"Sing Me The Story: Mary, Sing Me The Story” | Rev. Vicki Harrison

What if joy wasn’t something you waited to feel—but something you chose?

As we enter the third week of Advent, the theme is joy. In this week’s message from our Sing Me a Story series, Pastor Vicki Harrison invites us into the powerful and often overlooked words of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her song—the Magnificat—is more than poetic praise; it’s a revolutionary anthem of faith, courage, and hope in the face of uncertainty.

Watch the full worship service video or listen to the sermon audio player to experience just the message in full.

Mary’s Song is a Song of Strength

1. Mary chose joy in the midst of uncertainty.
Mary’s circumstances were vulnerable and even dangerous. A teenage girl, pregnant and unmarried, she could have panicked. Instead, she chose to glorify God:

“My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” (Luke 1:46-47)

Joy was not her emotion—it was her decision. In a world that exalts strength and certainty, Mary models how we can choose praise, even when the future is unclear.

2. God sees and honors the humble.
Mary’s story reminds us that God doesn’t pick based on status, education, or wealth.

“He has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.”
She wasn’t the most powerful, but she was faithful. And God chose her. This is how God works—He uplifts the overlooked, the ordinary, the lowly.

3. Her song is a prophetic declaration.
Mary wasn’t just accepting her role. She boldly proclaimed that her child—the Messiah—would turn the world upside down:

“He has brought down rulers... but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things...”
Her words have been banned in political regimes for being too empowering. This isn’t a passive lullaby. It’s a revolution in the womb.

Faith in Action: What Will You Choose This Season?

We often wait for joy to show up—but Mary shows us that we can choose it now. This Advent, even if your life feels uncertain or heavy, you can still say:

“My soul glorifies the Lord.”

Ask yourself: What is the posture of your heart right now? Is it frustration, bitterness, distraction—or is it praise?

Choosing joy doesn’t mean your problems disappear. It means you invite God into them. That’s the miracle of Emmanuel—God with us.

Need help staying focused on Jesus this season? Join a Group or take a Next Step in your faith journey.

Why This Matters for Our Mission

Mary’s song echoes God’s heart for the lost, the humble, and the overlooked—exactly who we are called to reach. At New Hope, we are committed to “Know Jesus. Grow Faith. Go Multiply!” Her story shows that ordinary people can be part of an extraordinary movement—a movement that changes the world, one disciple at a time.


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"Sing Me The Story: Prophet, Sing Me The Story” | Rev. Vicki Harrison