Hey everyone. I'm Trevor, one of the producers of the Allender Center podcast. We wanted to take a minute to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

This week, we will be taking a break from our regularly scheduled episodes, but we wanted to leave you with a bonus episode before returning in the new year.

A few weeks ago, Dan and Rachel talked with Dr. Shulie Stearns about Mary's Magnificat, its significance

to our faith and what it calls us towards. So this Christmas Day, we wanted to leave you with a

reading of Mary's song, the Magnificat, as a way to celebrate the radical nature of the incarnation

and the Advent season. Merry Christmas, from ours to yours.

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with

favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the mighty one has done great things for me,

and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has

shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud and the thoughts of their hearts. He has

brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham, and to his descendants forever.