Sunday, December 25, 2016

The Christmas Truce

SYNOPSIS:  "War is over if we want it, War is over now." These are words from John Lennon's song Happy Christmas (War is Over). It expresses the idea that conflict is a choice and that we have the ability to end it at any time simply by making a different choice to love and forgive. This Sunday, we will celebrate this idea with a special readers theater presentation called The Christmas Truce.

FEATURED MUSICIANS: Gwen Gathercoal and Gary Buettner

PODCAST:

So this is Christmas… That is the first line of John Lennon's tune Happy Christmas (War is Over). Our children sang it last Sunday and I find myself humming it alot. The best part of this song is the chorus, which is "War is over if we want it, War is over now." I love this song! The reason it is so meaningful for me is that it is written and sung in the present tense. Apparently, John Lennon knew about affirmations and the power of affirming the thought or idea in present tense — not future or past, but present — it is happening now.

This is my Christmas prayer and affirmation for all of us — for humanity, to know in this present moment — on some level and in some reality — right here, right now, War is over. Will you join me in this knowing? I give thanks that this is so. 

We have two wonderful Christmas services happening:

• Christmas Eve at 7 p.m. with special music by soloists Gwen Gathercoal, Rob Rohlmeier and Mark Soss, backed by musicians Gary Buettner on violin & guitar, and Pamela Van Kirk on flute & mandolin.
• Christmas Day there will be one service at 10 am. The service will center on a readers theater presentation of The Christmas Truce. An unofficial agreement to cease hostilities by British and German soldiers on Christmas Eve 1914 during WW1. The characters will be portrayed by Andrew Ashmore, Paul Gathercoal, Mark Soss and Justin Derwick. There will also be a ballad “Belleau Wood” about this truce which will be sung by Gary Buettner — there won’t be a dry eye in the house. 

We invite you and family and friends to join us. Make your holiday memories special with a Unity experience. I look forward to being together.

Wishing each of you a very Merry Christmas!

In the Spirit of Oneness and knowing Peace is Present Now,

Deidre