When someone uses the phrase “Expect the Unexpected” they are saying something which is pretty obvious: there will be times when something happens to you-you don’t know where, when, or why-that will totally surprise you.

Have you ever watched It’s a Wonderful Life? (Hard to imagine there is someone who hasn’t).  There is a scene in it where George comes home defeated and Mary informs him “George Bailey lassos stork.” He is so surprised and asks her, “Mary, Mary…are you on the nest?”  I chuckle every time I see that. Who says that today? But to my point: he was surprised.

Imagine Mary’s surprise when she is visited by Gabriel (not Clarence) and is told she is going to have a child. Her first reaction is to be expected: “How can this be since I am a virgin?” Gabriel tells her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Mary’s song called the Magnificat is a response to this announcement and to Elizabeth’s confirmation (the baby leaping in her womb when Mary showed up). It is a beautiful song of praise to God. I will be focusing some on this song of praise and what it says to us.

I hope you will join us in person. If not, then I invite you to join us via live stream at 9 and 10:45. Expect the Unexpected will be a four-week series that will focus on the birth of Jesus and get us ready for the new year.