Ok, so I break out the Christmas music a little earlier than most, I listen to my fairly vast CD collection from the St. Olaf Choir Christmas Vespers in my car at a volume that would annoy most people and maybe break a few “noise pollution” laws in the process. Still it is my way of preparing!
There is one CD in particular that is my favorite. It has most all of my favorite songs. “Oh Light Everlasting”…” O Day Full of Grace”...”Keep Your Lamps”…etc “Child of Light, Illumine Our Darkness” is the CD title. It is a more recent recording but it brings to mind one very special vespers that I attended when I was in high school. Keep in mind that I have had the fortunate opportunity to attend the Christmas Vespers at St. Olaf on a yearly basis from 5th grade through college and a few times since.
After a freezing walk down the big hill, you walk into this huge gymnasium with bleachers of open seating filled with young, old, and in between, everyone in their holiday finest after eating a huge, delicious Scandinavian buffet. The anticipation of this worship service was often overwhelming for our family. This year, this year was different…it was my sister who was going to be singing up there in the Chapel choir! The first Norum singing at St. Olaf since my father in the 1940’s! The lights dimmed and we prepared ourselves for worship, St. Olaf style!
A voice comes out of the darkness with what I am almost sure was this scripture… while a single spot light shines on a three dimensional glass mosaic star… It shines brilliantly! “Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The voice is not loud… it is not a whisper. It is just there….helping us to prepare for what is to come. The music is powerful and moving and delightful all at once. You don’t need to turn the volume up, it is perfect. As I sat there with my parents and we caught a glimpse of Nina, there is no brighter moment.
For our family there had been times of gloom and distress in our lives before this and there would be times of gloom and distress to come. But the promise of this scripture, these words that have been written into many worshipful arrangements by and F. Melius Christianson and Handel, you know of the ones I am referring, …”And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), these were the words that would help us prepare and carry us for now!
“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by way of the sea, along the Jordan. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light: on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Isaiah 9:1-2) Well, in this economy, in this war, in these more than distressing and often gloomy times… could we not take that and run with it? Could that be our whole reason to sit next to someone and tell them about the Messiah?
Don’t you just want to blast it through your car stereo?
by Kristie Kresslein
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