Luke 1:39-45

Thoughts:         Two unlikely – indeed, theoretically impossible mothers.  Of Elizabeth, people must have exclaimed, “She’s too old!”  Of Mary, people probably clucked disapprovingly “She’s not married!”  Yet through God’s divine plan, both Elizabeth and Mary were expectant mothers.
 
Elizabeth was past child-bearing.  Mary was a teen-aged virgin.  But as Gabriel reminded Mary, “… with God nothing shall be impossible.”  
 
Both Elizabeth and Mary had been told that they would bear sons sent from God, and their names were already decided.  So there was no suspense about “Is it a boy or a girl?” and there were no skirmishes about naming the baby for Great-grandmother Hepzibah or rich old Uncle Mordecai.
 
Elizabeth’s son John would “… make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  Mary’s son Jesus “… shall be called the Son of God.”
 
Discussion:      Why were these two particular women chosen to be the mother of John the Baptist and the mother of Jesus the Christ?

 
Activity:            What are we chosen to do during Advent?

Remember in prayer this week Joan Coval in her final days of Hospice, Ken Engelmann at Heartland, Connie Gill, Vivian Hansard, and Eunice and Bill Kraase.
 
This Friday is the memorial service for Betty Leach at 11am with visitation beginning at 10am.  
 
Also this Friday is the blood drive from 1–6:45pm.
 
Saturday from 3-5pm is the Open house at the parsonage, 6339 Vernmoor in Troy.
 
Sunday will be Communion and Baptism during worship.  At 3pm is our Hope and Healing Service in the Chapel.
 
Come Sing Christmas Eve!!
 
At this year’s 7:00 Christmas Eve service, the choir will once again be singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus! Those who are interested in joining us up front are invited to come to rehearsal on Wednesday, December 23rd at 7:30 p.m. to get reacquainted with this glorious piece. We will also be singing a beautiful Craig Courtney Christmas anthem, and all are invited to stay and rehearse that piece as well, if interested.
 
If you cannot make this rehearsal, no worries! Those who cannot but are interested in singing, are invited to do so from the pews.
 
They say that singing is praying twice, and what better time to lift our voices in praise than to celebrate the birth of our Savior? God Bless us, every one!