Celebrate the Wonder- Christmas Eve sermonette

Celebrate the Wonder                                                                                  Christmas Eve 2014

There is a celebration of wonder as we come out at night on Christmas Eve; a wonder of listening to the Word of ages past and finding comfort in the familiar sound of syllables that lilt and lull and lift in the rhythm that fills our souls with the goodness of the season of Christmas love.

There is a wonder in soft lighting and people who travel from afar to gather on this night of all nights to be with one another and find peace.

Perhaps this is the only night some gather within the walls of the sanctuary.

For on this one night, the wonder of the miracle of Christmas of the birth of our Savior rings through song and prayer and familiar ways.

This one night there are those who can come and all the world will melt away and the strong sounds of the bells of Christmas will ring in truth and joy and keep the wonder of life alive.

Some are drawn to the sounds as they are drawn to a warm fire in winter. It is as if this one time a year grants a grace and a message of hope even to those who do not believe in this God we proclaim tonight.

There is a mysterious pulling that brings all those of faith and those without to this one night, this one night of traditional and ages old music, liturgy and beauty.

We celebrate the wonder this night. We stand at the edge of the manger and peer once again at this new life, this mystery, this miracle, this God with us, Emmanuel.

The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see the salvation of our God." - Isaiah 40.5

Perhaps, we like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who lost his wife, have had too much pain or too much sorrow in our lives. Perhaps the ways of the world weigh too heavy for us. Too much struggle, too much violence, too much anguish. Perhaps the thought of love and joy and wonder is beyond our imagination this year. And so we hear the words of the song Longfellow wrote:

 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

There is a wonder in those ancient candles that continue to glow and the bells that ring throughout the night.

Here we are this evening gathered once again on this eve of all Eves, to see God again as if for the very first time.

Again, 

he comes to us 

and

we celebrate the wonder of this love come to us,

this love that always comes to us, 

that keeps coming 

and coming

and so we make room for this love,

our Jesus,

our Savior,

to enter in

and

we celebrate

with wonder.

Amen.