Chapter 7: Silent Night
Citizens of Hope Valley approached the little white church as dusk fell across the mountains. Candles in mason jars burned along the freshly shoveled path to the church steps lighting the walkway. Fiona and Faith stood at the doors greeting families as they came in and handed each adult a long candlestick to be lit during worship. Oil lamps burned at their lowest inside the church windows creating a quiet and sacred feeling in the air as the congregation sat in families in their normal pews.
Their voices remained hushed as more families came in, dressed in their best. Sarah Wolf leaned out of her pew watching the sheep and cow intently—hoping to catch an early glimpse of her big brother.
The church was beautifully decorated with pine and fir wreaths hanging in the windows. Spruce garlands hung by red ribbons across the center aisles of the pews—bringing a fresh evergreen scent of the outdoors to the inside. The floors were dusted with hay that the sheep seemed to be enjoying thoroughly at the front of the church. Between the animals, the evergreens, and the hay, the church was transformed from a country church to a stable.
The church doors closed and Joseph rose to the pulpit inviting the congregation to stand for worship. Angela, dressed in a white robe with a golden halo crowned on her head, played the opening chords of "O' Come All Ye Faithful." The townspeople stood with each family. They quietly lit their candles—which created a soft glow lighting their faces as they sang together the familiar carol.
The music changed to "O' Little Town of Bethlehem" as the church doors opened again, and Nathan and Elizabeth entered in robes and veil dressed as Mary and Joseph leading a donkey. Nathan flushed crimson as all eyes turned to him and his wife. Sensing his trepidation, Elizabeth squeezed his hand and tugged it slightly. It worked. Bringing him back into the moment with her, it effectively shut the rest of the world back out. His eyes returned to hers alone as they continued forward.
Reaching the front of the church, Elizabeth took her seat on the right side of the manger while Nathan tied the donkey to a nearby desk hidden just off stage. Managing an animal of that size was second nature by now, and Nathan was grateful to step out of the limelight momentarily before returning to his wife's side.
As the carol ended, Joseph returned to the pulpit and invited everyone to turn to the passage from Isaiah. "Good evening and Merry Christmas to you all."
Joseph smiled out at the congregation he loved so much. So many were gathered that the pews were filled. A few men even stood along the back wall to make more room in the pews for the women and younger children who were too young still to participate in the nativity.
"Tonight's message comes from Isaiah chapter nine and the Christmas carol it inspired: 'What Child Is This?' This carol poses a question that we all must ask in our lifetime among many other questions. Who is this child? Why did he come? And what does it mean for me?"
Joseph paused as he let the weight of his questions sink in. "God first told of this child to a young woman named Mary when the angel Gabriel appeared to her one day."
An awkward pause stretched out before Rosemary loudly cleared her throat from the front row. The church door opened again to reveal Mike Hickam. He was dressed in a long white robe with a golden sash draped from his shoulder to his hip. His gold halo identically matched the little girls that followed behind him down the aisle in matching robes.
Mike's face flushed every shade of red as his eyes flitted from person to person in the congregation, seeking out a friendly face. He found it in Fiona—whose compassionate eyes spoke volumes in understanding how he felt. He took a half breath in relief before recognizing the face next to hers as Katie Yost, who must have returned to Hope Valley for Christmas with her father. She was more beautiful than he had remembered, and Katie's eyes turned from Fiona to Mike. Their eyes locked. Mike froze with an open-mouthed stare as his heavenly host continued on past him. He forgot to breathe. A pretty blush crept across Katie's cheeks—though she didn't look away.
Another loud throat clearing from Rosemary broke the spell, and he raised his trumpet, as rehearsed, and played a simple bugle call to announce his presence.
As a last minute addition to the nativity play, Rosemary had managed to quickly sew a robe and sash for Hickam. Until this moment, it wasn't obvious that she had forgotten to sew the sleeves closed. It wouldn't have been a big deal, had Hickam not raised his arms to play the trumpet and revealed his completely exposed upper arms subtly flexing as he played his instrument.
Katie noticed, as did most of the young women in Hope Valley. There was more than one pew whispering and elbowing amongst themselves at the new revelation. Hickam was too embarrassed to be mirroring the young girls' appearance to notice the definite masculine difference he had just displayed to the valley.
Hickam reached the front of the church and stood next to Elizabeth when he recited a bit shakily, "Don't be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God! …You will.. conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus….He will be very great and will be called…the Son of the Most High."
Joseph managed to hold back his amusement at the rapt attention Mike Hickam suddenly commanded. Hickam looked nervous for a moment before awkwardly looking to Rosemary and walking off to the side with his little angels standing behind him.
Joseph continued, "The carol states, 'What child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?' To help set the scene, Rosemary has enlisted some help."
Angela played, "Away in a Manger," and the church doors opened again while several young boys entered the church dressed as shepherds with staffs. A few of the older boys herded a pair of sheep towards the front with only one short stop midway down the aisle before Jack produced a handful of hay that thankfully nudged the sheep forward. The shepherds took their places to the right side of Elizabeth and Nathan.
Angela played the opening chords of "What Child Is This?" as her father continued.
"The carol continues, 'This, this is Christ the King whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring him laud, the Babe, the son of Mary."
Allie confidently stepped forward and loudly addressed the audience as the tallest female angel, "For a child is born to us, a son is given. The government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
She approached Lee in the front row and he proudly handed Patrick over to her. The baby boy was swaddled tightly in a timeless beige colored blanket—peacefully slumbering. Allie turned and presented Patrick to her mother who cradled him tightly to her. Nathan winked at his daughter, proud of her public speaking these days.
Rosemary stood from the front row wearing a fitted long sleeved crimson colored dress that gathered at the shoulders. It had a black lace overlay at the skirt with a thick black ribbon that tied around the back. Her blonde curls cascaded down across her shoulder as she held baby Evelyn who was swaddled in a lacy cream blanket—sleeping soundly in the warmth of her mother's arms.
She stood to the left of Nathan and Elizabeth with little angels—and one rather large one—standing to her back. Waiting for Angela to circle back with the melody to the first verse, she smiled broadly before singing.
"What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary."
Rosemary nodded to Joseph, and he started speaking again as Angela continued to play softly, "nails, spear shall pierce Him through. The cross be borne for me for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh. The Babe, the Son of Mary." He gestured to Nathan and Elizabeth holding baby Patrick.
"This baby is no ordinary baby. He is the Word made flesh. The Creator—the very hands that made you are the very hands that saved you. This is the God that loves you. He sent His only Son to bear your cross to pay a debt that you could never pay to redeem you to Himself. Because that is how much He loves you. He came to Earth in the flesh as a baby so he could live our very human experience even to death for a crime that he didn't commit. Because you are worth it to Him. And what does He ask of you?"
Joseph nodded to Rosemary and she prepared to sing cradling her baby girl close to her. Angela returned to the next verse on the piano, and Robert, Cooper, and Timmy approached from behind the desks dressed in robes and crowns as the three wisemen. Each boy stepped forward and presented their gift and laid them at the foot of the manger.
"So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary."
Rosemary looked to Joseph who repeated, "Let loving hearts enthrone Him.' That's it. He did the work to bring you the greatest gift of all—the gift of salvation. But as the King of kings, He deserves the throne of your heart. Coming to church won't save you. Talking about God won't save you. Christ alone saves you and invites you into relationship with Him. Don't let this Christmas pass you by. Make the Lord Himself the lord of your life. Follow Him and let Him determine your steps. I will be standing off to the side as we worship and sing these next Christmas carols. If this message about making Jesus the Lord of your life speaks to you, please come and talk to me and I can help answer any questions and help you take your next step."
Rosemary held one arm out inviting people to stand and sing along as the children joined in repeating the first verses of "What Child Is This?"
The music changed to "The First Noel" as families and children sang out—their voices echoing from the walls. Hickam even joined in at the chorus playing his trumpet—much to the delight of the young women present.
Angela continued to play on, melding the tune into "O Holy Night," and the townspeople sang together with one voice in the flickering candlelight.
Patrick started to stir and Elizabeth handed him off to her husband, who stood and rocked him as he sang—his rich tenor soothing the little boy back to sleep.
The picture of Elizabeth playing Mary with her rounded stomach sitting near Nathan in the role of Joseph was fitting. Elizabeth, a woman who had experienced being pregnant and alone, and Nathan a man who understood what it was like to raise another man's son. The picture of these two became vividly clear from the pages of scripture to tonight in the flesh.
This was Christmas. One little family thousands of years ago boldly raising the Savior of the world. The King of kings was a baby born not in a palace, or even in an inn room, but in a humble stable.
The music finally ended and Joseph returned to the pulpit thanking everyone for coming and inviting everyone to stay for Christmas cookies that Bill had donated from the Cafe. Families started to stand when the little voice of Sarah Wolf rang out, "Santa?!"
Following her wide-eyed point, revealed the man in the big red suit slipping into the church doors. Angels and shepherds alike swarmed the center aisle, and they surrounded the man as he encountered waves upon waves of hugs from the children. The man's eyes glistened as he gently held each child and spoke with them quietly.
Rosemary nodded approvingly from the front of the church catching his eye. His cheeks grew rosy—evident from the top of his wooly white beard.
Nathan and Elizabeth quickly gathered their children and returned Patrick to his eagerly awaiting father. Jack pulled Nathan gently forward hoping for his turn with Santa. Elizabeth glanced at Rosemary in a silent question.
Rosemary smiled and mouthed, "Henry," nodding Santa's direction. Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears remembering the somber scene last night at his cabin. From the sight of him tonight, he was certainly a different Henry now.
Rosemary whispered in Elizabeth's ear, "He found me this afternoon and asked for the suit. I have asked him every year, but this year he decided to embrace Christmas and join the community. I don't know what changed his mind, but I think that this is a very sweet way for him to do that. If anyone needs that many hugs tonight, it's him." Rosemary smiled as she watched Henry surrounded by the children. She swayed gently with Evelyn, who looked up at her mother, and blinked her long eyelashes.
Reaching the center of the church, Grace, William, Theodore, and Marguerite were surrounded by well-wishers who had recognized them from the wedding. Grace turned in time to see the Grants coming and hugged Allie. "You spoke so well, Darling! You make a beautiful angel."
William smiled down at his grandson who only had eyes for Santa Claus—gently shaking the little shepherd's shoulder. "Good thinking with the pocketful of hay Jack."
Jack smiled up at him before gazing longingly again at the man in red. "Fanks!"
William winked at Nathan, "better get that boy to Santa Claus."
"I'll try!" Nathan laughed in response as Jack gently tugged his arm again trying to get closer through the crowd.
"You made a beautiful Mary, Elizabeth. I'm glad that we got to see this tonight." Grace held Elizabeth's elbow tenderly—afraid to ask for a hug from her daughter.
"Thank you for being here, Mother. It was nice to see all of your faces in our family pew." She leaned forward and initiated a hug which Grace happily received with an inaudible sigh.
A strong thump broke the two apart as Grace jumped back in surprise. "Oh, was that…?"
"That's your newest grand baby. He or she is a very strong little one." Elizabeth smiled as she rubbed the spot where the kick landed. "You can still feel them poking out a bit. Would you like to feel that, Mother? Father?"
"More than anything." Grace whispered as she took Elizabeth's hand and let her guide her hand to the baby's protruding bump. "Oh William, you should feel this…our grandchild." Grace's words were filled with wonder.
William smiled feeling the little lump on his daughter's stomach. "It's incredible, Beth." He moved his hand to his daughter's face cradling her cheek gently. "Thank you."
Jack and Nathan pulled past Hickam who was reintroducing himself to Katie Yost at Fiona's insistence—despite his angelic apparel. Though he only caught a moment of the conversation, Nathan recognized the familiar scrambling for words that he had long-experienced with Elizabeth and sympathized with him.
Only a few children stood between Jack and Santa, and Jack could hardly contain himself. At last it was his turn, and Jack practically leaped into the older man's arms. Henry's eyes glistened as he looked up at Nathan—whose eyes finally recognized the man in red.
"Nice suit." Nathan wryly quipped.
"Nice robe." Henry teased back.
Nathan's smile grew remembering his own apparel. He was glad to see Henry here among the children.
"What would you like for Christmas young man?" Henry asked Jack in his jolliest tone.
Jack deadpanned in complete seriousness. "A bruver."
Nathan and Henry both froze at the request each eyeing the other for help.
Nathan recovered first, "Now Jack, Santa can't promise a brother or a sister this Christmas and it's too early for your mama to deliver anyway…"
"Not now…I want my bruver when he is borned." Jack tried to reason with the two.
Henry sighed—this kid wasn't budging.
"Jack, Santa can't decide to make this baby a boy or a girl. The Lord has already decided that, remember?" Nathan coaxed.
"Yeah. Well…den a horsey iss good."
Nathan and Henry both let out a breath.
"I'll see what I can do Jack." Henry looked up nervously at Nathan as he set Jack back down. "You got any of those?" Henry whispered hoarsely in his ear.
"Thankfully. I've been carving a whole regiment of Mounties and horses this year for him."
The two men shared a laugh when the church door opened with more families leaving which revealed a spontaneous snowball fight happening between fathers and shepherds.
"Daddy! Wets go! Pweeease?!"
Nathan turned to Elizabeth. His eyes communicated his dilemma. She nodded her approval and the two took off heading outside while Allie trailed behind. Henry greeted another angel waiting her turn.
Families steadily poured out the church doors when Elizabeth remembered her heavy shawl near the manger. She released her parents to go witness the snow fight while Theodore and Marguerite hung back at the door to assist her down the steps.
Grabbing her shawl, Elizabeth turned back around and walked the aisle that she had once walked with her husband Jack. So much had changed in the valley since his passing, but she knew that he would be proud of her and the family that she had built.
Flying snow out the window caught her eye, and she paused for a moment peering through the frosted church window at her husband and children playing in the snow with laughter abounding. Her parents stood at the base of the steps delighted with the same scene. Marguerite and Theodore stood on the top step—always her support and it was clearly no different today.
Henry stood in the church yard with a handful of cookies greeting young families. He had a smile that Elizabeth hadn't seen in the many years she had known him. Christmas had come early bringing hope and joy to all in the valley.
A/N:
Merry Christmas Lauralyn elizabethB88 ! This was such a fun story to write and I absolutely loved that you picked a carol that inspired a Grant pregnancy. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I had you in mind with each frosting opportunity that presented. ;)
If you haven't yet, please check out the story Lauralyn wrote for me. O Holy Night: A Collection of Christmas Vignettes. It's a look at 8 Christmases with the Grant family and it is so fun to watch their family rapidly grow! (How could they not with that chemistry?!)
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you readers! Thanks for encouraging me along on my writing journey. Y'all are an incredible community.
Since I mentioned these stories are linked, the order at the moment is: But Now I See, then What Child Is This?, and finally You'll Always Be My Little Girl. So you can jump forward and backwards in the family timeline. Kinda fun. :)
*Joseph's sermon is based off of Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT (Allie quotes it as well)
**Hickam quotes Luke 1:30-32a NLT