For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
Mary is one of the few female characters of the Bible that we get to see not just once or twice in her life, but over a period of decades, appearing in a number of verses and in a variety of situations well beyond the familiar lines of the Christmas story. Whether you are doing this summer Bible study as a personal devotion, as a one- or two-day retreat, or shared with a circle of others over the summer, we hope you will be enriched and find in Mary a friend to cherish, a spiritual guide who points you forward to a fuller life in Christ, throughout your own seasons as a woman of faith.
 The Bible study was written by the Rev. Christa von Zychlin, who is serving with the ELCA Mission in Hong Kong, China, with her husband, Wayne Nieminen. Pastor Christa has long been fascinated by Mary, the mother of our Lord, as a source of spiritual friendship and empowerment for women of all cultures and ages.
She invites you to share in her current adventures on her blog.
In this summer Bible study we will take a closer look at these three seasons in the life of Mary:
Session 1: The Annunciation
What is it like to be on the brink of womanhood, visited by a messenger of God Almighty? What is youthful spirituality all about, that season of surprises, and hopefulness, and a certain naïve courage to take on big “God-sized” projects?
Session 2: Kinships, Friendships, and Holy Encounters
We will look at two instances of intergenerational friendships and blessings, the time when the teen-aged Mary takes off running to visit her menopausal cousin Elizabeth, and the moment after the birth of Jesus, when Mary and her family are blessed by elderly folks in the temple.
Session 3: Mary Among the Disciples
Mary may well have been a widowed single woman when she is called to a new role as a mature leader in the early church. We will look at the poignant moment when Jesus entrusts his beloved disciple into Mary’s care, along with a final glimpse of Mary joining the disciples in visioning and prayer.
Hold a one-day retreat |