As Covid-19 ravaged our communities and kept us away from our church buildings, we began to brainstorm as to how we could invite folks to church on Christmas Eve, without the risk of being inside for worship. What emerged was a sort of participatory art installation, with an invite to the whole community to enjoy the beauty that is Christmas, even among the brokenness so present in 2020. We used the image of a star, that symbol of hope from that first Christmas, so deeply needed in the darkness we experienced here and now.

With a rough sketch, some long forgotten mathematical knowledge, and a love of carpentry that far outweighs my skill, I created this 12-point, 3-dimensional star, that would stand at about 18 feet tall. And with lots of help from this community of creatives, it came to life. 

On Christmas Eve we invited all who felt inclined to journey to the church yard. The temperature peaked at 17 degrees that day, and much to my surprise, they still came. We invited all to add their own prayers of hope to the star, by writing on small pie tins that were wired along it’s spires. The pie tins would reflect the light, making the star appear be shining. And the wind would cause them to rattle, creating a strange, immersive chorus. Having added their own prayers, folks were asked to take home a few battery operated candles with them to carry the light back home, or deliver it to a friend. After all, the light came into the world in that manger on Christmas, but it didn’t stay there. 

The star stood from Christmas Eve to Epiphany, visited daily by members of the community who just wanted to come and see. An unplanned collection of other ornaments began to appear on the star, as visitors found themselves wanting to add to its light. What began as a way, an “excuse” maybe, to allow people to come to their church on a holy day became an alter of the entire community, a witness in the darkest days of the beautiful absurdity of our story - that light shines in the darkness, and is never overcome. 

For God so loves this world that Love was born to us, a child given to us, and stars shined and angels sang and shepherds and magicians journeyed, because a love this great was too bright to ignore. While we would keep distant out of love for each other, God overcomes all distance to be near to us. And in a year that distance didn’t allow us to practice the traditions, sing the songs, light the candles - this community created in a new way, and found that Love still being born, here and now.