December 25, 2008

It was Christmas Eve and they kept coming, a steady flow, mostly young and obviously many were from far away places. There was no room for me, well, not in the inn, but rather, no room in the Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster, known lovingly as Westminster Abbey. They were standing everywhere. It was a stupendous vision of humanity – incarnation!

Having a clerical collar and indeed a cane/stick after a lingering painful knee operation, the head Marshall, someone I have always admired, said. "Jim, you better come with me to St George's." I obediently followed. It was not far. Indeed it was the chapel at the West End. I entered, looked up and was awe struck. What might have been an alone experience on Christmas Eve in a crowded abbey, and let me say this Christmas brings with it mixed emotions for sure for yours truly, had now become something completely different. I was not alone, nor would I be for the next 90 minutes

You see in this glass walled chapel I would be attending the famous Abbey Lessons and Carols service sitting almost "in" the great life-size Christmas Crib, the Nativity Set, the Creche. I was nestled in a small corner, yes, not in the select quire, nor even the great nave, but I would be singing, along with two elderly ladies and a rather similar size gentlemen as myself, almost "in" the nativity shrine, complete with blazing votive candles and spotlights, The music wafting through the ancient abbey along with the lessons read heightened the extraordinary experience of being seated inches from Mary and Joseph on Christmas Eve. My projected loneliness became remarkably the very opposite, because I was where the real action was. The reality made me smile, laugh and even shed a tear or two at various times during the sensory pleasing carol service.

We were there, so to speak, right with Mary, Joseph and the baby, lying in the manger. Shepherds also stood tall. A sight to behold, a presence to adore and what was to be an experience to cherish. I felt like the vicar of this little chapel. I found myself waving children and parents to enter, as the flow of people never ceased, to kneel and see the Holy Family. They saw by collar and smiled. It was heart-warming and refreshing. Kneeling children, attentive parents and a sense of holy prayer.

I arrived at the Abbey hoping I would at least be able to sit somewhere, as I knew the place would be packed. The numbers must have been the largest ever. I came alone and by sheer "grace" I became one with those to whom the entire service was addressed.

The real amazement in all this comes with my being confronted with practising what I preach. You see for the last three weeks I have made my annual St Nicholas appearances in Canterbury, London, Cambridge and even Philadelphia, to the amusement and joy of thousands of young and old alike. My constant theme was, unlike Santa Claus or Father Christmas, St Nicholas leads us to the Holy Child of Bethlehem where St Nick kneels and prays, as we all should, at the lowly manger. Thus on this holy even, my own words to others became a reality for myself. St Nicholas, without costume, was indeed at the feet of the Holy Child, just where he needs to be, if indeed his witness is faithful and true. God is full of surprises and this experience will never be forgotten.

In Christ and in Christ's church, there is always room for you and me. My experience speaks volumes to me as I ponder my future after 20 years of active ministry in the Anglican Communion Office in London. Don't let fear or anxiety, or even people, make you feel that God doesn't care or that you are unworthy of God's activity in your life.

I came to the Abbey feeling anxious and a bit distant from God, the Church and more. Yet I knew that was where I wanted to be, where I belonged. What was God's response? God led me to where the action is, the Crib, so I could be fully immersed in the joy of the incarnation, an immersion that was tangible and just as earthy as have been my experiences of touch and embrace that I have had in over 60 countries in these past 20 years.

We live in a strange and frightening time. I was so pleased that the Dean of the Abbey use a more up-to-date Bidding Prayer as he especially remembered the people who today live in Bethlehem, yes it is still holy, and its people are precious and an important part of the Christian story in our time. In our Anglican World we have much to pray for and to rejoice in with great thanksgiving.

There was no better seat in Westminster Abbey than the one I had this Christmas Eve. There is room at that Crib, and indeed at the cross (a golden crucifix was affixed over the chapel altar), for all of us who are able to accept the fact that unto to us a child is born is born, unto us a son is given, and his name shall be called wonderful counsellor, mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace.

To those who have help transform my life for the last 20 years I say thank you from the depths of my experience. Those whose stories and photos have appeared in Anglican Episcopal World and ACNS over the years are real people, our brothers and sisters in Christ, people that I won't forget and people that I do not want you to forget either. I know that Christ is counting on me and you to keep the story alive. In my sense of loss I feel a call to do even more to bring others to know the depth of love of crib and cross and yes, to know the joy of sharing in our great Anglican tradition of faith and practice. My Christmas eve experience reinforces for me the fact that when we forget the incarnation, when we forget people, it is then we forget what it is actually all about – the Word became flesh and dwell among US!

Off to Midnight Mass. Happy Christmas and peace in the New Year!

Canon Jim

NB: The Revd Canon Dr James Rosenthal leaves his post as Communications Director at the ACO at year's end. The reference to St Nicholas comes from the fact that Canon Rosenthal is founder of the St Nicholas Society. His email address is james.rosenthal@gmail.com. "The Last Word" was his regular column in Anglican World magazine.

Anglican Communion News Service, London