In 1863, amidst the American Civil War and during a time of great personal losses, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the poem, “Christmas Bells,” from which this beautiful hymn is lifted:

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

’Til ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
of peace on earth, good will to men.

The spirit of Christmas is possibility. In the darkest nights, the coldest winters, the most troubled times — possibility. Through the thick of our own discouragements and challenges — possibility.

I was deeply touched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Congress yesterday. Especially inspiring was his refrain that victory begins and ends in human minds and hearts.

Daring to hope. Daring to believe in ourselves and each other. Daring to face our lives and the world with courage and commitment and care.

The Christmas birth is always our own. We’re being born and we’re giving the birth. And it’s never really in spite of circumstances, but because of and through them.

Peace on earth, good will to everyone sounds really, really good to me. And I believe that it’s not only possible, it’s inevitable if we put ourselves forth into it.

Merry Christmas, friends.

Join us for caroling and candlelight Saturday night, Christmas Eve, in the front studio at Maple Street Dance Space, at 6:00pm.

NO SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE THIS WEEK.

Have a beautiful, safe, warm holiday. XO, Drew

©2022 Drew Groves