The World is About to Turn
Do you remember the Magnificat—Mary’s song at the start of Luke’s Gospel? We heard it all the way back on the fourth Sunday of Advent, when we sang several versions of it, including Canticle of the Turning. On that day, we talked about how important this piece of poetry is.
- It’s built with voices of several women who came long before Mary (and may have even originally been Elizabeth’s song!)
- This is a rare lengthy Gospel passage entirely owned by a woman.
- Jesus repeats all the ideas in the Magnificat in his ministry, and is especially clear about them in his sermon on the plain (what a good Mama’s boy, huh?)
On that Sunday, I suggested that the Magnificat is a non-violent cry for change. A song that acknowledges just how tough things actually are and still cries out with strength for what should be—for the world as it is to transform and embrace justice, equity, and love. That’s why we sang Canticle of the Turning that day—and why its refrain has shown up in sermons and in song throughout this year:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring,
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn.
As Christians following in the way of Jesus, this is what we have signed up for. To see equity, justice, peace for all of God’s creation. To not turn our faces away from the difficulties, but to still keep our hearts open and ready for the next transformation. God is always in our midst, and we are always on the verge of something new. Our task is to remain in discernment, join hands with God, so that we might avoid stagnation and faithfully do our part one step at a time.
This has been the inspiration behind so much of my time here at Faith this year, and it is the reason and inspiration behind the paraments I leave with you as I have come to the end of my time here with you as your Intern Pastor. I’ve titled the design “The World is About to Turn.”
- The parament on the ambo/lectern has a set of words on the side visible to the reader: “my heart will sing of the day you bring.” Good singing is said to be speaking on tones, and likewise, good reading is the brilliant tonality of God’s day, brought to speaking.
- At the altar, you can see the cosmic tumult breaking through from underneath green and lovely ordinariness. Here is a table, a place where all inequities are leveled, where all are simply and effectively joined together image of God and living body of Christ. We are asked to stretch ourselves wide to welcome and recognize all for meal and community, for love and care at this table. This table is also the very place where we crack open the ordinary and the extraordinary breaks through—one of many places where we are reminded that the transformation of the world, it’s inevitable turn, is very near and we are participants in the action.
I hope that as time goes on, you’ll see these and remember that even the ordinary is extraordinary. I hope that each time you come to Year C and hear Luke’s words, you’ll remember this refrain and sing it, if not aloud then at least somewhere in your heart. God is always at work, always in the midst, and always, always—the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring, Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn.
PS: I am praying for all of you, Faith Lutheran, as you continue following through with the strategic plan. I also am beyond filled with gratitude for the support, love, care, we’ve shared this year. Your kindness is breathtaking. I am where I am today, and who I am today, because of you and what we’ve done together. Finally, I am excited to finally be able to say that I have been asked to be Pastor at Stanford University Lutheran in Palo Alto! Details on ordination and the like won’t shake out for a little while yet, but praise God! These good things also do not happen without the support and love of all of you— so yet again, thank you thank you, and thank you, Faith Lutheran! See you on Sept 14 for Songs with Stohlmann!
Artists in the Sept./Oct./Nov. Issue of Gather Magazine
Fun fact: the latest issue of Gather Magazine features a wonderful article on ELCA artists, including Intern Pastor Sam! Don’t miss this beautiful piece, titled “Clay in the Potter’s hand: Faith, art and divine creativity” by Maggie Taylor. It’s a lovely opportunity to learn about a few of the many wonderfully talented artists we have here in the ELCA!
If you don’t already have a subscription to Gather magazine (this is the Women of the ELCA publication) you can go here to get a digital or digital and print subscription.
At the Center
It’s hard to believe, but this is my second-to-last Link message to you.
This year together has been one of movement—within us, among us, and around us. I want to take a moment to remember where we’ve been. Not just to mark time, but because reflection is one of the ways we stay grounded in who we are, and who God is calling us to become.
I began with my first Fall reflection, including a little Autumn spiritual practice to “shake it out”—a moment to acknowledge the weight many of us were carrying and to gently, prayerfully ask, What is God saying to us now? It was a small start to a big year of listening.
In November, we remembered the saints of Faith Lutheran Church, especially Janene Dahlquist, with tenderness and joy during a beautiful and well-attended All Saints/All Souls celebration. Then came Advent, and with it, a fresh take on the season—progressive altar paraments that unfolded week by week, inviting us to slow down and see with new eyes. Christmas Eve came early—11 am, to be exact—with a Messiah sing-along and brunch. It was joyful, well-attended, and a blast was had by all. That evening, a smaller circle gathered for a simple, intimate Christmas liturgy. It was quiet, reverent, and powerful—I hope it continues with whomever is here for Christmas in the coming years.
January arrived with new rhythms. Some of us read Our Unforming by Cindy Lee (if you didn’t, I still recommend it!). Epiphany brought us Star Words, and I hope yours is still tucked into your mirror, your wallet, or your heart.
February brought a new kind of Lent. We joined with Pr. Lindsey and Christ Church, Pr. Diana and First Congregational, and Pr. Laurie at Windsor Community Church. Ash Wednesday was packed—an overflowing sanctuary, a full choir, and a spirit of shared reverence. Then came our mini pilgrimage through Santa Rosa, where we learned about the needs of different people and organizations in our community—and maybe even discovered more about ourselves in the process. Remember: we’re only whole when all our needs are met, and our neighbors are also made whole because their needs are also met.
In March, the Strategic Planning Committee began its work. April brought Holy Week and a joyful Easter morning. May marked my graduation from GTU, and May and June held a lot of travel for interviews for potential calls for me (including at a university!). All the while, the Strategic Planning Committee continued its faithful work—crafting and refining a mission statement, values, and our “four rocks.”
Let’s not forget Pentecost—a literal fire kindled as we sang “Blessing by Fire,” written by my friend Diana Macalintal. July has nearly passed, and with it, a major milestone: we gathered on July 27 for a full-community update on the progress of the strategic plan, and you—thanks be to God—affirmed the committee’s work and suggestions up to this point with love and genuine support.
And here we are.
All of these moments—worship, study, singing, risk-taking, planning, celebrating, grieving, experimenting, little pilgrimages, visioning for a future—they’ve been about one thing: listening. Seeking. Staying awake. Staying centered in the way of Jesus.
When we keep ourselves centered in discernment and in each other—continuously trying, praying, experimenting, and engaging with our neighbors—we keep Christ at the center too. When we honor one another well, we are honoring God well.
And yet, staying centered in the right things takes real trust, real openness, real humility…and real continuous practice. So— I’ll close this reflection with a prayer from Walter Brueggemann that’s been speaking to me in my devotions, lately. I offer it as a word of blessing—and a gentle nudge to stay rooted in what is unfolding among us here at Faith Lutheran:
Ourselves at the Center
by Walter Brueggemann, from Prayers for a Privileged People
We are your people, mostly privileged competent entitled.
Your people who make futures for ourselves,
seize opportunities, get the job done and move on.
In our self-confidence, we expect little beyond our productivity;
we wait little for that which lies beyond us,
and then settle with ourselves at the center.
And you,
you in the midst of our privilege,
our competence our entitlement.
You utter large, deep oaths beyond our imagined futures.
You say—fear not, I am with you.
You say—nothing shall separate us.
You say—something of new heaven and new earth.
You say—you are mine; I have called you by name.
You say—my faithfulness will show concretely and will abide.
And we find our privilege eroded by your purpose,
our competence shaken by your future,
our entitlement unsettled by your other children.
Give us grace to hear your promises.
Give us freedom to trust your promises.
Give us patience to wait and humility to yield our dreamed future to your large purpose.
We pray in the way of Jesus, who is your YES over our lives.
with joy,
Intern Pr. Sam +
PS: A mid-July update: Praise God and every single person who I’ve shared life with– I’ve been approved for ordination! These things don’t happen in a vacuum. If we’ve crossed paths, one way or another you’ve contributed to this moment.
Photos: 1. I was in Southern CA when approved, so I’m also pictured here in front of one of my favorite murals in Santa Monica, next to Dogtown – one of my favorite coffee shops (Love + Action….how can you go wrong?) just before heading back up to NorCal 2. And, one bonus photo of Winnie and me, because how could we not share photos of an office doggo who is like this?