December 24, 2016 – Christmas Eve

Silent Night, Holy Night, All is calm, All is bright, Round yon virgin Mother and child, Holy infant so tender and mild,Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace!

On this date, December 24, 1818 the Christmas carol “Silent Night” written by composer Franz Xaver Gruber was first sung at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf , Austria. A young priest, Father Joseph Mohr, had come to Oberndorf the year before. He had already written the lyrics of the song “Stille Nacht” in 1816. Before Christmas Eve, Mohr brought the words to Gruber and asked him to compose a melody and guitar accompaniment for the church service. Both performed the carol during the mass on the night of December 24.

On Christmas Eve, as the services are concluding, the congregation will light small hand-held candles and the lights are lowered in the Nave. The congregation begins to sing Silent Night as I read the beginning of the Gospel of St. John. It is a stunning moment – a time everyone should experience. It is a liminal moment – a moment when time seems to stop and G-d’s Kairos time takes over – and the entire congregation feels as if we are surrounded by the Holy Spirit. If you have never experienced this moment, I encourage you to find a Lutheran Church near you, for I am sure most congregations have a similar moment during their Christmas Eve services. After all, Christmas is about the coming of Christ almost 2000 years ago – a moment in time that changed the world – though the world did not yet know it. And Christmas is about reliving that moment on the 25th of December, but not leaving Christ until Easter comes along.

The challenge for you and me is to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit every day – and any effort we put forth each day, to spend time remembering the love of G-d found in Jesus, is a good start.

Pastor Dave