'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

 Just over a couple of hills from our place is a tiny little church building - St. Peter's, a labour of love for the people of the Scapa district. 

I had the distinct privilege of helping to proofread the book published in conjunction with St. Peter's 100th anniversary, and the story of how this building came to be in Scapa; and the love and dedication that has poured into it from that day tugged at my heart strings.

St. Peter's Lutheran Church is a provincial historic site and for most of the year merely whispers of past thriving congregations as visitors stop in from all over the world; but one night each year, December 23, the sanctuary is readied for a traditional Carol Service.

I had been invited to join a group of friends who make their way here every "pre Christmas Eve" and I am so glad I did.

Dean opens the window in the bell tower at the back of the choir loft - the furnace had been heating the church since the afternoon and the place was toasty!

View from the old choir loft

Pastor Matt absorbs

the moment

Dylan and Mark

led the carols

In St. Peter's tradition, the second verse

 of Silent Night is sung in German . . .

. . . by candlelight

As the service came to a close people sat for a few more minutes in the glow of the candlelight before blowing out their candles, wispy smoke curling gently around them as they leaned in a little closer to their friends.

This is the last part of Pastor Matt's sermon:

"God comes to us. To be With us. That’s so simple, yet so deeply misunderstood. To know that God loves us so much that God would take on our humanity. To know its ups and downs. To ensure a connection that comes with that understanding. We use big words in the church like incarnation but it is through the “with us” understanding that is so important. Because with it comes the idea that there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. And while I don’t know that Jesus underwent every single possibility that one can go through, it is through our ability to empathize that we understand the depth of our humanity and the love that God has for us. That Christ has for us as the light of the world. That we may see more clearly the truth that we have through the working of the Holy Spirit."

I hope the pictures capture the beauty and the sacredness and the profound joy of the evening. 

Jesus is born.

Merry Christmas to all!

The bell of St. Peter's peals in the night as children's laughter rings out once more