Luke 1:39-56

Outline:
vs. 39-45 Mary & Elizabeth: Objects of favour
vs. 46-55 Mary’s Song: The extraordinary acts of God everyday

Here’s a straw poll
Answer the question of the all time most favoured celebration songs?
What’s yours

Is it Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”

Survivors “Eye of the Tiger”

Kool & the Gang: Celebration

Black Eyed Peas “I’ve gotta a feeling”

Keeny Logons “Footloose”

Queens “We are the Champions”

Some songs define generations
Some songs stick in our heads and pop up
at the most inconvenient times – like right now maybe

Even if you’re tone deaf or can sing pitch perfect
Singing is part of how we’re wired

Like today we come by a celebration song sung by a young Jewish woman of Palestine, pledged to be married she set her life to be a carpenters wife

now this isn’t a song
I’ll guarantee you’ll be singing in the car on your way home
Yet it’s as beautiful a song about Jesus we’ll ever hear

hope and promise in extraordinary times

peace on earth and good will on whom his favour rests
as we all push through the activity and festivity of this time
prepare your soul for Christmas

in some ways it’s easy at Christmas to be restlessly swept away by events

Luke directs our gaze
Seek Jesus carrying your sins in your hands
Mercy is a celebration in the gift of grace

Wrestle yourself down to the promises of God’s loving kindness

So we …“need the invasion of the redeemer, the hands of the Shepherd. We need great help…Only one thing is strong enough to overpower and slay unruly cravings and a stormy life: what God promises to do in and through Jesus.” [1]