For the fourth Sunday in Advent, “Love” Sunday, Rev. Cari preached on the Magnificat of Mary. Found in its context at Luke 1:39-55, the song of Mary “magnifying God” is a fierce, political and prophetic utterance which proclaims the activity of God in all times and places.

Rev. Cari introduced the congregation to a German word, Zwischen, used by midwives to describe the late-pregnancy state of a woman who is (more than) READY for new life to emerge. Later in the sermon she encouraged the Crossroads community to see their own situation (following her announcement of a new call) as a kind of pregnancy: an invitation to Advent expectation, love, and Zwischen.

She invited the congregation into a stance of “going the extra mile” love, hanging in past the birth pangs of labour and delivery, and being preoccupied with the dream of God.