The Day Before the Day Before

It is December 23rd. The day before the day before Christmas. Here at the church it has been a flurry of service preparation. There are four bulletins lined up and ready for distribution. We will have four services over the next couple of days – three tomorrow evening, Christmas Eve, at 5:00, 7:00 and 10:00; and then one on the morning of Christmas Day at 10:30. There have been lots of people dropping into the church in the first part of the week but that has slowed as people now intensify their home activity. It is such a busy time with such high expectation for family harmony and the hope that everyone will get along.

I am not sure why Christmas has taken on such hype. We put such demands on ourselves that everything by just so and that there be so many gatherings and events to mark the season. It can be exhausting and stressful.

One of my favourite poets is Ann Weems. Sadly she died this past March at the age of 81. Over her life she wrote 7 books of poetry to be used for worship and personal devotion. The focus of her poetry was Christ centered and often sought to inspire change in the church.

In 1980 she wrote the book “Kneeling in Bethlehem” a book of poetry to be used in Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. I am holding on to one of her poems today. Here it is …

What do I want for Christmas?
I want to kneel in Bethlehem,
the air thick with alleluias,
the angels singing
that God is born among us.
In the light of the Star,
I want to see them come,
the wise one and the humble.
I want to see them come
bearing whatever they treasure
to lay at the feet
of him who gives his life.

What do I want for Christmas?
To see in that stable
the whole world kneeling in thanks
for a promise kept:
new life.
For in his nativity
we find ours.