On Thursday evening some of us gathered to decorate the Christmas tree. Certainly no one was sent away hungry as we demolished ten pizzas and much of a pot of soup. The kids were the ones exalted, climbing the ladder to brave heights. Thank you to Kaeden who hung up the star at the top. After the decorating of the tree, kids were running wild through the Upper Hall, people ate their fill of pizza, and many of us hung around for Advent Evening Prayer led by Ruby, Abby, DJ, and Quill. It was a beautiful expression of Christian community with something for everyone. Some people simply sat and watched the kids decorate the tree. Others steadied the ladders. Others handed out the ornaments. Grant drove around all of Greater Victoria in search of pizza. Some folks enjoyed the energy of the kids and others enjoyed the restfulness of evening prayer led under candlelight.
During evening prayer we sang some of the words of the Song of Mary, which form both the Psalm we chanted today and also our gospel reading. These words are powerful both in their non-assuming poetry and also as world-changing Word of God. This is a story of Mary and Elizabeth, two pregnant women meeting one another, whose children exchange greetings in the womb. In response Mary delivers this proclamation which is unexpected in how it talks about who has real power.
First Mary is the unexpected one to deliver the Messiah into the world. It’s not yet Christmas, but still the Advent time of waiting. But there is a promise of deliverance. Not from the halls of power, but from a pregnant teenage mother.
Second Mary proclaims that God has brought down the powerful from their thrones. This is an Advent prophecy. In the fullness of time God’s justice will be realized. For all the people who are depressed at the state of the world, please take home the order of worship and tape this somewhere you’ll see it again. This is a reminder that the powerful may rule the day today, but reversals of fortune happen every day. They come unexpectedly. So we should take heart. Instead of getting convinced that things will never change or get better, trust that through God all things are possible. Especially when one or two gather together and proclaim this gospel message that builds up faith and offers comfort.
Third Mary proclaims that God sends the rich away empty and fills the hungry with good things. I’ve mentioned before I’m going to miss the Shelbourne Community Kitchen folks when they moved into their newly renovated space. It’s been a bit like camping for them in the Upper Hall, needing to schlep hundreds of pounds of food on carts up the elevator and through the halls. It will be better for their operation when they get occupancy in the new space with work mostly completed.
One way the congregation has benefited with this temporary setup over the past year is getting to know people visiting the Kitchen, meeting folks who frequent the Kitchen, and getting to know Kitchen staff. Over this past month, despite how busy it’s been, I am reminded we may want to strike while the iron is hot with offering some kind of coffee house for Kitchen folks, who are now comfortable walking in through the front doors. The Kitchen is planning to offer monthly and eventually weekly community meals once they have occupancy and a chance to establish routine. But we have a unique opportunity to continue using the Upper Hall as a space for people just to hang out, sit down, have a cup of coffee, be somewhere indoors without having to spend money, which is a rarity these days. The Nelly McClub Branch of the Greater Victoria Library is now closed. The new build includes an 18-storey building with housing with a projected completion date of 2028, at least three years from now. That means poor people in this neighbourhood have one less community resource. Something for us to reflect upon as we think about ways the Spirit is calling and leading us to serve others in the community.
One other story before I wrap up and give you all five minutes to discuss in small groups. Advent is also a time of darkness and light. Until recently most of our outdoor lighting around the sanctuary has not been working. Erik reached an electrician who came to access the situation and discovered that our fixtures and bulbs were not fully compatible, leading to the bulbs dying more quickly than should be the case. That has since been rectified. So too the light fixtures in our church sign have been waning, but Erik gave them a jumpstart that is keeping them going for now. We started the car and are keeping it running until we get through Christmas and have a chance to replace some of the fixtures. For me this was nothing short of an Advent miracle bringing back this interplay of darkness and light. And the tree lit in the window looks beautiful.
Now I invite you to consider a verse from the Song of Mary that will sustain you this week as we head toward the Christmas season. As you take five minutes to discuss the question at the top of your order of worship, remember we’ll share up to three brief reflections from your conversation, but no pressure. The question:
How does the Song of Mary speak to us today in times of anxiety? How does her song bring hope in times of unrest?
