what we love inside, to carry within us an orchard, to eat not only the skin, but the shade, not only the sugar, but the days, to hold the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into the round jubilance of peach. There are days we live as if death were nowhere in the background; from joy to joy to joy, from wing to wing, from blossom to blossom to impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.

​This week we talk about Joy as our organizing emotion. Come on!

Grace and peace y’all,

John Ray and the teaching team.

Prayer/Practice:

Pray this “Abba, help me to practice receiving and living out the joy that you offer. Amen.”

Big Idea:

Joy is to be our organizing emotion.

Take Away:

Humans are incredibly complex and we live in a world of constant demands. When we develop the practice of organizing our emotions and experiences around joy, we are able to navigate our world in a way that allows for flourishing.

How does this fit with Belong, Become, Believe?

What's Next?

Christmas Eve Candlelight service!

Resources:

• Pixar’s Inside Out

• NT Wright talks about love as the ultimate way of knowing

• Honest Advent

• The Advent Project

• Watch for the Light

• Resources from Seminary Now

• Spotify Advent Playlist

Contact Grace Church NWA here