The Music and Lights of Christmas are to Share

Monday Ministerial Musings

By Rev. Mark William Ennis

2024 Blog #53

December 30, 2024

The Music and Lights of Christmas are to Share

Less than a week ago, I lead the Christmas Eve worship at the Community Church of Glen Rock, NJ. It was the most moving Christmas Eve service than I have ever been a part of. Don’t get me wrong, I have attended and led a number of beautiful services. My home church, Old Bergen Church in Jersey City, had a fabulous organist, a paid quartet to help our choir sections, and a good minister. Those Christmas Eve services were moving, but this past one, in Glen Rock, was even better. Do I dare to say that it was spectacular?

I didn’t know what to expect this Christmas. I am new here, only beginning my work in this congregation following Labor Day. I knew that music at this congregation was superb. I have heard the choir, the soloists, and our organist/pianist enough to expect magnificent music for Christmas. But I wasn’t quite ready for how good it would be. Our music certainly exceeded my expectations, and my expectations were quite high.

Toward the end of our service, I was almost in tears our soloist sang “O Holy Night” and a few minutes later, we lit the candles from the Christ Candle and sang “Silent Night” together. The Christmas Music, and the light of Christ, filled our sanctuary as we celebrated God’s love in Christ. We each were filled with the light and music of Christmas within us. We all were moved by this.

Now, we have a new challenge before us. How do we bring the music and light of Christmas into the new year. This year has many people anxious. There are wars, inflation, many folks are concerned about government policies. Many main-line congregations continue to decline, and that brings us a large amount of anxiety. Yet, we who are Christians, are bearers of the of Christ’s light and we hold the glorious music within us. These are the things that we must bear into a world that is anxious, fearful, and does not know the peace of Christ or the love of God in Christ.

Our sanctuary was filled with light and music. Now, we are obligated to bring the light and love outside of our building. Will we bring Christ’s love into the world during this new year? The world needs these things. If we don’t carry them to the world, who will? God has ordained us to be the bearer of these. Let’s not withhold these things who need it the most.

Men and Women of Christ, let us share the love and light of Christmas into a world so badly in need of it.

#ReformedChurchInAmerica                                 # BergenCounty,NJ

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#GlenRock,NJ                                                          #CommunityChurchofGlenRock

#ChristmasCandles                                                 #ChristmasLights