Last fall, I had a surprising experience with hymnody at a late-night bonfire with members of my congregation's high school youth group. We were on our annual fall retreat, where we spent a weekend together in fellowship, worship, and rest. Saturday nights at these retreats often find us around the bonfire, and after we've had our fill of s'mores, someone always takes out their guitar. This is sacred time for the students, and I try my best not to insert myself into the ritual, but to simply sit back and let them lead, singing along from the back row of chairs around the fire.
We went through our typical list of songs, some sacred and some classic secular songs (think "Country Roads"). And then someone said, "We have to do Canticle of the Turning! Others piped up: "Yeah! That's our favorite!" I was surprised; I thought the group of students who had special memories associated with that hymn had graduated and gone to college. It seems, though, that the rather unusual tradition lives on in the younger students. Canticle of the Turning remains on the list of campfire songs for our youth group.
It is not hard to see why high school students would be drawn to the words of this Rory Cooney hymn. First of all, it is wonderfully singable — a folksy rendition of Mary's Magnificat that lends itself well to a guitar-led campfire singalong. More importantly, though, the lyrics of this Magnificat setting are wonderfully evocative and powerful. The refrain is fiery, in both a literal and metaphoric sense: "Our hearts 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."
The words of Mary come to us as always on the third Sunday of Advent, and here on Sing For Joy, we will hear two different settings of the Magnificat on our December 14 program. I hope you will join us, and as you listen, I hope you might join my students in dreaming of a world "about to turn" towards the love and justice of God in Jesus Christ.
Peace be with you this Advent,
