“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke‬ ‭1:38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As we celebrated the Advent Sunday of Peace at Graceview yesterday, we took Mary’s words, “I am the Lord’s servant,” as our motto for this week.

It was a busy Sunday at the end of a busy weekend. Many of our choir members performed in the Let There Be Music Choir concert on Friday night (I was blessed to simply be an audience member there!) . On Sunday evening, Graceview hosted an Ecumenical service with Bloordale United, Fellowship Christian Reformed, and St. Philip’s Lutheran.

Both events were absolutely wonderful and spirit-filled. But both took a lot of planning, effort and prayer to come about. There may have been one or two people who were a little stressed out in all of this (I may have been one of them! 😉 ) .

As I prepared Sunday’s sermon, I marveled at Mary’s ability to take on so much – her child would be born to die, born to leave her in the most painful of ways, born to bear the sins of his people; he would be hunted by Herod, hated by many, misunderstood and dismissed by his own – with such humble strength. I find peace in her gentle, graceful acceptance of all God is asking of her.

And so I encouraged the congregation (and myself!) to say these words in the moments when we feel that too much is being asked of us this Season: I am the Lord’s servant.

It is a word of strength, of encouragement. When we serve God, we are mighty, for God is with us! When we serve God, even if things seem to go wrong, we can trust that God had it all in hand. When we serve God, we are assured that what we are doing matters and will make the world a better place.

So during this week of Advent Peace, may you be God’s servant, may you be a peace-maker, may you make the world a better place.