Isaiah 61:1-4, Psalm 126 and Luke 1:46-55

Mary’s proclamation in Luke 1:46-55 gets our attention as we see how she sees herself in service to God. And that service takes the form of motherhood and discipleship to her son and her Savior. She is an example of expectancy in God’s promises to Israel and through Israel to the whole world. We honor her on this Third Sunday of Advent through the reading of her Magnificat, (where she quotes and paraphrases from Isaiah to the Psalms), and by lighting the pink candle in our Advent Wreath.

But how does a Tennessee hero of WWI get included in our sermon this Sunday?? Sgt. Alvin C. York from Fentress County was born on December 13th (our Sunday date) and is a notable Christian of the 20th Century even if made most famous by his wartime heroics. He was active in his local church and Cumberland Plateau community.

Here is the ongoing challenge: finding brothers and sisters in the faith to learn from, emulate, and then find our own unique witness after coming under the influence of thousands of other Christians, Christ followers in all walks of life in every age.

Mary is our biblical witness this Sunday as Alvin C. York reminds us of the vast life situations that are given to work out our faith in whatever time and place we are given!

Praise be to God who knows us all by name and knows each one’s unique potential for living the Christian life!

Come to worship with expectation to glorify God in the life you have now!

Pastor Barry
†