Mary’s Magnificat -Making Room (S14 Episode12)

The liturgical season of Advent, meaning “coming”, begins this Sunday, and so begins the season of waiting. As if aware of our theme for the year, Sarah Bessey says, “When people talk about 'living in the tension,' I always think of Advent. It’s the time when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus while naming that we are still waiting here for every tear to be wiped away. I think of the waiting for the Christ child, yes, and I think of the still-waiting for all things to be made right, for our longing for Shalom.” There is a tension in this season - the tension of waiting for the good news to be here now, and seeing at the same time, that it is not yet fully realized.

As we move through the month of December, we’ll light the advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. We’ll be looking at four biblical songs - one each Sunday. This week, I’ll be preaching on Mary’s Magnificat - considering its revolutionary and subversive nature, and how it has brought both comfort and unease. It has been banned, truncated, simply ignored, yet also highly esteemed and used for political purposes. What does it say to people to cause all of that tension? What might it have to say to us? It’s full of good news - but is it good news for everyone?

Come explore the longest set of words spoken (or maybe sung) by a woman in the New Testament (a poor, young, unmarried pregnant woman at that!) and stay afterwards to enjoy the creativity of the Nexus community with our Maker’s Market.