December 19 - Mary
Gather
The white lily symbolizes Mary, mother of Jesus. Why do you think that is? What other flowers are used to symbolise people or events or places?
Today’s story is about hope for the future. What hopes and dreams for the future do you have?
Engage
Luke 1:39-56
Mary needed a break after her meeting with Gabriel the angel and so headed off to see cousin Elizabeth who was really pleased to see her and excited to hear news of the coming baby. Mary herself was so pleased and excited that she made up a song, a song of worship to God. She was surprised that she of all the women in Israel had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus and realised just how special she was.
She reminded herself that although God was holy he readily forgave people who were truly sorry, showing them his mercy. Her song went on to say how God had always cared about the weak and the humble and was not really keen on kings and other powerful people who often thought they were greater than God. Right at the end of her hymn to God she looks back on way that God had been with Abraham’s descendants all through their history, both in good times and bad times too.
God had promised his Messiah – saviour to Abraham and now it was all coming true, just as had been foretold.
Respond
The Bible tells us that Mary sang as her heart overflowed from the good news she had received. Read it below or listen to this song, this song, or this song and think about what this tells us about the nature of God
I’m bursting with God-news: I’m dancing the song of my saviour God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened –I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength, scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He throws tyrants off their high horses, pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet: the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel: he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised, beginning with Abraham and right up to now. (from The Message)
Send
Can you make up your own song like Mary that praises God for what he has done and will do?