Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Dearest God,

Last night you came giving me my Christmas miracle.  So beautiful, so wonderful are you, Gracious God.

I have generally found Christmas Eve worship to be such a mystical experience and last night was no different.  It seems the full mystery of Christmas and Easter and faith are revealed.  On a Christmas Eve long ago you invited me to open my heart, my mind, and my spirit and to anticipate your special coming. I did and you came unlocking some of the wondrous secrets of faith.

It happened again last night as my husband and I stood in front of the altar offering holy communion to the people as all sang Christmas carols.  As each person stepped in front of me, I held out the bread and said, "Jesus Christ, the gift of Christmas".  I realized what a privilege it was to offer you to others hungry for an experience of you on a holy night. I looked into their eyes and spoke the world's greatest truth.  I felt honored to hold you in my hands and to give you to your very own people.

Then later as I stood in a darkening sanctuary to sing "Silent Night, Holy Night" with the choir, Jenny, a soprano next to me, took her lighted candle, stretched across me as I held music in my hands, and lighted Becky's candle.  At that moment your gift was made plain as you spoke, "During your lifetime how many people have lighted your life, your path, and your faith?"  Faces and names started coming to me as we started to sing.  Warm tears formed and spilled from my eyes as my grandmother came to the forefront of my mind along with Freida, my eighth grade Sunday School teacher, Rev. Cline who was pastor of the church where I experienced my call to ministry, and my own Harold who played such an important role in helping me imagine my response to God's call.  Others came including my junior high youth group that I led in Elwood.  All during the song I witnessed your miracle of love bringing beloved people to me.  And I sang with millions of others in testimony to that night two thousand years ago.

Glory to you,
Great God,
Loving Father,
Wonderful Counselor,
thank you
for the mystery
of faith,
for its
living power,
and its
grace-filled love.
I am full up
with you.

Love always, Andrea