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Welcome to my blog—a place to reflect with me on God’s abundant healing of soul, community, and creation. I hope you will visit often and be part of this sacred conversation.

In various messages, I have been describing Mary’s turning from fear toward joy as a theme of Advent.

Even in such a perilous time as hers, with reasons to be afraid, Mary allowed her heart to turn from fear to joy.

Even in such perilous times as ours, with reasons to be afraid, we too are called to allow our hearts to turn from fear to joy.

For when we liberate our imaginations, reason is put into its proper place, and hope flourishes.

Last weekend in Winnipeg at the RiverRunning intercultural conference, I heard extraordinary stories of people turning from fear to joy, thereby inspiring others to do the same. Embracing one another across diverse cultures, it is exciting to see United Church congregations sharing a common mission with diverse expressions.

Left to right in foreground: Stan McKay, Laura Mariko Cheifetz, me, and Katalina Tahaafe-Williams. Photo by Alcris Limongi.

Knox United Church, for example, figures that there are between 80 and 90 cultural groups represented in its congregation. Not surprisingly, Knox’s congregational materials radiate a lively embrace of the 40th General Council’s reaffirmation about becoming an intercultural church (much more than multicultural), with activities that range from the Jesus FlickFest to the Rainbow Community Garden.

Moderator Mardi Tindal's blog: From fear to joy

Posted on: 11/24/2009 11:04

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