Thanksgiving Sunday, November 16 (11:30 am)
What if the Next Word is Blessed? Out of the Darkness God Gives us a New Song
Luke 1:68-79
Sometimes the most powerful blessings are born in the dark.
This Sunday at Shiloh, we’re stepping into the story of Zechariah — a man silenced by doubt, stunned by the sheer audacity of God’s promise, and then suddenly overwhelmed by a dawn he never saw coming. In a world that feels frayed at the edges, where division, exhaustion, and uncertainty seem louder than hope, Zechariah’s first word after months of silence is a word our weary spirits still need to hear: “Blessed.” What happens when blessing breaks through the shadows? What happens when the dawn of God’s mercy rises on people who’ve just about given up?
We don’t need more noise. We need a new song.
The Benedictus is that song — a protest of hope in a time of empire, a quiet revolution of mercy when the world was bracing for violence, a reminder that God’s light still seeks out those sitting in darkness. And here’s the truth rising off this ancient hymn: we, too, are called to be forerunners of peace, carriers of mercy, guides toward the dawn. Join us as we explore what it means to prepare the way for Christ — not with perfection, but with faithfulness; not with force, but with fierce, gentle love. Come hear the blessing that breaks the silence.
See the Shiloh Worship Page for Online Access to Worship.
Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade is the pastor of Sanctuary UCC, the chair of the Medford Interfaith Clergy Association, and is serving as a clergy consultant for Shiloh Baptist Church. She preaches at Shiloh twice per month. For more about Rev. Wendy’s mission and ministry see SanctuaryUCC.org and RevWendy.com.
