Silent Night

Haddonfield First Presbyterian Church
Haddonfield, NJ
December 24, 2007

Neil, his sister, and I attend the candlelight Christmas service in Haddonfield. This is an old congregation, with a history dating back to 1721 – only 23 years after the country’s first Presbyterian church was established in Philadelphia. This congregation, though, dates its official founding in the late 1800s, after the Civil War.

The current sanctuary was built in 1906; parents grieving the loss of their son gave the funds as a memorial. They must have been fairly well off; the place is magnificent. It includes three large stained-glass Tiffany windows, a circular half-domed apse, and two side pulpits with a central altar table.

The service begins at 10:00 pm, and I estimate that there are perhaps 600 people attending. The sanctuary looks lovely, with candles, poinsettias, two large Christmas trees, and bell ringers standing against the walls. Lots of good music from the choir and the bell choir.

The meditation, “Out of the Depth,” is delivered by senior pastor Bill Getman. He notes that Mary’s labor brought peace to the world, and that peace is always born of travail.
The lights are dimmed, and the congregants’ candles are lit. This is such a pretty service.

Now, of course, we sing “Silent Night” – I have sung it often this year, but this is the one best time for this particular hymn. When the congregational singing ends, there is a brief violin solo.

And a benediction, and we walk out into the chilly December night.