For as long as I can remember, my parents and I would go to the Christmas Eve Service at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin, MN. We always had incredible music and the sanctuary was beautiful. Rev Bob Morgan was the pastor there for all of my growing up years. He confirmed me and was a big part of my Ordination service in September of 1987.
All these years later as a pastor, I still think of Bob when I lead Christmas Eve Services at the churches I have served or the Military Chapels where I have served. Tonight as we lit candles and sang Silent Night, I thought of Bob. Our service at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies was at 5 pm. The only time in my ministry where I actually officiated at an 11 pm Christmas Eve Service was during my last deployment.
However, most years I am awake at Midnight and remember those services back home. The last service I attended with Bob leading worship was Christmas of 1986. The next Christmas I was leading worship at my first church as a newly ordained pastor. The one thing I always hear in my heart at midnight wherever I am serving is Bob saying, at the stroke of Midnight, And now it is Christmas.
Well, it is Christmas and your Padre and his partner in ministry Denise, wish each of you all the blessings of this Holy Season.
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day filled with family, food, and laughter
Tonight a beautiful and meaning-filled worship
I think about all the places I have celebrated Christmas as a Padre
Each service is special in its own way
The location, the people… so many memories
Christmas Eve while deployed with the Air Force
The last Christmas Eve I heard Rev Morgan say at Midnight, And now it is Christmas
And of course the first Christmas with my sweetheart
All of those memories
All of the candles we lit
Thank you, Lord for the blessings of this Holy Season
Now, as I wind down and prepare for sleep
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem et in Terra
Grant Us Peace on Earth
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
First Reading – Isaiah 9:2-7
Second Reading – Luke 2:1-20
Sermon – The Light of Christmas
Picture: Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. Congregation singing Silent Night.
When I think of Christmas my mind wanders back to many places where I have celebrated Christmas. What is the one constant in each place? Letting the light of Christ shine brightly on the night of his birth. Even though this picture was taken at the end of October, just imagine this deer coming to the manger in awe and wonder at the light of Christ.
In the Isaiah reading for Christmas Eve, we hear the prophecy telling of the one who was to come to restore the House of David. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness–on them has light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
This particular reading reminds me of the opening verses of John’s Gospel. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
Light… it is a precious thing. Without light plants can’t grow and it is easy for us to sink into depression or hopelessness. We just passed the shortest day and the longest night of the year with the Winter Solstice. Now the days will get longer and the nights will get shorter.
The Light which John was talking about… the Light which Isaiah was talking about… was no ordinary light. It was the light of the one who was to come… the Messiah… the Lord… that is the Light which we commemorate and seek each Christmas Eve. That is the Light which guides us each and every day as we seek to follow Christ.
A star guided the visitors to the manger that night long ago. With the birth of Jesus, a light which had been missing from the land for too long was rekindled.
As Mary and Joseph took all of it in… the journey… the birth… the stories of the Shepherds… the almost surreal sense of that night… there was a lot for them to ponder.
Tonight we do more than simply commemorate or remember the events of long ago. Even as we gather around the table for the Lord’s Supper, we do more than remember. This night my prayer is for each of us to find that light which may have grown dim in our lives… that somehow we may rekindle the flame of the Spirit’s presence. That we might recommit to lighting the Candles again. Relight the candles which Howard Thurman wrote about.
I Will Light Candles This Christmas
- Candles of joy, despite all sadness,
- Candles of hope where despair keeps watch.
- Candles of courage for fears ever present,
- Candles of peace for tempest-tossed day’s,
- Candles of grace to ease heavy burdens,
- Candles of love to inspire all my living,
- Candles that will burn all the year long.
May we find that light within our own lives as we come to the manger and remember. May we recommit to following and serving the one born of Mary. May we be Christ-followers in all that we do. May we light the candles and hold them high.
As I ponder the Eve of Christmas
My heart turns to previous services
Times and places around the world where I have served
There always seemed to be once constant
As we lit the candles of Christmas
The darkness seemed somehow lighter
It was more than just the light of candles
It was the light of our hearts
It was the light of hope
It was the light of promise
It was the light of fellowship
It was the light of Christ
Once again this year, I will light a candle
A candle that I will carry into the new year
Chicago – One Little Candle (from the album – Chicago 25)
Pictures are from my last deployment in 2007/2008… our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a busy and yet reflective day
Wonderful worship and fellowship
Time to simply be still and rest in your presence, Lord
After a long evening, family is finally all gathered together
After a wonderful meal and catching up
It is long past time for sleep
And now my eyelids have long since grown heavy
To you, Lord, I lift this humble prayer
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
Well said, Ronnie! Praying and Working for Peace ❤️❤️
“It was a beautiful moonlit night, frost on the ground, white almost everywhere,” said Albert Moren as he recalled a Christmas Eve more than hundred years ago. “And they sang ‘Silent Night.’ I shall never forget. It was one of the highlights of my life.”
Moren was a British soldier occupying a trench. The “they” doing the singing were his enemies; German soldiers just yards away, hunkering in their own trenches on the other side of the infamous “No Man’s Land” of the First World War. Moren was describing the impromptu Christmas Truce of 1914.
Thousands of troops – Allied and German forces – poured from their fortifications to celebrate Christmas together. No rifles; no bombs or bayonets; only the singing of carols and the exchanging of modest gifts – cans of beef and jars of sweet jam.
The Great War was only a few months old at the time…
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The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A long, yet productive day
For my sweetheart, lots of baking and cooking
As always, tremendous hospitality
A day spent outdoors hiking in Rocky
We took a new trail and explored despite closures
A wonderful evening meal prepared with love
A time of reflection and preparation for tomorrow
And now, as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
This little meditation spot is right next to the chapel at Cerveny Conference Center near Live Oak, Florida. In its simplicity it truly does give one a special spot to pause and contemplate. I can only imagine what Mary contemplated as she awaited the birth of her son, Jesus.
When try and put myself in Mary’s shoes and I think of the announcement she received from the Angel Gabriel that was confirmed by her kinswoman Elizabeth… Congratulations, Mary, you are pregnant… the Spirit of God is the one who gave you this gift… the last thing I would see myself doing is singing a song of praise!
Last year I challenged my congregation to see the strong and revolutionary side of Mary instead of the Mary in a Blue Cloak we typically see. Over the years as I have contemplated Mary and her role in the life of faith of a certain Presbyterian Padre, my view has changed radically. Even as I examine and sit with the Hail Mary and sections of the Rosary I see her differently. I have also walked with Mary in the Ignatian fashion during Good Friday and come to see a depth of faith that is often overlooked.
This year, Mary seems to be challenging me in a new way as I prepare for the Fourth Sunday in Advent and Christmas Eve services.
As I said at the beginning of this blog, the last thing I would be doing if I were in Mary’s shoes would be singing a song of praise! Let’s look at what happened from a strictly rational view.
One–Mary is not married to Joseph and she is pregnant!
Two–the story she told Joseph was pretty… unbelievable! I’m pregnant, Joseph, we haven’t consummated our relationship, and the Spirit of God is the Daddy!
Three–she would have faced the scorn of her neighbors. They would have whispered behind her back and the meaner folks would have condemned her to her face!
Four–What was Joseph going to do? He could abandon her and her own family could abandon her to the streets in the eyes of the Law!
When you put all of this together, Mary should be, by all rights, a mess. She could easily be cursing God and in the manner of Job, curse the day she was born!
Somehow, out of the depths of this incredible experience, Mary did something amazing. She sang a song of praise!
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (Luke 1:46b-49)
As Denise and I along with members of Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies have walked with Mary’s song via the Presbyterians Today 2018 Advent Devotional God Lifts the Lowly, I know that Denise and I have seen Mary’s song and her spirit from a different perspective.
The lesson that Mary seems to be teaching me this Advent season has been how to live and pray in difficult times. Lord knows that these are indeed difficult times in our nation and world with leaders seeming to lose their minds. Children are separated from their mothers and caged at the border. The poor are squashed like bugs as the greedy line their pockets.
Yet I have heard and read stories about the faith of those at the border who are trying to escape the madness and killing fields in their own countries. Their faith is incredible despite so many obstacles and the hatred spewed by politicians and white supremacists and so-called christians (lower case is intentional).
In the lives and the voices of these immigrants, I hear the strong voice of Mary speaking out against the Empire. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:50-53)
Perhaps in this season of hatred and fear we can take courage from the prayer and the spirit of Mary. Perhaps we can be the voice of love in the face of hatred. Perhaps we can be the voice of defiance in the face of the Empire. Perhaps we can be the voice of hope in the midst of the darkness.
Mary is challenging us… will we accept that challenge and be a voice of life, strength, love, resistance, faith, and hope in these dark times?
