When our Churches are draped in purple, we know we are into some serious stuff! Purple is for preparation; it's there during Lent in the lead up to Easter, and it's here during Advent in the lead up to Christmas. It helps to emphasis the stark contrast between our penitence and the glory that is revealed at Easter and at Christmas when everything turns from the sombre, serious purple to the glorious white of Easter and Christmas Day!

During Advent, every Gospel reading we have seems to talk about John the Baptist - a very serious man indeed. If I could repeat a little of what I said about him last Sunday evening... John the Baptist scares me! Out in the desert, clothed with camel's hair, eating locusts and wild honey. He seems to be like an old-fashioned, Old Testament prophet, austere and frightening. Luke's Gospel, especially, gives him legendary status. Certainly the Church in Israel that marks his birthplace has the same design on the floor of the chapel that Jesus' birthplace has in Bethlehem. It's clear that the New Testament Church looked upon John as someone only second to Jesus himself. "I tell you," Jesus says, "there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist".

Yet when Jesus came along, the first miracle that he did was to turn 180 gallons of dishwater into 180 gallons of the best wine you could drink for a tiny little country wedding out in the back of nowhere in a place called Cana. Some wedding; it would have gone on for weeks! Later, in that same chapter of Matthew that I just quoted from, Jesus says, "For John came neither eating or drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard''". (Or as the AV says, "behold a man gluttonous, and a wine bibber") There's a stark contrast! So, what is happening here?

This Sunday, the third in Advent is 'Gaudete Sunday', when the rose candle is lit, representing joy! It is the Latin for 'Rejoice' as in 'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice'! (Phil. 4:4)

I think that has got to be the hallmark of a Christian. How many miserable Christians do you know? Just think about it! Would that ever inspire anyone to come to Church?

I was going to save this comment when I was going to talk about Church Growth. Down and Dromore Diocese is into this at the moment, especially after our 'Synod Gathering' in Moira a few weeks ago. But I can repeat it later! Archdeacon Bob Jackson, from the Church of England, the keynote speaker that evening quoted a recognised worldwide single universal factor that all growing churches had. There were many, as you could imagine, a list of them that need to be employed to ensure Church Growth, but only one was common to all. "The one universal factor to emerge was laughter - growing churches have got joy and laughter; joyless churches shrivel!" to quote the Church of Ireland Gazette report.

I've told you before, that the early Franciscans were complained about because they laughed too much in church. When your faith, when your religion becomes something which you feel you have to carry around with you, when it becomes something that demoralises you, that makes you so unworthy, that it is something which drags you down, then there is no getting away from the fact that your religion has become a burden.

But it's completely the wrong way round. Your faith is not something that you carry; it is something that carries you!

John's message is uncompromising, and there is no doubt that Jesus' message is also uncompromising. But through all the hell that he came through, he offers us life, and life in all its abundance. It's not a denial that life and death are very serious, but he offers a way through when everywhere else seems to be blocked off, he offers a truth when all we ever seem to hear are lies, and he offers a life and a joy even when there seems to be no point to life, and it is a joy even in the midst of utter pain. If all that is truly possible, then that is a monumental achievement. If He really has done all that, then that is really something to be happy about.

And I've no doubt in my mind that that is the way he wants his children to be. Is that not your greatest wish for your own children?

To mention weddings, even at this time of year is not so unusual nowadays. And we've missed having a winter wedding this year! But here is something that you might enjoy which was sent to me through email, entitled 'For those who take life too seriously'.

A doctor was addressing a large audience:

"The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High fat diets can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?"

After several seconds of quiet, a 75-year-old man in the front row raised his hand, and softly said, "Wedding cake."

I have this poem pinned up on my study wall. It's from a book, 'Thermals of the Spirit' by Paul Bundy.

"In the beginning... God laughed

And the firmament fumed and spluttered with pleasure;

And the sea shook the foam of his hair from his eyes;

And earth was glad.

The sound of laughter was like the swaying and swinging of thunder in mirth; like the rush of the north on a drowsy and dozing land,

it was cold, it was clear.

The Lion leapt down at the bleating feet of the frightened lamb and smiled; and the viper was tamed by the thrill of the earth,

At the holy laughter.

We laughed, for the Lord was laughing with us in the evening; For the laughter of love went pealing into the night;

And it was good."