Advent reflection

A song of hope

In the third of five Advent reflections, Lieut-Colonel Jayne Roberts considers Mary’s response to God’s call

‘Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.’ (Luke 2:19)

IHAVE often wondered whether Mary would have kept a journal if she lived in the present day. A journal can be a useful space to record our response to what is happening in our personal lives and our wider communities. Many people find this practice helpful for their own spiritual formation.

It would be fascinating to read Mary’s first-hand account of the events, which began on an ordinary day in Nazareth with an extraordinary visit from the angel Gabriel. Yet we cannot assume that Mary, a humble village girl, would have even been taught to read and write. It is from Luke that we learn what was said to Mary and her response, when Gabriel announced the staggering news that she had been chosen by God to give birth to his own Son. The name, Jesus, was pre-chosen for the baby and Gabriel’s announcement confirms his divine kingly status and the eternal Kingdom over which he would rule.

It is hardly surprising that, in this moment, the future destiny of her promised child is not Mary’s priority. She simply asks how she, a virgin, could become pregnant. I wonder if we have often moved too quickly to Mary’s willing response: ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled’ (1:38).

Mary was given time to think and permission to question. So many of the great figures of the Bible are found questioning God at the moment of their calling. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once said, ‘to be without questions is not a sign of faith, but of lack of depth’. The call of God to Mary is an invitation that she questions and then accepts.

If we were watching these events unfold on a stage, there would now be a pause and a change of scene from Mary’s home in Nazareth to the house of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Mary enters and is greeted by Elizabeth, who is by now heavily pregnant with the child who would be known as John the Baptist. In a prophetic encounter, Elizabeth recognises that Mary is the mother of God incarnate and says: ‘Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!’ (Luke 1:45).

Mary’s response is a song of praise to God and a song of hope that God’s justice will be established. There are echoes of psalms and quotations from Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1–10. Mary envisions a Kingdom where poverty and injustice are ended, where the hungry are filled with good things. In her words we find the fulfilment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants.

‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour... The Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation’ (Luke 1:46–50).

REFLECT

Mary may not have had any means of recording the amazing events around the birth of her son, but we know that she stored up the precious memories and continued to think deeply on them.

Take time to read Luke 1:26–56. Reflect on the themes of Mary’s song. What verses from the psalms are you reminded of? What events in the life of Jesus find an echo in her words?

ADVENT PRAYER

A verse from another gifted songwriter, Major Joy Webb:

All around us seemingly, darkness holds its sway, Truth and love are faltering, peace in disarray; And if we needed you, we need you now! Come into our world, Come into our world, now, Lord Jesus.

LIEUT-COLONEL JAYNE ROBERTS LIE

Secretary for Spiritual Life Development THQ

Click and connect

Concluding a series on pioneering, Simon Hope finds out about Plexus, an online corps

THE internet is the largest thoroughfare on Earth. Billions of people across the world pass through its virtual streets on an hourly basis. But how effectively are we, as Christians, inhabiting this space? How are we ministering to people digitally as Jesus’ hands and feet?

In response to these questions The Salvation Army has pioneered Plexus – an online corps. This new initiative is building a community and reaching the unchurched in the online world. Just like other pioneer groups and fresh expressions, it is breaking new ground and reaching new people in new ways.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ONLINE CORPS?

As an entirely online corps, it is distinct from the ways that other corps place their services online. Rather than sharing output that is born of in-person communities, Plexus focuses on specifically building online communities. It’s not designed to replace services and programmes for those who are unable to attend their local corps. Rather, it aims to reach people who experience friendship and community wholly in online spaces. Understanding that this concept may feel alien to some people, the team respect that not everyone will be interested in what Plexus has to offer, but the aim is to create a new space for people who don’t fit into traditional formats of church.

WHAT DOES PLEXUS DO?

Plexus exists as a collection of projects, such as small group Bible studies, a book club and Instagram outreach groups. Their equivalent to traditional Sunday meetings is the podcast Selah: Time to Pause. It gives listeners an opportunity to take time out each weekday to catch their breath, draw near to God and refresh their spirit through worship, reflection and prayer. The weekly schedule devotes time to studying the Bible, learning from art and music, responding to the news and considering some of life’s big questions.

Pastoral support happens within these groups just as it happens in other corps, and corps officer Major Ian Emery takes time for one-to-one conversations and video chats with members.

WHY IS IT CALLED PLEXUS?

A ‘plexus’ is a network of nerves or vessels in the body. The name symbolises the different projects combining to create a network of believers and communities, forming one church.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PIONEERING

Dig down deep with

pioneerbitesize.com

Listen to the podcast at

sapioneering.captivate.fm

Facebook @SAPioneering Twitter @PioneeringSa Instagram @pioneeringsa ws and g ats

HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH PLEXUS?

Visit salvationarmy.org.uk/plexus or search @plexus.salvationarmy on Instagram or ‘Plexus Salvation Army’ on YouTube. Or, for more details on how you can get involved, email plexus@salvationarmy.org.uk. The team understand that people have questions, and they’re more than happy to answer them!

SIMON HOPE

Editorial Assistant Salvationist

CHURCH VIDE

Digital Community Mission Facilitator Sam Ellison (North West Division) introduces the CVC community:

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced churches online, creating video services and worship lyric videos became the new normal. For some, the process of creating these videos began drawing them closer to God. But as churches went back to onsite worship, fewer creators were being asked to make these resources and, as the need dwindled, some people fell away.

CVC brings new life to this ministry. On a surface level, it provides a sanctuary for like-minded people to offer advice and learn, a place for them to share their skills and frustrations, to receive information, encouragement and counsel. But more than that, it has an underlying