Christmas Eve Service

Christmas Party at South Danbury Church

by Donald Hall

December twenty-first
we gather at the white Church festooned
red and green, the tree flashing
green-red lights beside the altar.
After the children of Sunday School
recite Scripture, sing songs,
and scrape out solos,
they retire to dress for the finale,
to perform the pageant
again: Mary and Joseph kneeling
cradleside, Three Kings,
shepherds and shepherdesses. Their garments
are bathrobes with mothholes,
cut down from the Church’s ancestors.
Standing short and long,
they stare in all directions for mothers,
sisters and brothers,
giggling and waving in recognition,
and at the South Danbury
Church, a moment before Santa
arrives with her ho-hos
and bags of popcorn, in the half-dark
of whole silence, God
enters the world as a newborn again.

(Poem taken from another blog.)

Since I have a small family, Christmas Eve for me has never held the excitement

it does for those with larger families.  This year my family is not around for the

holidays.  Christmas Eve has always meant a church service and opening of gifts.

Yesterday I decided to open my gifts, so there are no gifts to open tonight. This

Christmas Eve I may go to all three Christmas Eve services at my church.  All three

services are uniquely different.  The first will be candlelit and peaceful. We will

listen to poems and walk the labyrinth saying our Christmas prayers. Later in the

afternoon will be the children's service. It will be boisterous, full of children with

angel wings and kids reading.  The final service is at 11:00 pm.  It is extravagant and

full of music.  Candlelight will be passed as we listen to Silent Night.  Although my

family is not present, I believe Christmas Eve will still be memorable.

Comments

dw said…

Have a great Christmas Eve and a great Christmas tomorrow!

5:41 PM

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