Spiritual Perspectives
Rekindling our Hope at Christmas

Roger S. Perkins
Special to the Independent

In Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is whisked back to the loving Christmases of his youth by the Spirit of Christmas Past. He re-experiences the holiday warmth and joy of family and friends with whom he celebrated Christmas in years past.

Now that I, like Ebenezer, am in my sixties, I too find the remembrances of past Christmases heartwarming, but for me the joy comes from remembered church experiences in the company of my family and friends. The Christmas Eve services were attended with Mom, Dad and my sisters in a candle-lit church with everyone singing the traditional Christmas carols that we all knew by heart — until we got to the second verse. Then, for the lessons, those of us in the youth group would read the Christmas scriptures from the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel of Luke. I could barely get through those verses from the second chapter of Luke in the King James Bible without choking up:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

Now that we are retired from gainful employment, and my wife and I are fulfilling what we believe to be our calling as ordained clergy in the Episcopal Church, we no longer share Christmas with grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles. Even our brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces live nearly a continent away. But we have our church family to be with on Christmas Eve, and we can re-experience those wonderful memories of Christmas past, refreshing our Christmas spirit, and rekindling our hope for humanity with fellow Christians. In repeating those traditional carols and lessons from the Bible, we remember that, despite the ongoing turmoil in our time, Christmas remains a magnificent expression of hope for mankind. “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” which tells of Heaven’s angels announcing the birth of Emmanuel (God with us) to shepherds abiding in fields, speaks to the world today in the words of the third verse.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife
The world hath suffered long;
Beneath the heavenly hymn have rolled
Two thousand years of wrong;
And warring humankind, hears not
The tidings which they bring:
O hush the noise, and cease your strife,
And hear the angels sing.

The Rev. Roger S. Perkins and his wife, the Rev. Lynn J. Perkins, are priests in the Episcopal Church and serve as co-vicars at Church of the Holy Spirit in Gallup. They invite everyone to join them for a traditional Christmas Eve celebration of Lessons and Carols, followed by Holy Eucharist, at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, 1334 Country Club Drive. Perkins can be reached at hschurch@hotmail.com.

This column is written by area residents, representing different faith communities, who share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues. For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at The Independent: (505) 863-6811 ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.