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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Singing Mary’s Song

An Advent Message of Hope and Deliverance

John A. Stroman • September 2012

BUY Print $13.99

BUY eBook (Available in ePub or Kindle) $9.99

Soon after the angel Gabriel announced to Mary the astonishing news that she would bear the long-awaited Messiah, Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was also expecting a child.

As Mary greeted Elizabeth, the child in Elizabeth's womb (John the Baptist) leaped inside her. Elizabeth exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you among all women. Why do I have this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

Mary responded by singing a song of praise to God, commonly known as the Magnificat.

Her song, recorded in Luke 1:46-55, was not a sweet lullaby sung in anticipation of the baby Jesus' birth, Stroman says. Instead, it was a message of deliverance and hope.

Mary's song proclaimed deliverance and hope to a dark and fearful world. It continues to bring challenge and hope to us today.

Singing Mary's Song provides scripture readings, meditations, and prayers for each day of Advent. Each week's readings focus on various lines of Mary's song. Reflection questions are included each week.

This Advent study will give you new insight into the life of Mary. Listen closely to Mary's song and discover its message for you today. A great study for individuals or groups!


Categories: Advent
John A. Stroman is a retired United Methodist pastor who served for 40 years. Then he taught New Testament studies at Trinity Methodist Theological Seminary in Ghana, West Africa. John holds a doctorate in theology from Boston University School of Theology. He has written numerous books and articles in journals and periodicals. John and his wife, Vivian, live in Tallahassee, Florida, where he is a columnist for the Tallahassee Democrat.

ISBN: 978-0-8358-1118-7

Kindle ISBN: 978-0-8358-1120-0

EPub ISBN: 978-0-8358-1171-2

Imprint: Upper Room

Pub Date: September 2012

Trim Size: 5.5 in (w) x 8.5 in (h) x 0.234 in (d)

Page Count: 112

BISAC Categories: RELIGION / Holidays / Christmas & Advent

BISAC1: REL034020

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With the wisdom of a biblical scholar and the warmth of a caring pastor, John Stroman enables us to see Mary as a real human being rather than a saintly figure on a Christmas card. But this study goes beyond retelling of Mary's story. It helps us find ourselves in Mary's story and invites us to join in singing her song of grace, liberation, and hope.
—The Rev. Dr. James A. Harnish Senior Pastor, Hyde Park United Methodist Church Tampa, Florida