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.
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