Dear Friends,

In the art world, chiaroscuro is the name of a technique that brings the illusion of three dimensionality on a two-dimension canvas, by boldly contrasting light and dark.  Hard-core Star Wars fans, may remember that in the novel version of Revenge of the Siths, the chapter featuring light-saber duels between Darth Vadar and Obi Wan Kenobi and the Emperor and Yoda is called Chiaroscuro.

A bold contrast between light and dark, black and white…that gives depth.

Not surprisingly, the technique of chiaroscuro emerged when Europe emerged from the Dark Ages, bringing incredibly rich examples of art, literature, and poetry.
  

At the time Carraggio painted “The Nativity” there was constant fighting in Italy and an outbreak of the plague.  Into this darkness, he paints the light that simultaneously appears to bathe and emerge from the Child lying in the manger.  Mary’s face is softened by the light, which also strikes the rapt faces of the adoring shepherds and illumines the hovering heavenly host.

The gospel of John puts it this way, “What came into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”  -John 1:4,5

As I write, we have been thrust into the unspeakable darkness of grief in the wake of a mass shooting that claimed 27 lives, 20 of them children…and the shooting that felled two police officers in Topeka.  Our hearts break for families who not only face Christmas, but the rest of their lives without a child, sibling, parent, friend. Our hearts break for the first-responders who walked into the horror and did their jobs, took care of the injured, provided for the safety of their community, and now must live with the memory of it.  Our hearts break for communities whose sense of security is shattered.  Our hearts break for a nation that has heard another wake-up call, has seen another sign of distress and now must work together to discern what must change. 

Into this darkness, Jesus comes. 

The One through whom all things are created comes to us.  There’s the light.  The One born in a tiny nowhere town called Bethlehem, in the humble setting of a stable, surrounded by the poverty, oppression and violence, now lives among us.  There’s the dark.  In this bold contrast, the Christmas story lifts us from the two-dimensional pages of Scripture to reveal a three-dimensional realm, where the birth of a child brings peace on earth, salvation for all, God’s love-in-the-flesh.

No matter what else is going on in the world no matter what concerns we carry, like a weight on our hearts, still there is simple, yet profound evidence of the goodness and grace available to us.  Real, hard evidence that God comes to us, abides with us, Our Lord, Emmanuel.

You can see it in places like Doorstep’s Christmas distribution center, where neighbors in need browse among goods donated by community members and ‘shop’ for gifts for their families.

Or, in the growing piles of scarves knit and crocheted by members of our needlework group, given away along with the mountain of gifts provided the members of our congregation, through our Christmas Adoption program.

In the faces of our youth, whose mid-night madness yields treasures for others.

In the voices of the B.A.S.I.C. choir members who sing for those isolated in hospice or nursing care facilities.

In the generous offering of those who prepare the meals and sing the songs at Noon noels.

In the red and white Christmas Joy offering envelopes that overflow from the plates and spill out to bless strangers-in-need.

In every moment of kindness when someone chooses love over fear, compassion over anger, generosity over selfishness, community over isolation.

And you will most assuredly see it on Christmas Eve when we gather, in the darkness, in the light.  In this world of conflict, we will tell the Story.  At this time of uncertainty, we will sing the carols.  Aware of the suffering of those we love and of strangers whose pain touches our vulnerability, we will say our prayers.   With broken hearts, we will come to the Table.  In spite of our deepest fears, we will light candles.

In all of these ways we add fuel to the flame of God’s love, bringing more and more light to the darkness of our world.  Like the bold contrast of chiaroscuro, may our celebration of Christmas bring us to the depths of God’s love for us, to the three-dimensional wonder of Christ’s birth for us.  Lord, hear our prayer. 

Blessings,

Cheryl