December 24th, 2006

There were 7 and 11 o'clock Christmas Eve Services. There is a different mood, as usual, in both services. The 7 o'clock is a family service with more children attending and making their presence known.

The 11 o'clock always becomes introspective. The candlelight feels more intimate and I reflect on the words to Silent Night. The musical gift tonight is Pietro A. Yon's Gesu Bambino as performed by the Carlisle Trio.

Gesu Bambino is a wonderful piece and the arrangement makes this performance. The lead is picked up between viola, cello, piano and voice in a way that is enormously satisfying.

Pastor Dayle preached on the intersection of cradle and cross. It once again reminds me of the power of the sermons she preaches. Pastor Dayle often gives us the intersection of the gospel with her life and, through that, to our lives. Another underlying strength is the faith that God's way of love trumps the ways of law.

That faith moves a church, as far as I am concerned, away from the temptation to judge too harshly and towards forgiveness. This is an evening, like all evenings, for forgiveness and for acknowledging God's gifts; for focusing on God's gift to us.

Time for Christmas.