Welcome to Nassau Church

During a conversation on worship, Douglas Oldenburg past President of Columbia Theological Seminary and Moderator of the 210th General Assembly met with Fred Craddock, retired Professor of New Testament and Preaching at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a Disciples of Christ minister.
These men were long-time friends, pastors, scholars, and as they reminisced about the worship of the church Oldenburg commented on a preacher who got up and said before his congregation that he did not think it appropriate to preach during Advent; that the liturgy of the church said it all, and that he would not be preaching that Advent; absolutely no preaching would take place that season.

“NO preaching whatsoever?” Fred Craddock asked. “None,” said Oldenburg, “But you know and I know preaching in and of itself, by itself, is not sufficient; that liturgy by itself; Sacrament by itself, without the proclaimed Word is not sufficient either.”
“Word and Sacrament together,” said Craddock. “It takes both of them; they nourish each other; reveal each other, reflect each other. It’s saying the same thing twice in two different ways and to take one away is to leave the congregation bereft of God’s Word.(1)

As we begin our Advent preaching life, we take the Word of God as it comes to us from Isaiah; as it is expressed in our liturgy; sung in our hymns, and as it leads us to the Lord’s table.
Hear these words from the prophet Isaiah, chapter 9, beginning with the 2nd verse. Hear the Word of God.
It is given to and for you.

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness--
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor…

Isaiah comes to us with a centuries old prophecy to provide counsel for this paradox of our time. The Wonderful Counselor comes from the Hebrew meaning something extraordinary or hard to understand, and to motivate, guide; to plan, grant purpose or devise. For Isaiah, the Promised Messiah is the One who gives us Wonderful Counsel for He advocates and encourages, heartens and gives confidence, inspires and enthuses. And he does this for us and to us in unexpected, astonishing, and startling ways.
The Wonderful Counselor, Jesus our Lord, guides us deeply into God’s redemptive plan and purpose. The Messiah shares good news that is so breathtaking and magnificent, so superb and glorious, that it can only come from the Creator of the Universe.

The Wonderful Counselor is also the One who is light for the world. Isaiah tells it like this: “there will be no more gloom for those who were in despair…The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.” Our Wonderful Counselor is the light of the world. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

One preacher tells of the story of Mother Teresa as she went to visit Edward Bennett Williams, the legendary Washington trial lawyer. Williams was a powerful and wealthy attorney and at one time he owned both the Washington Redskins and the Baltimore Orioles. Mother Teresa set up an appointment to visit Edward Bennett Williams because she was in the States seeking money for an AIDS hospice. Williams was in charge of a small charitable foundation that she hoped would help her in this endeavor. Before she arrived for a meeting with Williams, he said to his partner, Paul Dietrich, “You know, Paul, AIDS is not my favorite disease. I don’t really want to make a contribution, but I’ve got this Catholic saint coming to see me, and I don’t know what to do.” Well, they agreed that they would be polite, hear her out, but then say no.

Well, Mother Teresa arrived. She was described as a little sparrow of a woman sitting on the edge of the large chair in front of a massive mahogany desk. She made her appeal for the hospice, and Williams said, “Mother Teresa, we’re touched, really touched by your appeal, but no.” Mother Teresa paused and simply said, “Let us pray. Let us pray to the wonderful counselor.” Williams looked over at Dietrich, and they bowed their heads. After the prayer, without a beat, without one word out of place, Mother Teresa made the same request for the hospice, word for word. Again Williams politely said no.

Mother Teresa again paused and said, “Let us pray. Let us pray to the wonderful counselor.” Williams, totally exasperated, looked up at the ceiling and shouted, “All right, all right, for heaven’s sake, let me get my checkbook!”(3)
Isaiah’s prophesy of the Wonderful Counselor is not finally about beautiful poetry:

It’s finally a story about God and God’s people, about you and me. This story says, God’s people are living in darkness, but on them a light is shining and that light is a joy. Burdens are being lifted, people are set free by a son given to take flesh and lives among us. And we have seen his glory; he who takes to himself the hopes and fears of all the years.

You who are undergoing rigorous medical treatment, awaiting surgery, enduring the ache and sting, fighting the good fight, waiting for news to live by: a child has been born for us, a son given to us.

You who are fearful of the future, uncertain that anything today holds out any hope for tomorrow; a child has been born for us, a son given to us.
You who are sure that God could not love you, that you have done something so incomprehensible that you are a lost cause. You who stare in the mirror and don’t recognize yourself; there is One who knows you through and through and loves you still and still; who gives himself as a gift: a child has been born for us, a son given to us.
You who are young with your life ahead of you, and you who are older with your life ahead of you; there are so many unknowns: a child has been born for us, a son given to us. (4)
It’s Advent in the household of God. One preacher puts it this way:

The Wonderful Counselor sets our Advent table; Word and Sacrament, our host is here. His table is prepared and we, his guests, have arrived.
So come to the table.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor…

1 Douglas Oldenburg and Fred Craddock. “Year 2000 Special: Discussion on Preaching.” January 2, 2000. Day 1: A division of the Alliance for Christian Media, Atlanta, Georgia. www.day1.net.

2 Anonymous. “Paradox.” Presented by John C. Bookout, President of the National Fraternal Committee. Omaha, NE, September 11, 1999.

3 Thomas G. Long. Sermon, “Praying Without Losing Heart.” Luke 18:1-8. 30 Good Minutes / Chicago Sunday Evening Club, Program 5101, October 7, 2007. Long is referencing Evan Thomas’ biography of Edward Bennett Williams and the story of his meeting with Mother Teresa in The Man to See. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992.

4 Jon M. Walton. Inspired by and adapted from his sermon, “Christmas at John’s House: A Breakthrough.” December 24, 2002. The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York.

5 Thomas G. Long. Inspired by and adapted from his sermon, “We Interrupt this Service” found in his book Something is About to Happen…Sermons for Advent and Christmas. Lima, Ohio: CSS Publishing, 1987, 59.