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‘My soul magnifies the Lord,

    and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

 for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.

   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,

   and holy is his name.

 His mercy is for those who fear him

   from generation to generation.

 He has shown strength with his arm;

   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

   and lifted up the lowly;

 he has filled the hungry with good things,

   and sent the rich away empty.

 He has helped his servant Israel,

   in remembrance of his mercy,

 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,

   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ (The Song of Mary)

Have you ever just had a good feeling about things? A few weeks ago the bishop came to our 10:00 AM service. The place was packed, the music was fantastic, and the bishop left with a very good feeling about our church. He said that the spirit was present. He felt the hospitality and joy of a community filled with the love of Christ. In today’s Gospel Mary greets Elizabeth and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. They rejoice because Mary has given of herself so that the whole world might have a savior. This Sunday we will have the Children’s Pageant at the 10:00 service. I hope you will witness the joy of the Holy Spirit in story of Mary and the birth of our Savior. At St. John’s, God comes to us as the incarnate Word of Jesus Christ to lead us to a new way of life.

Be joyful that we may live faithful lives through this incarnate Word. My hope is that each of you will feel a completeness that comes from being in the place where God has called you. God wants to make a broken world whole and comes to ordinary people to do great deeds. Do you remember the first teaching of Jesus in the synagogue? Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Isaiah proclaimed to an oppressed people that soon they would be freed. For generations and generations, people waited for that prophecy to come true. Jesus is the fulfillment of ancient prophecy and Mary and Elizabeth cannot contain their joy that they have been blessed by God to be a part of it. As Advent comes to an end and the ancient promises are about to be fulfilled, we await in expectant joy. Are you excited that Christmas is almost here? God will come yet again us to free the oppressed and bring Good News to the poor.

St. John’s has been blessed for 280 years that people have rejoiced in the power of the living God. God comes again and again to fulfill ancient prophecy. By the Spirit of God, we have done many good things here. I wait in joyful expectation to hear and see what God will do among us.

Christmas Eve Services, Tuesday, December 24th

4 pm - Rite II Choral Family Eucharist

7 pm - Rite II Choral Eucharist

10 pm - Rite I Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day Service, Wednesday December 25th

9 am - Rite II Holy Eucharist

In Christ’s love,

Fr. Duncan