The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5
2020 was a hard year for so many, and for so many reasons. For this retired pastor who loves Advent and Christmas, I really struggled. I retired in July of 2020 and one of my fears upon retirement was the thought of not leading in worship on my favorite night of the year, Christmas Eve. Honestly, while I love all seasons and all worship, I wait all year for that one holy moment when we stand, light our candles, and sing Son of God, loves pure light. For me, that one holy moment erases all thoughts of the many hours worked and family sacrifices. At that moment, with the sanctuary filled with the light of our candles, faces glowing with love and hope, I can tell you that the light of Christ flooded my soul, and every year, I would think, “There’s nothing better than this sacred and holy moment.”
When I learned that, due to the pandemic, churches would not be able to worship together on Christmas Eve, my spirit was troubled. But the first week of Advent, Dr. Long called “just to check on me” and then Rev. Greenwald showed up at our door with a St. Luke’s Advent Wreath, complete with Advent candles, a devotional book, and special candles for my husband Ralph and I to light on Christmas Eve. I cannot tell you how that expression of care for a retired pastor and her family changed my perspective. Truly, I experienced the mission of St. Luke’s firsthand: Sharing God’s love and bringing hope to the world. At that moment, I felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps Christmas Eve wasn’t going to be as bad as I anticipated.
At 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve, we lowered the lights in the living room, leaving the tree lights glimmering in the background and tuned in to worship online with St. Luke’s. When it came time to sing Silent Night and to light our candles, once again in God’s faithfulness, we experienced that holy moment as we sang of Jesus, Son of God, love’s pure light. Was it the same as being in person with a packed congregation? Of course not; there’s nothing better than corporate worship where the spirit moves through the gathered congregation. But, in that season and in that moment, all the hopes and fears of the last year were realized once again, in the birth of the One who brings light where there is darkness, and hope in the midst of all our fears.
With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus Lord, at Thy Birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Rev. Linda Harker, Online Campus Pastor
