 |
| Christmas Eve at West Park (thanks Russ!) |
It's a real honor to be invited back to West-Park church to lead the Christmas service again. After a year's absence. And service at West Park. I arrive to find the church beautifully decorated thanks to Dion, Marsha and Leila.
 |
| Marsha, Pat and Martin |
 |
| Dion and Leila |
Food is being laid out for the post-service pot luck. Martin has brought a case of wine to ad to the festivities. Dion has brought a pan of shepherds'pie from St.James Gate. More is on the way.
John Roggie, who was our last accompanist before I retired, has com back for the evening. As I rehearse the two songs I will sing with my homily, I see my old friend Andre
 |
| Pastor Bob, Andre and Steve |
I look out and feel overwhelmed. There are clergy colleagues. Musicians. Members of the Center Board. Church members. Families. Friends. People who attracted by the luminaria on the steps have been drawn inside. Community people. Homeless. So many faces from so many relationships. It is profoundly moving.
 |
| Soledad, Luli and Martin |
Christmas in the Trenches
So it's here. Again. After 4 weeks of Advent...and after over 7 weeks of shop decorations ....finally Christmas is here.
It's good for me to be back here again. So many memories...On this night I've seen the sanctuary nearly filled....and I've seen it with only me and my boys and 2 or 3 homeless people...and of course the year we gathered outside on the steps with the gates barring the doors and we lit candles and sang carols just to show we were still alive....and still here...and then returning and celebrating Christmas with no heat ...and no restrooms..yes, we have had Christmases....
And so we come to this Christmas....truly organized by the people....and we will celebrate together....
Look again at these scriptures:
Isaiah 9:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
John 1:5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
That's why we are here...
I don't have to tell you, it's been a rough year...
We learned we live in a country that will separate parents from children and put children into cages and detention camps.
A country that turns tear gas on asylum seekers
And we're not exactly sure what to do about it.
There are more people in motion in the world today than ever before and borders are closing down...tens of thousands are stranded on islands in the Mediterranean ...and more continue risking their lives at sea or in the Sonora desert....
Do we remember that in our story there was no room at the inn? or that shortly after Christmas the Holy Family had to flee into Egypt as undocumented persons seeking asylum?
Our brother Hugo's country faces repression and persecution and tens of thousands are in exile...and former solidarity friends stand by...
In our own city, the homeless population has reached a record 68000 in this global center...nearly 115000 of our public school children are homeless....and we have to work to press a "progressive" mayor to live up to his promise of 10% of new units for homeless...
We could each add out own words to the litany of lament and intercession...
BUT part of the point of Christmas is that so it always is....Christmas is about incarnation... God in human form...or God in the very midst of humanity...God dwelling in the midst of humanity... in each generation...
(we recalled earlier the miracle of 1917, when soldiers on both sides of the trenches created a Christmas truce. As John Lennon said, "War is over, if you want it.."...)
In our traditions, light is important...
At this time of year, the Buddhists fill their ritual space with light passed one to another as they welcome the coming of the light...I've celebrated this with my brother TK in a Riverside Church filled with monks and lotus blossom lights..
Jews celebrate Hannukah..a struggle for cultural autonomy and freedom of religion...and the light grows day by day and candle by candle because the light must always grow...
And we too in our Advent season of waiting add a candle each week...because the light must always grow...
We are hereto be light for one another....
Hear this...
Isaiah 9:2 King James Version (KJV)
2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
John 1:5 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
The darkness has not overcome it ...and the darkness WILL not overcome it....that is why we are here...let the people say, Alleluia! Amen!
And I closed my reflection by singing . Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming and the Rose..flowing in to each other..
I spoke of memory...of our ceramic Advent wreath made by a Latvian potter in Pittsburgh....my stole of sheep's wool and natural dyes from the weavers of Chimayo, New Mexico. The unavoidableness of Christmas memories. And the importance of sharing our gifts. And Andre sang "In the bleak midwinter.."
Candles. Sharing the light. I reminded the congregation that it wasn't like the world was dark and then Jesus came and prestochangeo, light. How the light has been there since creation. Sometimes obscured. or hard to see. But always, always there. And it's our responsibility to share it and help it grow, And so the light passes, person to person as the sanctuary fills with candlelight as we sing Silent Night.
We sing "Joy to the World" and the service has ended but the night just begun. Several people tell me they had been moved to tears. Many warm hugs.
 |
| Steve Phelps family |
Our shared meal has Kazakh dumplings and Texas empanadas and a delicious banana pudding. And more. A reflection of who we are.
Then follows a kind of open mic. Another sharing of gifts. My good friend (and Rabbi) Steve Blane opens and then accompanies me on one of my songs. And there are performers from Ireland
 |
| With Pat O'Connell |
And of course there's a woman who keeps yelling "Hallelujah! Hallelujah" louder and louder. As she responded to Kosi's "Hallelujah," Kosi said "You remind me of the entirety of my mother's family..." Of course, we ultimately have to escort he rout. And this brings back so many memories...
 |
| Our hoat Dion closes the night |
We go on well past 11. I am profoundly moved. A year and a half after my retirement, this dedicated and determined band of folks with no help from Presbytery or anyone else continues to have the capacity to create a night like this that truly reveals the incarnation, truly God in the midst of humanity. And out of this diverse, even motley collection, create community. For this I give thanks. And I love them.
Merry Christmas
No comments:
Post a Comment