Opening Responses
Take us to Bethlehem, House of Bread
Where the hungry are filled
And the satisfied sent empty away
Where the poor find riches
And the rich recognize their poverty
And all who worship are filled with awe.
Song “Mary did you know”
Lighting four Advent candles
Forgive our mean spiritedness
Stretch our hearts
To extend love and compassion
To those we meet
Even if we don’t like them
Light of the world,
Mary's child,
dawn on our darkened day. Amen
We say the Lords prayer in our own language
Reading Luke 1v26-38
"In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgins name was Mary."
Song “Mary had a baby yes Lord”
Reflection
On this Sunday we remember Mary, chosen by God to give birth to Jesus. Mary was a young girl possibly a teenager. She suddenly finds herself pregnant and visited by an angel. It could be a bad day! The child she is carrying is destined to fulfil the prophesies concerning the Jewish Messiah. He will change history and be a beacon for those who are oppressed, a standard for all to live by in opposition to the standards of society. She knew it was going to be hard and she was just a young girl. In her life she had some hard journeys to make too-to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, to Egypt, where they had to go to escape the soldiers; and to the cross, where she watched her son die.
So Mary went to stay with her cousin Elizabeth who also was expecting a baby but was further advanced in her pregnancy. Mary went to a town in the hill country of Judea. The Song of Mary is in the form of a hymn of praise directed to God for his kindness toward Mary, with particular reference to remnant Israel and reflecting the Old Testament sense of God's covenant loyalty and loving kindness toward Israel, his hesed, Heb., "his faithful love". To those who acknowledge God's position and authority. His mercy extends to all people in all ages. Mary stayed approximately three months, indicating that Mary probably stayed till the birth of John.
There will be light in the darkness for Gods people, because a child will be born who will save the people. This child, this Jesus. And so like the rest of the church throughout the world we are waiting this Advent time for that child to be born again in our hearts, in our lives, in our communities, God with us. Immanuel. Some of us have travelled long journeys away from our place of birth to where we are today. Some of us have travelled hard journeys before today.
The Magnificat sung by Mary as she carries the baby born to be such an important person in human history, gives us hope too of material relief from poverty. In the story we hear that the angel comes to Mary to tell her she will be pregnant before marriage. We also know from Matthew that Joseph, thinking the worst, plans to divorce her. It's a story with ominous beginnings. A story of crisis.
The Christmas story begins with shame, the shame of a pregnant unmarried mother and an imminent divorce. It goes on to release its power through the childless, the dumb, the poor. This Christmas they are all with us. Those we despise because of their situation. Those who are vulnerable because they are women or young or powerless. It is to these and many others that Christ gives hope, lifting up the lowly, proclaiming release to the captives.
Take time to look at your priorities as we approach the end of another year and take time to put right relationships around you as far as is possible, take time to give to others less fortunate than yourself then the God of Hope will be with us and we will know it by the peace in our hearts.
Our Prayers
We pray for those who have no money, no food and no home today.
For those far from home in a strange country
For those experiencing war and hatred
Especially the children and the older ones.
The poor of our world are thirsty for justice
Our God is thirsty for justice.
May we bring it to pass. Amen
Song “The Angel Gabriel to Mary came”
Blessing
Come to us Holy one
To challenge our complacency
Come to us Holy one
To fill the hungry with good things
Come to us Holy one
To exalt the lowly and meek.
