Advent IV

And holy is your name....

This was Mary's Sunday. We heard the story of Gabriel's visit to her, and then the Magnificat, her song of praise and prophecy. The story was read by a young couple whose little girl died shortly after birth a year and a half ago and who are now awaiting the birth of their son.

Darkness and light.

. . .through all generations. . .

Our benediction was the song My soul is filled with joy, #13 in Sing the Journey, the Magnifacat put to the music of the Irish traditional song Wild Mountain Thyme.

Singly, in pairs, and then as a group of six, dancers presented the verses, and then returned to the same refrain.

. . .Everlasting is your mercy. . .

. . .to the people you have chosen. . .

. . .and holy is your name.

After the five verses, the refrain is played over and over again. The six dancers did it together, and then with each repeat, another seven or so dancers stood up in the aisles and joined them. By the last time through, there were dancers spread through the whole congregation -- including a few who joined in on the spur of the moment.

Linda, the choreographer, calls it her Mary's Song Flash Mob dance.

It was a joy to be part of the flash mob. I wasn't too sure about it when we started rehearsing before the service and there were only about five of us there to be the "mob." But additional participants kept arriving as we rehearsed, and by the end, there were enough to have the aisles well-filled.

Much sunlight throughout the day, and a lovely singing fire at Faith House Fellowship this evening, and some good quotes on light from Philip Newell -- but I'll save those for another day.