(Introduced as a 'show and tell' sermon, wheeling tray with candles into centre of aisle. Indicated that the reading was a bit confusing, but with some visuals we could better understand it)
In the beginning was the Word.
Just a word.
A small, single word. It doesn't seem like much, as a starting point.
BUT - the Word was with God The Word WAS God.
This divine Word waited until the right moment to break forth into the
world, to bring the fullness of God's amazing love and grace and truth to all
of God's people.
But it started small.
(light taper, keep discrete)
It started with a Word.
A Word that brought life.
Like the smallest glimmer of light...
(light tea light)
And from this small and humble beginning, we see how light can grow,
illuminating the world of everyone the light encountered:
Like a new mother, told she was absolutely "glowing" through
her pregnancy. A mother who, upon having the child laid in her arms, would
radiate a perfect love.
(light one blue candle)
Or a new father, beaming with joy, as he meets the child that his
beloved has carried for so many months, as he introduces a new life into the
world.
(light blue candle)
Or those who would have seen these things happen,
(light one small white
candle)
The immediate family and friends who received good news.
(light one small white
candle)
Those who had helped during the birth.
(light one small white
candle)
Those who made the most humble of locations a safe haven, a place of
peace.
(light one small white
candle)
Or those who would be bearers of glad tidings
(light one large white
candle)
Whose heavenly joy was so extreme they couldn't help but sing!
(light one large white
candle)
Those who were in no way surprised by the increasing, growing light in
the world.
(light one large white
candle)
Those who enthusiastically shared the message of joy with complete
strangers
(light one large white
candle)
Those whose ethereal presence declared Glory! and Hosanna!
(light one large white
candle)
And those strangers, who would have the faith to respond to the
invitation to witness the growing light
(light one green candle)
Whose simple lives, in the fields, would be forever changed, and
remembered.
(light one green candle)
Or the ones who would only have the first hint of a light, shining from
foreign lands, who wanted to witness to that light.
(light one red candle)
Who would know that something big was happening, and that they wanted –
needed - to be a part of it, but who did
not yet fully understand what it was.
(light one red candle)
Those who would journey, in faith, with gifts, bearing visions of the
future.
(light one red candle)
Or those, years later, who would recognise the light and follow it,
delighting in the moments when they felt illuminated by the light, and
committing themselves to continue sharing the light.
(light multi-coloured
candles: total 12 colours)
(return
to centre – hold small taper up)
And: like us - realising that the light has shined in the world, and
continues to shine. Celebrating that the light - no matter how small a
beginning - shines brightly in the darkness, and darkness will never overcome
it.
This Holy Night, I pray that the light and love of Christ burn brightly
in your hearts, and in your lives, this Christmas and forever more.
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