The Dawn of Peace is Upon Us
It is about 2:30 on Christmas Eve afternoon. It has been quiet in preparing for tonight and tomorrow. Finished all stories, sermons, prayers, musical background for the midnight vigil by noon. Finished cleaning the house in preparation for our daughter and a few of our friends to be here tonight. It is a beautiful sunny afternoon in Minneapolis after a sparkling morning with rime frost on the trees. It is a perfect day for the Son of God to be born.

Which is true every day of the year. Every day we need to welcome him into our hearts, our lives, our world. Every day we need to open ourselves to the exciting possibilities that following this Prince of Peace can give us.

But for tonight it is a child, in a manger with angels and shepherds. It is a silent night broken by angels from on high. It is a night of awe and peace and candles.

One of our Moravian traditions is a song sung antiphonally, the next to last in the service, often with a child or children doing the solo part, and the congregation responding. The sanctuary is lit only by the candles and the words and hope of peace fill us.

Morning Star, O cheering sight! Ere thou cam'st, how dark earth's night!
Morning Star, O cheering sight! Ere thou cam'st, how dark earth's night!
Jesus mine, in me shine; in me shine, Jesus mine;
fill my heart with light divine.

Morning Star, thy glory bright far excels the sun's clear light.
Morning Star, thy glory bright far excels the sun's clear light.
Jesus be, constantly, Constantly, Jesus be
More than thousand suns to me.

Thy glad beams, thou Morning Star, cheer the nations near and far.
Thy glad beams, thou Morning Star, cheer the nations near and far.
Thee we own, Lord alone, Lord alone, thee we own,
Our dear Savior, God's dear Son.

Morning Star, my soul's true light, tarry not, dispel my night.
Morning Star, my soul's true light, tarry not, dispel my night.
Jesus mine, in me shine; in me shine, Jesus mine;
Fill my heart with light divine.

It is simple and moving, like the message of this night.

May we pause in our wanderings this evening as we approach the holy in our midst.
May we find rest for weary souls and direction for faith.
May we once again find the Light of the World in our lives and souls.
Merry Christmas to all.
--PMPilgrim