Why the name Saint Mary? Here is a little Lutheran Reformation history: The Stadtkirche (City Church) in Wittenberg Germany was known as the "Mother Church of the Reformation." More officially named St. Mary's Church (Marienskirche), the City Church has sections dating from the 13th century, making it the oldest structure in Wittenberg. Martin Luther preached at Saint Mary's regularly, he and his wife Katherine were married there in 1525, and his six children were baptized there too! Other names include Stadtkirche; City Church; Marienskirche; St. Mary's Church; Stadtkirche St Marien; and the City Church of St. Mary. Visit the Lutherhaus in Wittenerg, Germany...

By the very name of our mission congregation, we acknowledge our Lutheran heritage and the contributions and service of women throughout the history the Christian Church.

Our name has also been chosen for those saints, the faithful women of the Scriptures who were named Mary. Among them we remember: Mary Magdalene who anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, whom together with Mary the wife of Cleophus were present at the crucifixion; Mary the sister of Martha who sat at the feet of Jesus to listen and learn, having chose the “One Thing Needful;” Mary, the mother of John who offered her home where many gathered to pray; and especially the Virgin Mary “Blessed Among Women,” the Mother of our Lord.

Bible Verses Referencing The Name Mary:

1. Matthew 1:16
And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

2. Matthew 1:18
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

3. Matthew 1:20
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

4. Matthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

5. Matthew 13:55
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

6. Matthew 27:56
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedees children.

7. Matthew 27:61
And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

8. Matthew 28:1
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

9. Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
 
10. Mark 15:40
There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

11. Mark 15:47
And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

12. Mark 16:1
And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

13. Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

14. Luke 1:27
To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

15. Luke 1:30
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

16. Luke 1:34
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

17. Luke 1:38
And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

18. Luke 1:39
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

19. Luke 1:41
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

20. Luke 1:46
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

21. Luke 1:56
And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

22. Luke 2:5
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

23. Luke 2:16
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

24. Luke 2:19
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

25. Luke 2:34
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

26. Luke 8:2
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

27. Luke 10:39
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

28. Luke 10:42
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

29. Luke 24:10
It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

30. John 11:1
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

31. John 11:2
(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

32. John 11:19
And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

33. John 11:20
Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

34. John 11:28
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

35. John 11:31
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

36. John 11:32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

37. John 11:45
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

38. John 12:3
Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

39. John 19:25
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

40. John 20:1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

41. John 20:11
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

42. John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

43. John 20:18
Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

44. Acts 1:14
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

45. Acts 12:12
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

46. Romans 16:6
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.