Come and sit under the stars,
Come away from the bright lights of the stores, the displays,
the parties, even of the Christmas trees.
Come and sit.
Look for the star of Bethlehem.
Come and listen to the silence of the night.
Come away from the sounds of the stores, the blare of the muzak,
the non-stop music of the radio.
Come and listen.
Hear the brush of angels’ wings.
Come and rest your hands.
Come away from the wrapping, from the cooking and baking,
from the computer and cell phones.
Come with open hands.
Receive the gift of love.
Come and be.
Stand tiptoe, and lean into this holy night.
Expectantly.
Bring all that you are: tired or excited, empty or full,
in love or alone, grounded in faith or stirring with doubts.
Come as you are.
That love may be born in you.
And peace begin its reign.
In your heart. In your home.
In your corner of the world.
In all the corners of the world.
When peace shall over all the earth
Its ancient splendors fling,
And the whole world give back the song
Which now the angels sing.
