Don't forget to join us for our Christmas Choir Cantata-this Sunday at 9 a.m.!

Also, don't forget to read and reflect on our Vision Statement, a copy of the statement can be found by clicking here.

On our final Sunday of Advent, we join Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she visits her cousin, Elizabeth. Both women are pregnant despite all the odds.  As they visit, we hear for the first time (other than from an angel) the baby Mary is carrying is the Lord!

³⁹In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴²and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord." ⁴⁶And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. ⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; ⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." ⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Luke 1:39-56

·         What's a good Protestant to do with Mary?  While Mary is well regarded in Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions, we tend to overlook her.  What can we learn from the Mother of Jesus?  What has our tradition lost by not paying attention to her?

·         Why do you think God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?

·         Elizabeth blesses Mary and the baby she is carrying. The word translated bless  in this passage is eulogeo which means "to speak well of," "to praise," "to bless," or "to act kindly toward."  It is the root of our English word Eulogy which generally refers to words said at a funeral (Isn't it sad that we wait until then to bless, speak well of and praise others?!)  Why is Mary blessed?

·         Verses 46-55 are called The Magnificat from Mary's opening words in which she declares that her soul "magnifies" the Lord.  What can we learn about God from Mary's words?  What do these words indicate are the nature of the God revealed in the babe in the manger?

·         Does anything leap for joy within you when you hear these words?

See you on Sunday, when we-like Mary and Elizabeth-break into songs of praise for what God has done in Jesus Christ!