A Song in the Dark

Author: Mark Fenstermacher
December 10, 2021

Some of the purest memories I have of Christmas involve music. One took place in Brussels, Belgium at the International School. Located in an old chateau, the student body included students from all over the world. Almost all of us were living in a land far away from our home. That school is where I attended 2nd and 3rd grades.

For the Christmas concert, we—the younger children—were lined up on the four or five lowest steps of a grand staircase that came sweeping down into a large lobby. I remember the large lobby or ballroom was lit by candles. Maybe there were electric lights but all I remember is the soft glow of candlelight.  We opened our mouths, sang several Christmas songs, and I remember feeling warm. 

Not warm as in the room being too warm, but warm as inside. Warm as experienced hope. Warm as God-is-close warm. Warm as in “I-am-far-away-from-home-but-God-sees-me-even-here-in-this-crowd of children” warm.

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The story of the eternal God putting on flesh and entering our neighborhood, sharing our world and lives, is so beautiful that prose fails and must give way to poetry...and music.  One Christmas Eve the worship service was so full that when I stepped into the pulpit the service had been going on for over forty minutes, and it was near midnight. I told people they had heard the story of the birth of Jesus read, and that music was the best way to tell the story...celebrate the story.

Young Mary is pregnant. She can’t really explain how all this is happening, but there is a child growing inside her body. Mary ends up singing!

Zechariah, the old priest who is so wise, is puzzled when the angel says Elizabeth and he will soon have a son named John. Zechariah, when the boy is born, ends up singing!

The angels, practical and dirty, occupants of the lowest rung on the ladder of first century Jewish society in Palestine, are visited by angels. They go visit the stable, they witness what God is doing, and they go off singing! 

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I invite you to get so close to what God is doing, at Bethlehem, that you find yourself taken over by the urge to sing. Maybe, as you sing your song into the December darkness, you’ll be warm. Warm as in an unconquerable hope warm. Warm as in so much joy you can’t contain it. Warm as in “I-am-far-away-from-home-but-God-sees-us-even-here-in-this-crowd.”

May the relentless, seeking, saving, world-changing love of God free your tongue from despair and give you a song to sing—even when the December sky is dark.

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• RSVP here by this Sunday, Dec. 12, for our “Birthday Party for Jesus” on the 19th.
• Our “Pathways to Generosity” continues as people turn in “My Path to Generosity” cards for 2022. We have already surpassed the amount promised last year, and giving in the coming year is up well over 6%!
• Our Administrative Council approved a 2022 ministry budget of $875,176. 
• Invite a friend to join you in worship on Christmas Eve at 4:30, 7:30 or 11.

You bless me as we serve Christ together!

In Christ and for Christ,
Pastor Mark

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