A Message from Pastor Kaji

Can you believe that next Sunday is the last Sunday of Advent? (I can’t!) We have spent the season reflecting on what’s coming from God in our lives, and how we can respond. 

I am thrilled to share that The Rev. Meghan Janssen will be in the pulpit this Sunday. It is always a treat to hear from her deep insight and her faithful witness.

This coming Sunday reflects a story of that very response: Mary’s Magnificat, or song magnifying God’s blessing and honor and glory and power. As you prepare for Sunday, I encourage you to read the Magnificat text aloud. As you do, what words or phrases most deeply resonate your own experience of God? And now, a more difficult, but important question: how does your soul, your life, your very being, magnify God? 

I can’t wait to see you in church, beloved!

Pax Christi,
Pastor Kaji

SCRIPTURE
Luke 1: 46–56 (Year C, p. 15):
 
⁴⁶ “My soul magnifies the Holy One,
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for God has looked with favor on the lowliness of God’s own womb-slave.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
⁵⁰ God’s loving-kindness is for those who fear God
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ God has shown the strength of God’s own arm;
God has scattered the arrogant in the intent of their hearts.
⁵² God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ God has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ God has helped God’s own child, Israel,
a memorial to God’s mercy,
⁵⁵ just as God said to our mothers and fathers,
to [Hagar and] and Sarah and Abraham, to their descendants forever.”
⁵⁶ And Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her home.