Before I begin let me encourage you to get out the bulletin.

On the left side is a place for

you to take notes. I believe God might say something to you that youll want to remember. Im
going to give you two take-aways that Id like for you to write down.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This is the day weve been waiting for! We made it to our new home. Yay, God! In the
church year this is the Sunday of joy, so let me start out by sharing how this journey of coming
to this new space is a story of joy. I believe that we will still be talking about this journey in ten
years. You have made a memory. Yay, God!
It started when Gary Long and I received an E-mail from Da Vinci Academy in June
saying they werent going to rent space to us anymore. We quickly got organized and appointed
a task force to find a new space. The group looked at 23 different properties in the area.
Then God led us to this oneYay, God!
We were worried about the price the owners would charge us. The owner had a range of
options. Usually does an owner choose the higher price or the lower price to charge a tenant?
Guess which price this owner choose? The lower price! Yay, God!
We had to receive all sorts of approvals from the City. We had to get a Conditional Use
permit. We had to get an Occupancy permit. During our first meeting with the Inspector we
found out we would be zoned as an assembly. This was new territory for us. To keep the project
going we had to find an architect on the spot who would charge us a reasonable price. We found
one in two days. He charged us a reasonable price. Yay, God!
Being zoned as an assembly significantly increased our costs. Suddenly Oak Grove
Presbyterian Church appeared on our radar and gave us $15,000. Yay, God!

Then we knew we had to receive more support from the Presbytery through the Church
Development Team. They increased their financial support of Chain of Lakes. Yay, God!
Then we knew that our congregation had to step up our financial support. The Steering
Committee set a goal of $13,000 for a special offering. You know how much you gave?
$15,000! Yay, God.
We had concerns about the actual contract. We wondered if the owners would step up to
take on some remodeling costs. I still remember a meeting on a Friday where a group of us
gathered before the first negotiation. We were nervous. Guess what happened? The owners
stepped up to take on significant costs in the remodeling. Yay, God!
Then the volunteer help! Wow! Some of you spent 30 hours a week at this facility in the
last month. It wouldnt surprise me if the lights in this building were on almost every night for
the last two weeks because volunteers from Chain of Lakes were working here. We just received
the Building Permit on November 14. In thirty days you transformed this space from a Bridal
Studio into a worship space. Yay, God!
All of you helped. I had some people share with me that they felt bad that they couldnt
help more. We understand. If you came to worship, you helped. If you said a prayer, you
helped. Thank you.
This past Thursday, the Steering Committee talked about all of the volunteer help that
you gave. We decided to have a party in January to celebrate. Yay, God!
While all this was happening we had to find an alternative worship space. Roosevelt
Middle School came up just when we needed it. Yay, God!
When we went to Roosevelt we discovered that we really enjoyed that space. We learned
what it was like to be valued by a school and to be treated professionally. I think we really grew

as a congregation at Roosevelt. We learned what it was like to be disciples on a journey. Yay,

God!
The Steering Committee of Chain of Lakes stepped up. We had at least three special
meetings to make important and urgent decisions about this place. Yay, God!
We wanted to get into this place before the end of the year. Last Sunday after worship
the Steering Committee voted to start worship today if the Building Inspector signed off. This
past Wednesday the Building Inspector from the City of Blaine came to do the final inspection.
It was a breeze. It was a breeze because you had done your work so well. The meeting was like
guys cracking jokes over a cup of coffee. Yay, God!
This week we got this place ready for worship. The floors were buffed, the painting was
finalized, the worship equipment was taken out of storage at Presbyterian Church of the Way.
The welcome area was set up. Isnt this a beautiful space?? I walked in here on Thursday as the
chairs were being assemble and was touched by the beauty. For the first time in our history we
are going to worship in a space that is beautiful. Yay, God!
Really this story is about God. The story is how God helped us and equipped us on every
step of this journey. We had some rocky moments. I can hardly ever remember being on a
journey that didnt have these rocky moments. We learned yet again that God wants a faith
community who has a call to be an authentic Christian community where strangers become
friends, friends become disciples, disciples impact the world. God wants us to exist to live out
that purpose. God wants a faith community who lives out the Core Values of Hospitality, Gods
church, Relevance, Acceptance, Outward Focus, Investing in Future Generations, Healthy
Disagreement, and Joyful Love. Yay, God!

One more piece about this journey. Until now weve called this place our new home on
Davenport. Originally we called it Davenport and then some of you suggested changing that to
our new home on Davenport. You and I know that our new congregation is not about a facility.
We are about a Purpose and set of Core Values. We need a phrase to define this facility. At
some point were going to say, were going to meet at ___. Were going to need to fill in the
blank. I dont think _____ is the phrase. We need a phrase. Maybe its as simple as church.
Maybe its Ministry Center. Be thinking and praying about what the name of this place will be.
This is the Sunday of joy! Yay, God! Coincidentallycoincidentally?its also the
Sunday of joy in the world-wide church. Let me tell you how this came to be. Originally
Advent was a season of forty days in preparation for Christmas. Advent was a somber or
penitential time. Then in the ninth centurythat is over 1,200 years agothe length of Advent
was reduced to four weeks. The third Sunday was named Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is the Latin
word for joy. The Sunday was selected to give people a break to the somberness of the season.
We have a red candle in our Advent candles as red represents joy.
The story of Mary coming to meet Elizabeth is a story of joy. Last week we heard the
story of Simeonthe prophet of hopewhich took place after Jesus was born. The story we
heard today takes place right before Jesus was born.
Mary was a peasant girl when she was told by the angel Gabriel that she would bear a son
who was the Messiah. Some people think she was as young as 12. My daughter, Hannah, is
going to celebrate her 14th birthday this Tuesday. Mary was younger than her.
Mary was engaged to Joseph but not married. The religious law was quite clear about
what could happen to women who conceived a child when they were not married. Death by
stoning was one option.

Gabriel also told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth, who was quite a bit older than Mary,
had conceived a child. We know that child as John the Baptist. Though Gabriel didnt directly
tell Mary to go see Elizabeth, just suggesting what happened to Elizabeth put the thought in her
mind.
So Mary went with haste to see Elizabeth. The journey was about 80 miles. She walked,
of course. It must have taken her four or five days.
What emotions do you think Mary was feeling as she was walking those 80 miles to see
Elizabeth? I think she was afraid. I think she was unclear about what was going to happen to
her.
It was a faith journey. These are the same emotions that you and I have experienced as
we traveled our journey to this new place.
Mary came to the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah, Elizabeths husband. It probably
wasnt much of a house. Mary called out to Elizabeth. The story doesnt say what Mary cried
out, but we can imagine. Elizabeth, Elizabeth. Its Mary. Its Mary.
When Elizabeth heard Marys cry the baby that was in her womb leaped in her womb.
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. I dont know what its like for a baby to leap in a
womb. Perhaps when we are sharing at our fellowship time today the women in the
congregation can share with the men what that feels like. But I can imagine that Elizabeth felt
fully alive. She must have felt Gods presence close by her. She felt joy.
Elizabeth said to Mary:
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this
happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of
your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy Luke 1:42-43

Mary went on to share some of the most beautifully recorded words in the English
language. Its known as the Magnificat. It is patterned after Hannahs song in 1Samuel. You
remember that Hannah had wanted a child. She was not able to have childrenshe was
barrenfor a long time. But through her persistence she convinced God to open her womb.
After Hannah had a sonwho we know as Samuel she said this
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My heart exults in the Lord;
my strength is exalted in my God.
my mouth derides my enemies,
because I rejoice in my victory.
1 Samuel 2:1
There is that wordrejoice!
Mary said something similar. She said this:
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My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor
on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations
will call me blessed.
Luke 1:46-48
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Here are the two next two each other. Though the words were shared thousands

of years apart, they had a connection. Both of the speakers were women; both had been
surprised that they were going to have a child. Both knew that God had been involved in the
conception.
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Let me share a challenge with you this week. Read 1 Samuel 2: 1-1 and Luke

1:46-53. Reflect or write down a few similarities between what Hannah said and what Mary
said.
Ill give you one similarity. Both of them were full of joy! They are both models of joy.

Joy is something that often befuddles many stoic Minnesotans. We misunderstand joy.
We think that joy is intense happiness. And it is, but its much more than that. Joy has a
spiritual side to it. Think about Mary again. She wasnt experiencing intense happiness when
she went to visit Elizabeth. She was scared for her life. She needed an older woman to give her
counsel. She was frightened. And yet even during this difficult emotional time, she experienced
joy.
Joy is a connection to God that gives a sense of delight. We could be very sad and still
experience joy. We have that delight because God is near.
Really joy isnt dependent on what happens out here. Joy happens in here. Its a
connection to the presence of the the Almighty.
At Chain of Lakes joyful love is one of our Core Values. We understand it to mean,
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We are released to love each other with joy because of what God has done for us. We are a
community who enjoys spending time together and supporting each others journey.
My second challenge to you is to make a memory this season based on joy. What can
you do with your family or your friends that youll still be talking about in ten years? What
memory can you do that will last. Today Jason Blair is going to share a memory that he has of a
very special Christmas that he and his family experienced. That memory is certainly of joy.
And he still remembers.
One final story of joy.
This has been quite a week at Chain of Lakes. Everyone has worked extraordinarily
hard. Our staff has worked extraordinarily hard. I hope that all of you will thank our staff for
the work they are doing. They are all part-time and they are all working well beyond their parttime status. We shouldnt be comfortable about that. They are an awesome group, and I hope

you will thank Sally Narr and Kristel Peters and Jennifer Huehns and Sherri Varsho. Thank our
interns, Jason Blair and Lisa Ellwoods.
Last night Kristel Peters was working late here. she was putting the final touches with
some others on the Christmas tree. I was out shopping with my daughter, Hannah at Northtown
Mall. When we were at Northtown I saw the picture that Kristel posted on Facebook. I showed
it to Hannah. I asked her if she wanted to come by here on the way home. She said she would.
Shes really bummed that she cant be here today as she has a basketball game. About 8:00 last
night we came in. It was dark and the Christmas tree was lit up. She was really impressed with
the beauty of the space. We walked through almost every part of the space. Then we came to the
Christmas tree.
As we were standing in front of the Christmas tree Hannah reminded me of our very first
worship service at the Senior Center in Lino Lakes. She reminded me that at the very first
worship service the two of us arrived early. When we got there we knelt down on the step of that
worship space and prayed. Last night she asked if I remembered praying with her. I said I did.
She hasnt talked about that moment ever since it happened. Shows the power of a memory.
Here we were last night by the Christmas tree and she was telling me this story. I asked her if
she wanted to pray again. So last night we knelt down on the floor in front of the Christmas tree,
and I said a prayer. Can there be anything greater for a father than having his daughter hinting
that we could pray together. We got up off our knees with a big smile on our face. You know
what we were experiencing. Joy.
As a father I want to thank you. I want to thank you for the thousands of hours you put in
to making that moment a reality. Your time allowed a father to pray with his daughter.

You know whatthose spiritual moments are going to happen in this place in the coming
days. With Gods help you have created a space where people in the community will experience
joy. This is the Sunday of joy. Yay, God!