Christmas at the Student Center of our Church

Christmas at the Student Center of our Church
- Lord, give me light! -

	Give me light, Lord, light To understand Where I should walk Light, Lord, light To understand Where to find you!
“Lord, give me light!” was the hymn that the students of the Student Center of the Orthodox Church addressed to God on Tuesday, December 16th 2008, at the last meeting of the year; a meeting that prepared all for the coming of our Savior. More than 70 youth filled the hall where the festival meeting for Christmas took place. Everything in the Center confirmed that this great Feast brings harmony and beauty to life. All the adornments proclaimed in silence that the Light that humankind so dearly misses was coming into the world; the Light that will reveal to us the path of life in which we should walk;
	The Light that will shine in all the dark places of our hearts and that will fill our life with joy and hope. It is only through this Light that can we become sons of light and shine wherever we are; something we are always trying to learn in the activities organized by the Student Center. The evening began with the students writing their names and putting them on the Christmas tree; something that demonstrated once again that we all are members of the Body of Christ and only in union with Him and with one another are we able to live a meaningful and joyful life.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Nathan Hoppe, the Director of the Student Center, who explained in detail the history of the birth of Christ and invited all to try to find themselves in the persons of this history. “He is coming to be born in our inn as he did 2,008 years ago in an inn in Bethlehem. We must not tell him, “Go,” there is no room for you in the inn. Rather let us all open the inn of our hearts and tell him, “Jesus come to be born in the inn of my heart, come and stay with me”.
	The meeting continued with a Christmas Reflection during which all the students, illuminated by the glow of candlelight, reflected on the meaning of this Feast. The Reflection contained different oral reading accompanied with Christmas songs. Everyone learned that this Feast is a second creation of humankind, because the coming of our Savior in the world is a reunion with eternal life in Christ. The emphasis of the Reflection was that all the outer adornments are an expression of our inner joy brought by the birth of our Savior. The Light comes in the midst of a freezing and hopeless winter to shine in our darkness and to revitalize all creation.

Pure is the present night,
in which the Pure One appeared,
Who came to purify us!

Let our hearing be pure,
and the sight of our eyes chaste,
and the feeling of the heart holy,
and the speech of the mouth sincere!

The present night is the night of reconciliation;
therefore, let no one be wroth against
his brother and offend him!

This night gave peace to the whole world,
and so, let no one threaten.

This is the night of the Most Meek One;
let no one be cruel!

This is the night of the Humble One;
let no one be proud!

Now is the day of joy;
let us not take revenge for offences!

Now is the day of good will;
let us not be harsh.

On this day of tranquility,
let us not become agitated by anger!

Today God came unto sinners;
let not the righteous exalt himself over sinners!

Today the Most Rich One became poor for our sake;
let the rich man invite the poor to his table!

Today we received a gift which we did not ask for;
let us bestow alms to those who cry out to us and beg!

The present day has opened the door of heaven to our prayers;
let us also open our door to those who ask of us forgiveness!

Today the Godhead placed upon Himself the seal of humanity,
and humanity has been adorned with the seal of the Godhead!

After the Reflection, everyone sent a postcard to Christ in which we promised that we would give to him a gift this year. Many of us promised that our hearts would become a dwelling place for Him; some promised that they would wash the baby Jesus with their tears of repentance; and others promised that they would offer all the love of their hearts to the divine baby and to others.
	According to the festival tradition a student, dressed like Saint Nicholas, gave gifts to all the students in memory of the great gift that God gave to humankind: His Only begotten Son. Singing together: “Give me Light, Lord, Light” and “O love, to thee that the heaven chants, come to be born in my heart,” this inspiring Christmas meeting came to its end with the hope of having a Blessed Christmas and more light in our lives!
Ana Baba Student Center Translated by Joan Baba Edited by Anastasia Pamela Barksdale