The Light Shines in the Darkness

On Christmas Eve you will notice that we have placed some outdoor floodlights (thanks, Paul Gourley) to gently shine through the Shepherd Window so that we can see the Story as it is being told. I think it’s going to add to our worship and I hope it becomes one of our Christmas traditions here at Park. But there’s another tradition I’d like us to begin next year – thought about it too late for this year. I’d like to see us flood the window with light from the inside throughout the evenings of Advent so that all those who pass by can see the window as we enjoy it when we worship by the morning light. It will be one of our gifts to the community. For those who know the story of the Nativity, the window will bring great joy. Increasingly, though, the story the window tells is not told to the world outside the church or the circles of the church’s families. Among those who don’t know the story but who see our window we will pray that there will be those who can answer the questions: “What were the shepherds doing?” “Why is the angel there and what is he saying?” “Why is that bright star shining above the little town?”

We’ll illuminate the window next year. For now, may this story continue to illuminate our lives:

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
” Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.