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“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 

This coming Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. We will light the candle of Love and celebrate how God sent Jesus to make his home on earth to change our hearts with unconditional love. We will hear Mary’s Song, the Magnificat, from Luke 1 where Mary declares that God will fulfill promises of justice, mercy, and love. 

A hymn written by Rory Cooney interprets Mary’s Song as Canticle of the Turning. You can enjoy the St. Olaf Choir rendition below. The refrain proclaims, “The world is about to turn!” We are called to follow Jesus and live in service of love and in service of others to help bring about this turning. We trust God is with us in all things and guides our lives no matter how flawed, banged up, or scared we are in these uncertain days.  

What would it look like if we turned from the powers of fear, injustice, and oppression toward God’s way of justice, mercy, and love? What specifically do you need to turn away from in your own life? What do you need to turn toward? These are great questions for each of us to reflect upon as we prepare to light the candle of Love. 

We look ahead to Christmas Eve and give thanks that we are able to gather in-person and online in 2021 for joyful worship together. We look further ahead to the New Year 2022 and the ways God will turn the world toward love.  May we each participate fully in God’s mission as we enact our strategic plan to help us join in God’s plan to bring love to the world and turn the world to Shalom: world peace. 

Turning to God, Pastor Andrea