'Twas the morning before Candlelight service, and all through the church
Not a creature was stirring, not even the staff;
The sanctuary chairs had been set up with care,
In hopes that parishioners soon would be there,
Pastor Kevin was home nestled snug in his bed,
With worries of candles and hairspray dancing in his head
And Yvonne with her guitar and I with my laptop,
Had just settled in our office to prepare for the service
When down in the foyer there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter
Down through the gym I flew like a flash
The sun gleamed off fresh fallen snow
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But ushers and volunteers tramping through
the crisp clean snow
They shook the ice from their coats and stomped
their booted feet
Quick as a flash they sprang to their duties,
Lighting the candles and welcoming guests
As the sanctuary filled to the brim
With smiling worshippers waiting in keen anticipation
Then all of a sudden, breaking through the conversations
Came the strumming of chords and singing of song
As the melody faded away
Up walked Pastor Kevin with a spring in his step
To start our Christmas Service with flair
And slowly to the tune of Silent Night,
The darkness was filled with candles’ light
And as the last echoes faded away
I could hear like a whisper of wind through the trees
Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace
And as the congregation left with hope in their hearts
The staff shouted out as one
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
By Jeremy Broadfield,
based on
‘Twas the night before Christmas
by Clement Clarke Moore