Joy

The Third Sunday of Advent

The Magnificat

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor 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 forever."

Luke 1:46-55

Mary, Mother of Jesus

DÜRER, Albrecht

1518

Gemäldegalerie

Berlin, Germany

http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/diglib-fulldisplay.pl?SID=20131214659240722&code=act&RC=46319&Row=20

They (Mary and Elizabeth) could wait together and

thus deepen in each other their faith in God,

for whom nothing is impossible.

Thus, God's most radical intervention into history

was listened to and received in community.

~ Henri Nouwen

(Mary's song gives voice to)

every son and daughter

who thought God has forgotten the promise to be with them forever,

to love them forever,

to give them fresh and endless life.

~ Barbara Brown Taylor

Santa came to our Silver Sneakers party!

Santa with Kendra Hinkson, Recreation Supervisor,

Evergreen Park and Recreation District

Nancy Tzeng, Mel Nuchols

at the Colorado Gives Thank You Party at the Center for the Arts Evergreen.

Marilyn Stechert, Susan Henry, Carolyn, Sydney Bernard-Hogling

Fascinating ice patterns along the creek.

Carol Carper, a member of our Rotary Club, started

Harambee Kenya in western Kenya in 2008.

Each year she takes a group of volunteer high school students

to work in Uluthe/Mungao, Kenya.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Harambee-Kenya/223933014865

The most beautiful thing

we can experience is the mysterious.

It is the source of all true art

and all science.

He to whom this emotion

is a stranger,

who can no longer pause

to wonder

and stand rapt in awe,

is as good as dead:

his eyes are closed.

~ Albert Einstein

December 15, 2013 Third Sunday of Advent

Previous OPQs may be found at:
http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:2-11

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

Joy to the World

by Isaac Watts in 1719

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.