Christmas continues

The light shines in the darkness

and the darkness has not overcome it...

The Christ candle continues to burn -

it burns clear in all the demands of life

illuminating the possibility of rest

it burns true in days of confusion

pointing the way to clarity

it burns steadily when all is shifting

alluding to calm in the storm.

Every day becomes a holy day

Lit by God in our midst.

Incarnation - God is with us still

Because its Christmas...

The waiting is almost over

the tree is trimmed

the parcels wrapped

Food preparations are underway.

For some, this Christmas Eve

brings a rush of activity

to get all the last minute tasks done.

For others, this Christmas Eve

brings a calm approach

as they quietly prepare

to welcome the Christ child again.

And for still others,

this Christmas Eve

brings a desperate struggle

just to survive another day.

Because it's Christmas...

means little to the homeless young woman

sheltering under the railway bridge

trying to keep her Christmas box wrappings dry

so that she can sleep under them another night.

Because it's Christmas...

has no impact

on the heroin addict

wandering the High Street

checking out "opportunities"

for his next fix.

Because it's Christmas...

brings no comfort to the young parent

trying to do the best for their children

while sick with worry

about their partner

off fighting in Afghanistan.

Because it's Christmas...

will not change a thing

unless we allow the baby God

to leave the swaddling behind

Unless we embody Christ 

in our lives

and work to bring peace and hope and light

into all the darkness of today's world,

Because it's Christmas... 

will not change a thing

unless we allow the God of Christmas

to be born in our hearts and lives

this day and every day

Because it's Christmas.

Liz Crumlish December 2011

Christmas crib

During another excellent school Nativity presentation this morning, I had a moment's panic that the crib had been left behind. It hadn't and, at the right time, it was brought forward for Mary to lay down her baby.
That moment of panic, though, spoke to me of the season of Advent and all the preparation we've tried to build into our lives at home and in worship together. When the Christ child comes, nothing else matters - all that is important is swaddled in a manger - therein lies Christmas.

Christmas Eve Watchnight

Call to worship

Come fresh from your revelry

or your loneliness

to find warmth and fellowship here

as we watch in the darkness

for the dawn of another Christmas

Know that you are welcome

just as you are

The baby who snuck into the stable

slips in here tonight

Can you see him?

Can you feel him?

Sense the beat of the wings of angels

brushing your cheek-

announcing to you this night

as they did 2000 years ago in Bethlehem

the good news

that God lives in love with us.

Liz Crumlish December 2011

Seasonal magic

Four candles are now lit

in our advent ring

Just waiting for the Christ candle

to complete the circle

The longest night

has come and gone

we hurtle on

toward Christmas

When we get there

will it matter

if we've forgotten something?

Will our celebration

be diminished?

And when Christmas day is over

will things be any different?

Or will we simply breathe a sigh

and immediately begin

to whip ourselves up into a frenzy

to get to the end of the year?

Celebrating Christmas

whether well prepared

or weary

provides for us

amazing possibility.

One day in the year

cannot change the world.

But hearts prepared

to welcome

and embrace

the Son of God

and share that Christmas Spirit

will go a long way

to bringing magic

into the season

More waiting

The sanctuary is quiet -

recovering from the onslaught

of one school service

getting ready for the next

taking a breather

before the story

is played out 

all over again.

The same old story

told over and over

sometimes to new audiences

sometimes to familiar faces.

But the greatest story ever told

bears repeating

in every time and place

made new 

for every generation.

God dwells among us.

Seasonal weariness

Did they weary, those wise men?

Did their steps become slower,

their momentum more forced?

Did the novelty and the wonder

and the excitement

begin to wear thin?

Their journey was long

and drawn out.

It wasn't exuberant and spontaneous

like the shepherds.

Or full of glory

like the angels' song.

Perhaps that is one of the drawbacks

of a period of preparation -

the anticipation mellows,

worn down by the passage of time.

The destination ceases to attract,

lost as it is in the ordinary.

A quest for all of us 

journeying through Advent:

to recover something of the vitality

of the beginning

so that this far on in our travels

we can be refreshed

and rekindled

by a glimpse of the goal.

And our weary steps

take on a sprinkling

that will provide the surge we need

to see it through.

Liz Crumlish December 2011