December, 2008 – A Different Perspective

There is time for everything to happen
under the sun to lift anchor
in the flow of seasons

everything has its moment
under the uncounted stars
its season of desire

summer of being born
winter of dying
spring of seeding

From Ecclesiastes 5 – The Poet’s Bible

Since many could not make it in to church safely given the amount of snow for the Portland metro area in these last couple of weeks, this became both this city’s and Creator’s time for private worship and, for our family anyway, a private celebration of Christmas.

The December 14th worship was the first for Creator where snow was a consideration as far as driving. At first it was only a handful of worshippers gathered. Our greetings for one another that day were definitely not routine, there was a deeper recognition of who was there. Last minute plans were made to cover for those who could not attend. There was a different joy too in the service.

Attendance built throughout worship to about 50. Our Congregational Conversation and Sunday school were called off due to the anxiety of what might happen with the weather that morning. From there the weather made things less safe. The council meeting was called off the next day, then Wednesday’s Advent service and choir practices and the next Sunday service.

Then the delay of Christmas Eve services to Sunday morning was announced. All this changed the tradition for many families I know and particularly members who traditionally attend both services. Worship at Creator forms the heart of Christmas celebration for many.

So this turned into a season for individual pondering. It is a different way of creating a sense of the sacred. The silence at home was not the silence that enfolds us in the late service singing “Silent Night”. It was not the silence that occasionally graces an Advent Wednesday. I reflected on the many Advent Services of the past, the intoxicating sense of God I felt at the first Advent Service I experienced at Creator with Holden Evening Prayer. Some great feeling of being at home in worship overflowed as the music echoed within us that night.

There is Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are come together in my name, there am I among them” and this year there were three in my house. We celebrated Christmas differently than last year. Matthew 18:20 was experienced in another way. An unexpected experience of Jesus came among us.


Now comes the anticipation of this coming Sunday morning. It will be our Christmas Eve service at 9:00 AM. The time the Creator worship community has spent apart will likely lead to a different appreciation for worshipping together again. The service will be unusual. This spell will be broken. I don't think I would describe all this in the same way tomorrow after worship.

Eventually the last remnants of snow will disappear and so, eventually, I suspect that different appreciation will fade into memory. Still I remember Ecclesiastes and I know I will not forget these last two weeks. I also consider this "spell" not only a private experience but a part of my Creator community experience and so this blog entry seems appropriate.

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at worship.