SERMON NOTES:

Prayer Requests
Y For Heather Butterfields sister Susie who just found out she has glaucoma (she is in her 30s). Y Pray for the Butterfields friends Laurie, Ellen and Candi who have cancer and for Gods healing. Y Pray for Val Owens and her family as they suffer the loss of her mother.

Concord Pres, Delaware, OH New Albany Pres, New Albany, OH Ramseyer Pres, Columbus, OH Puerta de Salvacion Pres, Amherst, OH New Presbtyerian Hispanic Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa Southeast Asian Christian Church, Storm Lake, Iowa

DEVOTION
Christmas is ultimately about a story. We celebrate Christmas through gift giving, parties, family celebrations, cards, and church activities. These are means to a larger endthat being the story of Jesus birth. Unfortunately these events sometimes define our Christmasthey become the ultimate end. We can learn more about the story by having a deeper understanding of the two adults who were present at Jesus birth. These adults, of course, are Mary and Joseph. This week were looking at some Scriptures that describe Mary. Besides Jesus and Paul she is one of the most important figures in the New Testament. Enjoy! Comments about the devotion can be sent to pastor@colpres.org Monday, December 5 Read Luke 1:26-38 This reading is well-known among the entire world. Whether a person believes in God or even practices Christianity that person probably knows this story. Mary was understandably puzzled by the angel, Gabriels message. No one in the history of the world has conceived a child the way that Gabriel described. Gabriels message also put Mary into great danger. As a woman who was pregnant outside marriage she risked being stoned to death by her community.

Y Pray for Joanne Shingledeckers daughter,

Ann Brodersen. She is home recovering from gallbladder surger. Y Pray for Devin Vosdingh as she goes through extensive dental work. Y Pray for Erika Dochniak as she struggles with diabetes. Y Pray for a seven year old boy named Carter Olson who is undergoing chemotherapy for brain cancer. Molecular tests show that he has an aggressive form of cancer which places him in a high-risk category. Y Pray for Jennifers sister Rebecca Klein as their family go through divorce.

Y Pray for Franks Grandma Warnock. She has

qualified for hospice and may pass away soon. Please pray for peace and the assurance of her salvation in the Lord. Y Pray for Angelicas friend Ann, a friend and colleague, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Y Pray for Carole Lloyd, a friend of Pastor Paul

and Amy Moore, whose brain cancer has reappeared. Y Pray for Dwight Zvorak as he recovers from the disease of alcoholism. Y Pray for persons and process involved in property purchase for COL.

Y Please remember the following NCD churches

in your prayers:

2
Her answer to Gabriel is one that changed the world, Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your world. Mary was willing to do whatever God asked her to doeven if that request put her in great danger. Mary didnt live her faith by telling God what she wanted and then complaining when God didnt answer her prayers. Mary was open to living out Gods desireeven if she didnt understand that desire and Gods desire put her at risk. We probably arent putting our lives at risk by doing what God wants, but Mary serves as a role model for us. Today as you pray, use Marys prayer as your own prayer. Take the following prayer and use it over and over. Here I am, (insert your name), the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me according to your word. Tuesday, December 6 Read Luke 1:46-56 These verses are known as Marys Magnificat. Her prayer is very similar to Hannahs prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. If you have some time, compare the two prayers. Hannah had also unexpectedly been given the gift of a son. Hannah was barren and had given up hope of every bearing a child. God answered Hannahs prayer by giving her the child, Samuel. In these verses in Luke, Mary shared a vision for the world that came from God. She shared that God has a special place in the divine heart for lowly servants, the hungry, and the poor. This is a vision to lift up during Advent. As you pray today, pray that this vision that Mary shared in the Magnificat will take place. Pray that the church will have the courage to live out this vision. Wednesday, December 7

3
Read Luke 2:21-35 Soon after Jesus was born Mary and Joseph presented the baby for circumcision and purification. In doing this Mary demonstrated her faithfulness to her Jewish identify. The details behind purification can be found In Leviticus 12. The sacrifice that Mary and Joseph presented was a pair of turtledoves. Normally the sacrifice was a sheep, but if a family could not afford a sheep they would offer a turtledove. By sharing this sacrifice we learn that Mary and Joseph were poor. How amazing that God would choose to enter the world through a poor woman. It would have been safer to enter through a wealthy woman. That person would have better health care and more opportunities. However in entering a world through a poor woman, God shared the compassion in the divine heart for those who are poor. The church is called to have this same compassion for the poor. Today as you pray, give praise to God that Jesus entered the world through a poor teenage girl; pray that the church can have the same passion in helping those in the world who are poor. Thursday, December 8 Read Mark 3:31-35 When Jesus grew up Mary stayed very involved in his life. In this story we learn that Mary had other children. Jesus was asking about his brothers in verse 33. Some people have taught that Mary was a virgin throughout her entire life; however this story seems to refute that idea. It must have been very hard for Mary to see Jesus say these words in verse 34. Jesus did certainly not disown Mary as his mother, but he was saying that his family extended beyond Mary and his brothers. We dont read of Marys response to Jesus words, but we can imagine that this would have been difficult.

4
All of us have had experiences in our family when we were disappointed. Mary understands these experiences. As you pray today, reflect on times when you were disappointed in your family. Pray that you will let them go, that you will release them as Mary seemed to do. Friday, December 9 Read John 19:25-27 Its hard to imagine the pain that Mary must have experienced as she watched her son die on the cross. This boy who was in her womb for nine months grew up to be killed in a terrible and gruesome way. No mother should have to experience what Mary experienced in this story. Many women and men have had to bury their children. You probably know of some. Today, as you pray, pray for these parents. Pray that we at Chain of Lakes can be a community where we love and care for parents who have lost a children through death. Saturday, December 10 Read Acts 1:12-14 Mary experienced the joy of the resurrection that the other male disciples experienced. She continued to be part of the early group of followers of Jesus who went on to start the church. In this way she was an apostle. Marys participation with the other apostles is one reason that Presbyterians believe that women should be in leadership in the church. Its hard to believe that if the mother of Jesus was alive today, she would not be allowed to share Communion in some congregations. Today as you pray, pray that the church will recognize the gifts of all people. Pray that we will become a church where Mary could share her gifts in whatever way she wanted.