From the Rector…
“Tell out my soul…” These words of Mary introduce Jesus to the world. They precede her Magnificat—the song she sings to Elizabeth as she recounts her encounter with Gabriel and the news that she will be the Christ-bearer. There is a ring of joy in these words—no complaints, no doubts, simply acceptance and hope. Mary doesn’t say, “Let me tell you what happened to me,” nor is she “telling off” anyone. Instead, she is telling out—proclaiming—from her soul.
In this moment, Mary decenters her ego and recenters her entire life and purpose on God and what God has called her to do. There is no hint of pride or self-importance. She doesn’t say, “Can you believe what I get to do?” Yet she also doesn’t deny her calling. The proclamation comes from her soul—the part of us most directly connected to God. Mary doesn’t just listen to the still, small voice within; she gives that voice volume, proclaiming what God is doing through her for his purposes.
Mary reorients her life around God—even in the most humbling and humiliating of circumstances. To the world, she appears as an unwed, pregnant teenager who has betrayed her betrothed. Yet she is filled with joy, awe, and wonder as she shares this news with her cousin.
So often we struggle with our own sufferings and unmet desires, seeing them as curses rather than blessings. We can slip into a sense of victimhood, forgetting our agency and doubting our power to respond faithfully. And maybe, sometimes, our circumstances cannot change. But like Mary, we can change our perception of them.
Rather than getting trapped in the undesirable realities of her situation, Mary holds onto hope. She refuses to let fear or suffering dictate her story. Instead, she sings of possibility and grace. She looks to the future with trust rather than dread.
Mary’s song reminds us that we cannot know what the future holds, but we can trust that God has purpose and plans for us. God promises that we will have all we need to do his redemptive, kingdom-building work in the world. He calls us to live faithfully, partnering with him and one another in that work.
At Ascension, we do that, in part, through our stewardship—joining together through pledges and offerings to make a difference in this world as we, like Mary, bear Christ to others. “Tell out my soul” is our stewardship theme this year, and as the campaign winds down, I am heartened by how many of you have responded with generosity and love for our Ascension family.
More than your pledges alone, it is your collective witness that inspires me. Together, we tell out our souls through every act of ministry and mission—volunteering with children, feeding neighbors, caring for one another, and bringing Christ’s light to a broken and dark world. That is truly something worth singing about.
This Sunday is Celebration Sunday where we will gather all of our pledge cards together and bless them at the 10:30am Eucharist. The celebration continues after church with a feast of shrimp and grits, jambalaya, live music, games for the kids, and fellowship—an opportunity to TELL OUT OUR SOULS and proclaim all that God has done for us! I hope to see you there.
Light and Life,
Candice+