A Gipsy Hill Nativity
Christ Church Gipsy Hill, 19 December 2010
(tannoy)
Had been cold. But in later years
She quite forgot
The frost in the dingy beams and the smoking stove
And the spasms of the afterbirth at dawn.
But above all she forgot the bitter shame
Common among the poor
Of having no privacy.
That was why in later years it became a holiday for all.
The shepherds’ coarse chatter fell silent.
Later they became the Kings of the story.
The wind, which was icy cold,
Turned into the song of angels.
Of the hole in the roof that let in the frost nothing was left
But the star that peeped through it.
All this was due to the vision of her son, who was very
Fond of singing.
He was in the habit of mixing with the poor
And of seeing a star above his head at night-time.
Wherever there is life in the city, I am there – invisible and inaudible, tapping on one-way glass, calling into the shadows.
I belong to nobody. Nobody belongs to me.
I am Nobody. This is my night.
We’d have to start again – in Luton.
Yes, we’d had promises – angels, and dreams – but nobody ever promised us stability, did they – or comfort?
We couldn’t take everything with us, we’d no money for a removal van – just about managed the train fares, really.
It’s ok, I told her, it’s ok, once we get there we’ll make our fortunes. I’ll buy up the whole of Mothercare...
Really, I thought, we’d be lucky if we had a roof over our heads.
Soundtrack: The Devlins- ‘Waiting’
And now this. There weren’t any more trains, not till the morning.
We settled down for the long, cold wait- not in the waiting room, that was locked, with a notice on the door about vandalism.
At least I could get her a bit of shelter. The waiting room was the only place we could go.
I’d run out of options – a shoe through the window was the fastest way in.
(SF/X Breaking glass)
Solo song: ‘let the heavens rejoice’
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad,
for he comes, for he comes.
Let the trees in the wood shout for joy before the Lord,
for he comes, for he comes. Lift up your voice, don’t be afraid,
Say to the cities, ‘Here is your God!’
Lift up your voice, lift it up with strength,
And God, our own God, will bless us...
(words from Psalm 96/ Isaiah 40)
(pause)
And he was there – and suddenly, nothing else mattered any more.
We wrapped him in my hoodie, and Mary fed him –
and everything was still.
(pause)
and there we were, at the centre of the universe.
The centre of the universe.
(pause)
Wow.
Soundtrack: Meat Loaf - ‘Heaven can wait’
(pause)
Then suddenly, all the screens went white – no not white, light, blazing light, straight in our faces.
But the first thing he said was, don’t be afraid
OK, it’s OK, he said, I’m not looking for trouble – I’ve got news for you, good news.
You need to get down to the station and see what’s going on there! He said, God had been born.
God.
In the waiting room. And then he vanished.
And the glass wasn’t broken. So we went to find out.
Did that mean the rest was true too? I called an ambulance, gave the mum my sweatshirt till it came –
but it made no sense.
Still doesn’t really.
God – come to earth? A human?
(pause)
What kind of love does that?
Let me tell you ‘bout a baby born the other day,
His mother was a traveller, who came this way.
There was nowhere in this crowded town for her to rest,
So we opened up the stable and did our best.
And when the child was born that evening,
a star shone, bright and clear,
As if it were glad to see a baby here.
Then early in the morning, when the world was still,
Some shepherds stumbled over from across the hill,
Said that angels came and woke them with a shining light –
Surely no-one could imagine such a sight?
And they’d been searching in the starlight,
to find the humble place
That held the King of Heaven with a human face,
And they told us that the baby was a King,
And they left us with a new song to sing.
Hallelujah, we’ve a new song to sing.
And they left us with a new song to sing.
Hallelujah, we’ve a new song to sing.
Soundtrack: Tinie Tempah - 'Written In The Stars'
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in deep darkness, on them light has shined.
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed, - and all flesh shall see it together.
(pause)
We are connected – we are all connected!
I belong to you.
You belong to me.
(pause)
I am Nobody.
This is my night.
This is our night.