Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord;
Praise the Name of the Lord.
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
From this time on and forevermore.
Who is like the Lord our God, Who is seated on high,
Who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust,
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
To make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
Making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord! – from Psalm 113
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
We invite you to join us today in Worship. We will be reading from Luke 1:39-56. Our Call to Worship comes from Psalm 113.
Today’s Ensemble is Anne Pokorny, Mike Bunch, Brenda Doyle, John Myers, Mike Dossett, Michelle Hunt, Julie Stoops & Leigh Bigger. A big thank you to all of the above for sharing their gifts of music with us this morning.