Mary's Voice

The mother of God is often portrayed as a passive figure, yet Mary is described in Luke's gospel as a woman who exercised choice, questioned things, reflected, responded, spoke up, and demonstrated great faith. Mary had a voice. This unique Advent devotional from British theologian Amy Orr-Ewing invites us to hear the familiar Christmas story from an untold perspective: that of an ordinary, young, poor, oppressed woman who was chosen to play a significant and breakthrough role in the redemption of the world. It is no mistake that a woman gets to be a part of all this, and that her voice, her questions, her fears, and her actions matter. Through passages from Luke's gospel - the writer who used Mary as his primary witness for his account of Christ's life - and stunning paintings of the nativity from artists ancient and modern (including The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse illustrator, Charlie Mackesy, and famous masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Giotto, Chagall and Botticelli), Amy Orr-Ewing guides the reader through each day of Advent from Mary's point of view, exploring who she knew Christ to be. "If leadership is about influence, then, after Jesus, Mary was the greatest leader of all time. Uniquely, she was present at the three great moments of our redemption: the incarnation, passion, and pentecost. In this book, Amy Orr-Ewing presents Mary's perspective-her fear, her faith, and her wisdom-to highlight how her life can offer hope to all who journey through tears, disappointment, lament, struggle, and pain." -Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, author, pioneers of Alpha, and Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London "What better companions could there possibly be for our journey through Advent to Christmas than these two women: Mary, the mother of Jesus, who speaks more powerfully into this season than any other, and Amy Orr-Ewing, a trusted voice and respected friend whose insights never fail to encourage and inspire me." -Pete Greig, founder of 24-7 Prayer International and senior pastor of Emmaus Rd Church "A beautiful and intensely thoughtful set of Christmas reflections, given added depth by a stunning set of illustrations." -Professor Alister McGrath, University of Oxford "In Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ, Amy helps us to recapture the awe and wonder of the birth of Christ and what this means for us today. By elevating the voice of the young, strong, vulnerable, marginalized, courageous, obedient, faithful, and often overlooked, Mary, the mother of God, Amy unveils profound insights into the meaning of Christmas. This book will be a great companion as you prepare your heart during the Advent season. I have never been more captivated by Advent reflections and know you will see Jesus more clearly and love him more dearly as you journey through these pages." -Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women