Joy Is...

I wrote the following piece for our celebration service.  Thought others might like it.

Joy Is...

A Brady Pass to a Gronk Catch

As Crowd goes wild in the match

The last out in the final inning

The curse reversed cos we are winning

The first kiss after vow is made

Hands clap for couple arrayed

The sweet embraces of two lovers given

Over years and years of joyful livin’

Your favorite song and your favorite band

Experienced live at concert grand

The simple strum of a clean clear string

By an artful hand on the down swing

Shouts and cries,

Claps and sighs

The communal buzzing

of individual humming

It’s loud and soft, the bold who cheer

The crowd moving in high gear

For joy is better

When we’re together

That’s what Joy is…when it’s outside of here!

But in here, joy like that seems to disappear

Behind silent rows, and vacant eyes

Beneath this mystical disguise

This must not be,

It should not be…

For we have Thee

To joyfully see

For His arrival was with angel sung,

Good news, great joy for old and young

The Jubilee did He instate

With powerful words most potentate

Good news to poor, freedom from chain

Sight for the blind, still more we gain

The naked clothed, the hungry fed,

The sick made well, the sheep well led

The broken healed, the thirsty sated,

and Yet his Joy is unabated…

Grace He brings and mercy too

For us who sin from God most true

And that, dear church, is worthy stuff

For us to celebrate with joyous puff

His joy continued throughout his life

Right up to that most darkened strife

Where with last words, what would he tweet

Why… “My joy in you, your joy complete”

That is why we gather today,

Not for numbers, though they sway

It is for Him we gather

To help us close this chapter.

His work for us

… in us

… through us

…from us

You see, Faith Church, we have permission

To let loose our dumb condition

For we can with joyful shout proclaim

To God our Savior with great acclaim

That He is alive within our anatomy

“How?” you ask seeking clarity

From painted walls at Serenity

To prayers offered with sincerity

From groups that meet with authenticity

To humble work done with complexity

From children cared for oh most tenderly

To students reaching out so meaningfully

From baptisms done so forcefully

To stories shared so wonderfully

Yes, Faith Church, he is alive assuredly

Still more you ask for so expectantly

From tons of food raised so incredibly

To care teams working so compassionately

From global needs brought devastatingly

To us sitting here so quietly…

But why so quiet…Faith Community

Have you not heard of his activity?

Rise to your feet and join the throng

As we declare with word and song

Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God above,

The God of Joy, The God of Love

God is alive! So let’s celebrate

Let’s shout it out and emulate

God’s Word which says don’t hesitate

Come one, come all, lets celebrate