Order of Worship

28th of September 2025 | 10:30 (Espoo)

Song 1 – Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery

Psalm 44:8

8  In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Song 2 – Good and Gracious King
Song 3 – Your Words Are Beautiful

Song 4 – Sovereign Over Us

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team or any of our staff team members for more info on giving online.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen

A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!

If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

Luke 1:39–56

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
 
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
 
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The God Who Lifts the Lowly

God confirms His word, overturns human pride, and lifts the humble with His mercy.

I. God Confirms His Word Through Encouragement vv. 39-45
II. God Scatters the Proud and Lifts the Humble vv. 46-53
III. God Fulfills His Promises in Christ vv. 54-56

Song 5 – My Worth Is Not in What I Own
Song 6 – His Glory & My Good

Introduction
1. When was a time you received unexpected encouragement from someone? How did it strengthen you?
2. Mary’s song begins with God’s mercy. How do you usually define mercy, and why do you think it matters?

Into the Text
3. Read Luke 1:39-45. Why do you think Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth? What does their meeting show us about how God confirms His word through community?
4. Elizabeth calls Mary “the mother of my Lord” v  43. Why is this significant as the first time Jesus is called Lord?
5. Read Luke 1:46-50. What does it mean that God “looked on the humble estate of his servant”? Where else in Scripture do we see God notice and lift the lowly?
6. In verses 51-53 Mary describes a great reversal: the proud scattered, the mighty brought down, the hungry filled. How does this challenge the way our culture measures success?
7. Read verses 54-56. How does Mary connect her own story to God’s promises to Abraham and Israel? What does this teach us about trusting God’s faithfulness across generations?

Apply the Text
8. Where are you tempted to build your worth on pride, status, or self-reliance? How does Mary’s song challenge you?
9. God confirms His word through people like Elizabeth. How can you be an Elizabeth in someone else’s life this week?
10. Mary responded to God’s mercy with praise. What is one practical way you can cultivate gratitude and worship in your daily life?
11. As a church, how can we live out the Magnificat by lifting the lowly, serving the hungry, and trusting God’s promises together?

28th of September 2025 | 16:00 (Helsinki)

Psalm 44:8

8  In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Song 1 – Look and See
Song 2 – Indescribable
Song 3 – I Will Wait For You

Song 4 – Let Us Be Known

Our welcome team members will pass an offering basket during this song.

For information about giving online, please visit ucclife.fi/give or follow the QR code on the screen. You can also speak to our pastors or leaders for more information about giving and generosity. You can also ask the welcome team or any of our staff team members for more info on giving online.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen

A warm welcome to all, and especially to any visitors joining us today – if you’d like to get connected or find out more about UCC, please see our digital visitors card or speak to us after the service!

If you have children, they are welcome to join our Sunday school classes! 

Luke 1:39–56

39 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
 
46 And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
 
56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

The Lord Magnified

Luke 1:39–56

I. The Word of the Lord Believed (vv. 39-45)
2. The Holiness of the Lord Magnified (vv. 46-50)
3. The Mercy of the Lord Remembered (vv. 51-56)

Song 5 – Psalm 34
Song 6 – Genuine Love

Introduction
1. Mary’s song begins with God’s mercy. How do you usually define mercy, and why do you think it matters?

Into the Text
2. Read Luke 1:39-45. Why do you think Mary hurried to visit Elizabeth? What does their meeting show us about how God confirms His word through community?
3. Elizabeth calls Mary “the mother of my Lord” v  43. Why is this significant as the first time Jesus is called Lord?
4. Read Luke 1:46-50. What does it mean that God “looked on the humble estate of his servant”? Where else in Scripture do we see God notice and lift the lowly?
5. In verses 51-53 Mary describes a great reversal: the proud scattered, the mighty brought down, the hungry filled. How does this challenge the way our culture measures success?
6. Read verses 54-56. How does Mary connect her own story to God’s promises to Abraham and Israel? What does this teach us about trusting God’s faithfulness across generations?

Apply the Text
7. Where are you tempted to build your worth on pride, status, or self-reliance? How does Mary’s song challenge you?
8. God confirms His word through people like Elizabeth. How can you be an Elizabeth in someone else’s life this week?
9. Mary responded to God’s mercy with praise. What is one practical way you can cultivate gratitude and worship in your daily life?
10. As a church, how can we live out the Magnificat by lifting the lowly, serving the hungry, and trusting God’s promises together?