Kristos Rodyvsya! Christ is Born!

Technically, it's still Advent until sundown this evening - but I expect I'll be busy then. So let me anticipate the feast, ever so slightly.

At St. James, our altar doubles as the creche. We turned it around a couple of weeks ago for the children's Advent Pageant (at least I called it the Advent Pageant). Inside, black satin suggests the night and a chevron of rough wood suggests the stable. Right now, Mary and Joseph are along a window sill, the shepherds are on the edge of the pulpit and the wise men are at the back of the church (guarded by a helpful "Mind the Camels" sign made by my wife). Mary, Joseph and the shepherds will arrive at their appointed cue this evening. The magi, of course, will make their gradual approach over the next several days. The main character (currently located in the vestry - see our adventure two years ago) will be handed over to one of the children who will manage his entrance at the appropriate time.

And we will find Jesus again tonight, literally, allegorically and eucharistically.

In closing, I offer you two videos to remind us of both the joy and the challenge of the season.

The first is an ancient Christian hymn, in it's original Arabic. Most North Americans seem a little puzzled by the concept of Christian Arabs. I read an article recently which included one Palestinian Christian, now emigrated to the US, expressing frustration that most American's he met assumed he was a convert from Islam even though his family had been Christian for generations longer than theirs.

The translation is included in the video, but for your convenience:

Today is born of a virgin He who holds the whole creation in his hand.
Today is born of a virgin He who holds the whole creation in his hand.
Today is born of a virgin He who holds the whole creation in his hand.

He whose essence cannot touch is bound in swaddling clothes as a child.
God who, in the beginning, established the heavens lies in a manger.
He who rained manna on his people is fed with milk from his mother's breast.
The bridegroom of the Church summons the wise men.
The Son of the Virgin accepts their gifts.

We worship thy birth, O Christ!
We worship thy birth, O Christ!
We worship thy birth, O Christ!
Show us also thy Divine Theophany.

The other video is a Stan Rogers classic. I can't hear it or sing it without getting all teary-eyed. (I am a rock!) It reminds us that many are lonely and in need at Christmas. Let it be a challenge to us all.



Almighty God,
you wonderfully created
and yet more wonderfully restored our human nature.
May we share the divine life of your Son Jesus Christ,
who humbled himself to share our humanity,
and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.