Lights, Singing, Worship at Christmas!

Deeper Dive

Our Christmas tree looks different this year. I’m writing this on December 9^th. The tree is up, but no decorations hang from its branches. (Let me back this story up, though.)

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The Friday after Thanksgiving Day, our family in Oklahoma came together to host a larger gathering of extended family. It was a lovely day, but also a lot of work (as all the planners out there know).

Because I knew the week would be especially busy, and with Thanksgiving falling so late this year, I wanted to get my tree up early. I got the snow-flocked, pre-lit tree put up in our family room, saving the Christmas decorations for after Thanksgiving, as is our custom.

Each evening, throughout the week of Thanksgiving, we enjoyed the glow of the white lights on the tree spreading early Christmas cheer. I guess you could say the undecorated tree grew on me because here we are on December 9th and, except for the flocked snow and white lights, the tree is still undecorated.

The thing is, I love it so much we may have started a new holiday tradition. That is, leaving the snow-flocked, pre-lit pencil tree just as it came out of the box—looking minimalistic with the lights glowing and no decorations!

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This time of year, I sometimes struggle with writing a Christmas piece. What can I share that hasn’t already been said? Even most non-Christians know of the Christmas story and Jesus’ birth. However, there’s something about the lights of Christmas that’s captured my heart, so I’m running with it (along with a few other thoughts).

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And the glory of the Lord shone around them!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2.8-12

Notice how the angel shows up, surrounded by the light of God’s glory. Light is important in the Bible. It’s light that divides the darkness, and light that brings salvation to all. The shepherds represent the common people hearing, receiving, and telling of God’s light-come-to-earth in the person of Jesus.

Let there be light.

In Genesis 1.3, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.’” God’s story has barely begun, and light is introduced. One commentary explains it like this: “Light changes everything, does it not? It cuts through all the unknown and unseen… It unveils and illuminates. What darkness aims to hide, the light will always expose.”¹

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The light shone on Abraham when God said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them [and] so shall your offspring be.” (Gen. 15.5)

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Moses met the light when “God called to him from within the bush” on fire with God’s presence. (Exo. 3.2-4)

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The prophet Isaiah foretold that those who walked in darkness would one day see a “great light” bringing salvation to all people. (Isaiah 9.2)

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The apostle Paul looked back to Genesis 1.3 and proclaimed, “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory...” (2 Cor. 4.6)

Let there be light.