Waiting candle ...

As the last hour of Christmas Eve moves towards midnight, as the rising wind shakes the trees and the rain moves in curtains across Kilbride Hill, the lights of Holy Trinity Church mark the place where the darkness cracks and something is about to happen. This candle in the porch lights the flaking stone wall beside the window, and beyond more candle-light illuminates the interior.

Shortly the first Eucharist of Christmas will begin with the Advent Song, quiet in the dark at the back of the church as Advent ends; more candles will spring to life, Once in Royal David's City will take us into Christmas. And afterwards, there will be meetings of old friends before we all vanish into the rain outside.

Outside, where the temperature is that of a spring night at 11º...