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Saying Yes to The Work of Christmas








"Will you go?"

"Yes."

After spending a day helping to lead three Christmas services, the students in my young adult program were asked if they would take an extra hour, make a fourth stop and visit a family from out of state who is receiving cancer treatment in Tulsa and is unable to go home for Christmas. 

"Will you go?" I asked. 

"Yes", they responded. 

We arrived and asked, "May we sing for you?" 

"Yes", they said. 

A clergy person read scripture from the Book of John - the story and promise of light overcoming darkness

Then we sang. 

Each note invited the presence of light, love and peace into the corner room of the ICU. 

"May we pray with you?" 

"Yes", the family said. 

Gathered in the room of strangers, friends that had known each other for a lifetime grasped hands with  new friends who we had come to know through the sharing of song. 

The mood was brighter upon our leaving. Hearts were just a tad bit less burdened. Light had come.

Cancer still took up space in the room. Scars visible and hidden remained. Struggle was still there.

But so were we. 

We were there because we said yes. 

Our voices and presence filled the sterile air of the medical facility, because when asked if they had room for us in their hospital room and schedule - the family said yes. 

Mary was called to bring the Light into the world. Without fully knowing how the story would end, Mary said yes to the call.

The call to bring the Light into this world still comes to us today. We don't really know what will come next in our stories, either. We can be sure that the author's plot line and story development is directly linked to the characters' willingness to say yes.

#christmasatbostonavenue
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church


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