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Advent devotions 2008

DEC. 10 - FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
By Betty Schrag, assistant to the president

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete Scripture.

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DEVOTIONAL:
Mary’s Magnificat is a beautiful illustration of her simple faith in a God she learned about from stories passed down through her family line and from others in her faith community.

Every October when the air is cool and crisp, and the leaves are beginning to change, I migrate east with my siblings and our families to our roots, to the hills and valleys of Pennsylvania. We spend time cooking together, playing games, hiking, reminiscing and allowing our souls to catch up with our bodies. For one week we live together once again on the land where we, our parents and grandparents grew up. Although the generations before us are no longer living, we continue this ritual of gathering, bound together by our common biological and spiritual ancestry, and by our love for each other.

This fall, we set aside one evening to talk about family dynamics at the request of a younger family member who facilitated the conversation. As we shared our stories -- some humorous and some painful -- we recognized the common thread of God's faithfulness to our family through the years. We became keenly aware of how much the passed-down stories of faith and failure have influenced the way we live our lives. It was a holy moment. We sat in silence for a long time. Nobody wanted to be the first to break the spell of this sacred time.

"My soul is filled with joy . . . and holy is your name through all generations, everlasting is your mercy . . ."

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SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)
And Mary said,

'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.'

Posted at 14:35 #