From the Rector…
Darkness often gets a bad rap. We are afraid of the dark. Our parents warn that nothing good happens after dark. The Church often contrasts light as good and darkness as less so. But I wonder if these negative associations are a bit unfair.
In creation, God separated night from day and gave each its own celestial lamp—the sun for the day, the moon and stars for the night. Without darkness, we would never know the wonder of the night sky, the brilliance of starlight, or the beauty of the lunar cycle. Day would simply be all we ever knew.
Darkness also gives us space to experience coziness. A fire on a cold night brings comfort and warmth. A single candle flame becomes mesmerizing against the shadows. We dim lights to create intimacy, romance, or simple rest.
Darkness, then, is not always something to fear, but something to appreciate. It can offer joy, hope, and peace. It creates room for comfort. Instead of seeing darkness and light as either/or, we might recognize that darkness is not merely the absence of light—it can hold its own gifts.
Advent leans deeply into this imagery of light shining in darkness. It is a natural metaphor, arriving as it does at the darkest time of the year. Christmas Day falls close to the winter solstice, when daylight is brief and night is long.
Long before Christianity, pagan communities marked this season with winter festivals. Food was scarce, survival uncertain, and people needed hope to sustain them through the long nights. Darkness slowed their bodies, drawing them into more rest and less activity—a natural rhythm that helped them endure.
With the rise of Christianity, Christmas became a symbol of hope in the midst of darkness, bringing comfort and peace to the world. The simple joys of cozy blankets, hot cocoa, warm fires, candlelight, and even the glow of modern Christmas lights reminds us that light not only shines in the darkness but is given meaning and purpose by it. The darkness makes space for beauty, hope, and comfort.
This Advent, we are embracing Hygge (hoo-ga), the art of coziness. Instead of dismissing or fearing the dark, we are invited to appreciate what it makes room for: rest, reflection, quiet, and warmth. In many ways, this is what Advent as about—making room for Christ in our own hearts.
As you prepare for Christmas, consider creating coziness in your home and heart. Let it soften the edges of this busy season and offer you moments of peace. In that stillness, Christmas becomes more than presents, food, or decorations. It becomes a season of hope and renewal where we focus on the light of Christ amidst the darkness of this world.
Light and Life,
Candice+