The Most Unlit Day

December 21 (today (Wednesday), as I am writing this)  at 3:48 PM CST, the sun will be, in its relation to the earth’s rotational axis, as far from us as it ever is. This will bring about, in the northern hemisphere, the shortest day or most notably, the longest night. This time, known as winter solstice, symbolizes a very real aspect of this season of holiday joy. That is the plain fact that many people are not happy and for good reasons. Some have painful thoughts of loss of a loved one, especially when it has occurred around this time of year. This may be the first Christmas without them. Many continue to suffer from illness, addiction, and estrangement. Many are lonely, struggling financially, or in conflict with another. Some are in very real physical pain with no hope of relief. So many in the world have fallen victim to senseless violence in the midst of a weapon-obsessed society or at the hands of tyrants whose power grabs wreak war over the planet. At a time when expectations are very high that we should all be “laughing all the way,” finding oneself being sad can be overwhelming.

The distance between the expectation of the gleeful spirit of the season and the reality of grief and sadness is mirrored by our distance from the earth’s source of light. This is a time that we need each other more than ever. We need to see the face of God in each other, so that we may know we are not distant from our eternal source of light, the light of God, the light of Christ, and the light that we are to one another.

Being sad does not mean that we cannot find joy. Joy comes in the peace of knowing that God is sad with us and is always there to help bear the grief. We, as a community of Christ, share each other’s burdens and in so doing, we all find true joy, that comes in the sometimes surprising gift that we are seen, we are respected, and we are loved, just as we are.

I know someone who has expressed that he begins to feel depressed at summer solstice, because the days start to get shorter. But, on December 21 he starts to get happy again because they begin to get longer. The light is returning. The dawn is approaching. Joy comes in the morning.

May we know the true peace that this season brings. May it wrap around us all like a big blanket of love.

D H

Opening Hymn:  Joy to the World

Issac Watts, an English Congregationlist, freely paraphrased Old Testament psalms to glorify Christ and here develops a hymn of advent and nativity from a psalm.

Middle Hymn: The First Nowell

Though perhaps of earlier origins, this anonymous English carol first appeared in print in the nineteenth century. "Nowell" stems from the Latin novellae (news) and is used as a joyous greeting to celebrate Jesus' birth.

The Congregational Carols: O Come All Ye Faithful, Good Christian Friends Rejoice, What Child is This?, Hark the Hearld Angels Sing.

December Mission Emphasis:

The Alliance of Baptist Offering



Please make checks payable to Northminster Church with the memo line "Alliance offering".

Last Sunday's Floral Offerings

Given to the Glory of God



Arrangement by

Peggy Caskey

Robert Crawford

PLEASE NOTE: When flowers are given in honor or in memory of someone, the flowers that day have been paid for by someone and not from the flower fund. 

Please allow the family to have first pick of an arrangement to take home before choosing some for yourself. Thank you!