The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Addressed to Anglican Diocese of the Emmaus Way
Since 1919 it has been the tradition at King's College to begin their Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service with Dr Arthur Henry Mann's rendition of *Once in Royal David's City*. The service begins in the chapel in complete darkness. The chapel is illuminated only by a few candles, and from the darkness a voice begins to sing, "Once in royal David's city / Stood a lowly cattle shed, / Where a mother laid her baby…" A singular voice in the darkness. Soon the singular voice is joined by the choir, "He came down to earth from heaven / Who is God and Lord of all, / And his shelter was a stable…" Then eventually the entire congregation joins in, "And through all His wondrous childhood / He would honor and obey, / Love and watch the lowly maiden…" in what becomes a magnificent crescendo proclaiming the birth of Christ.
A fitting way to bring the imagery of Advent, the season we have just left, a season of darkness, into light. At the start of Advent, we enter the church in darkness and a single candle is lit; the following week, a second; and the next week, a third. Each week the church gets brighter and brighter, being illumined by the light of Christ. I have watched this service since I was a child, but this year it struck me differently. I became overwhelmed with emotion — not something that happens to a proper English Bishop very often — but this year was different. There is so much hate and conflict in this world that the world has been cast into darkness. Countless wars, unending poverty, and it seems sadness everywhere we turn. I don't say this out of a sense of hopelessness but out of HOPE! Because in this seemingly unending winter darkness bursts onto the scene the light of Christ, our sure foundation and only hope.
It is interesting that our hope is not found in a warrior God, bursting on the scene with fanfare of trumpets, but in a humble child, born on a silent night in Bethlehem. All of our hope is placed in this one small child. It is easy to lose hope. It is easy to feel alone, but in the midst of the darkness we need to look no further than that child whose "shelter was a stable…" For in Him we can place our hope, knowing that the darkness is temporary and always gives way to light.
On behalf of Heather, myself, and the kids, we wish you and your family a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year, and we pray that you find the true hope this Christmas season in that child born in Bethlehem. Христо́с ражда́ется (Khristos razhdayetsya) — Christ is Born!
✠ Bishop Brent Whetstone