Pastor's Weekly Word

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:46)

Luke 1:46 notes the first words out of Mary’s mouth when she greets her cousin Elizabeth with the news of her pregnancy. As you may know, Elizabeth was also pregnant, soon to become the mother of John the Baptist. I’ve always pictured that meeting as one filled with more joy than two people could handle. I can see both of them jumping about and laughing together feeling more abundantly blessed than they could have ever imagined. They were ripe with life, God’s life. It was a fun day, in the best sense of the word.

I believe I felt something similar last Sunday as we worshipped together. Both of our services were filled with joy as the music and our singing echoed around the sanctuary. It wasn’t just the sounds of Advent that did it. It wasn’t just the fact that we were singing the carols of the season or witnessing the incredible musical talent of our praise team at 9 AM or the sanctuary choir and instrumentalists at 11:05 AM. No, it was more than that. Sunday morning had the feel of a people who are ripe with life, God’s life.

I wanted to echo Mary’s words when I left the Canyon Creek campus on the heels of outstanding worship. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” What a fun day it was, in the best sense of the word. It made me feel more abundantly blessed than I could ever ask for or imagine. I hope it did the same for you. May God be with you this week as we continue to wait with expectation for the God who will, yet again, surprise us with faith, hope, and love… and life.