Mary’s Yes And The Courage To Begin (December 10 Midweek Prayer Service)

Send us Fan MailWhat if the words do not be afraid are less command and more shelter? We open the season by sitting with two call stories—Jeremiah’s reluctant start and Mary’s steady yes—and discover how fear, hope, and community braid into courage. The readings from Jeremiah 1:4–10 and Luke 1:26–39 set the stage: a young prophet who feels too small, a young woman who asks how and then moves with haste toward a trusted cousin. Both are met by a God who does not erase fear but accompanies it, placing words in mouths and signs in reach.We bring those themes to life through art and reflection. Lyle Gwen Garrity’s “Mary’s Yes” becomes a visual homily: light cascading like an angel’s greeting, a lantern earring that turns Mary into a bearer of flame, and garments inscribed with do not fear and here I am. That imagery reframes courage as a posture—pivoting toward warmth in the shadows—rather than a personality trait. Along the way, we talk about why Elizabeth’s visible pregnancy matters for faith that needs something to touch, and how community becomes the first step after consent to calling.Our prayers root the message in real streets and real lives: a sister’s illness, a home sifted after loss, violence close to where we gather. We ask for healing, for peace, and for the grace to keep placing one foot in front of the other. The Lord’s Prayer centers us, and a closing reflection traces everyday rites of passage—from first steps to first lullabies—as a map of how calling grows. If you’ve ever felt too young, too late, too ordinary, or simply too afraid, this conversation offers a small, steady light to carry. If it speaks to you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review to help others find the hope they’re looking for.Follow us on Instagram @guilfordparkpresbyterianchurchFollow us on Facebook @guilfordparkpcFollow us on TikTok @guilfordparkpreschurchWebsite:  www.guilfordpark.org