By Pastor Lois Van Veer

In the 1800s, the celebration of Christmas, a holiday ignored by conservative Christians as not being “biblical," and by industrialists who did not want to pay laborers for a day off, was slowly making a resurgence on both sides of the Atlantic.

Some would attribute its revival to the publication of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in 1843. At the time, Dickens was a practicing Unitarian who adhered to "the teaching of the New Testament in its broad spirit."

The overriding message of A Christmas Carol was not so much religious as it was the “regenerative spirit of generosity.” He would write four other Christmas novels but none of them would have the impact upon the meaning and practice of Christmas in the English-speaking world as A Christmas Carol.

Contemporary Unitarian Universalists approach Christmas much the same way that Dickens did: as a time of generosity and caring for those who are hurting and in need. Like many other faith communities during this season, we collect food for the food banks, bake treats for animals at the shelters, cook food that can be distributed to the homeless, purchase presents for Hopelink, collect mittens, warm hats and scarves for children in need as well as continue to pack backpacks for the Totes to Tots program.

Because UU’s are a religiously diverse group, we honor not only the Christian tradition at this time of year but the Pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice as well as Hanukkah. This year, we will host a Solstice candlelight labyrinth walk on Dec. 20. This evening, Dec. 21, we will gather for a Hanukkah ritual and lighting of the menorah and a potluck meal.

On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, we will have a very “traditional” service of scripture readings and the singing of Christmas carols and hymns. On Christmas Day we will have a service of Christmas and winter stories, music, the sharing of Christmas memories and the sipping of hot cocoa.

Much of how today’s UU’s celebrate Christmas has to do with sentiment and tradition. The music and stories are so much a part of the secular and religious culture we live in. There are those among us who approach the holiday with a grounding in Christian faith. There are those among us who have fond memories of Christmas’s past but no faith attachment to the Christmas story. There are those among us who approach this time as the culmination of Pagan, Jewish, and Christian celebrations of the miracle of light in winter’s darkness. There are those of us who approach it with wonder, awe and a sense of Mystery. UU’s claim no particular “truth” about Christmas but rather respect and affirm each individual’s truth about Christmas.

Peace on earth, goodwill toward all in this season of the inbreaking of light.