Please read the note below from Pastor Woodhouse regarding his sermon:

One of the easily-recognized themes in the readings, the introit, and the hymns for this day is the Magnificat, the song Mary sang in the presence of her cousin Elizabeth as Mary came to visit her. Several of the worship services and hymns contained in our hymnal make reference to the Magnificat, so it might be familiar to many of us. But we might too quickly imagine that it is a song that specifically and uniquely describes the situation and response of Mary as she learns that she is to give birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world.

In reality, Mary’s song is the same song each of us might sing, as we learn what it means that God Himself took on human flesh and came to live among us. That, in fact, He came to die as our own sacrificial Lamb so that our sins would finally be defeated and our relationship with God restored. Mary is blessed to witness the advent of the Messiah; to receive our Lord. But we are similarly blessed! We sing along with Mary!