Christmas Eve Celebration (Return of Light) – 1991

More radiant than the sun,
purer than the snow,
subtler than the ether,
is the Self,
the Spirit within my heart.
I am that Self;
that SELF am I.

We dedicate our life to Light,
to the light of Beauty,
to the light of Joy,
to the light of Freedom.
We dedicate our life
to Right Human Relations,
to Peace on Earth,
to the Glory of the Most High.
We greet each other
in the Light of Christ.

Beloved Lord,
Almighty God,
Through the rays of the sun,
Through the waves of the air,
Through the all-pervading Fire in space,
Purify me,
Revivify me,
And I pray,
Heal my body, heart, and mind.
Om.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace
Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing halleluia
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
(Author: Joseph Mohr (1818))

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
(Author: Phillips Brooks (1868))

Joy to the world; the Lord is come.
Let Earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns.
Our mortal songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
(Author: Isaac Watts (1719))

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels!
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!
(Author (attributed to): John Francis Wade; Translator: Frederick Oakeley (1841))

Love to all beings,
North, South, East, West,
above, below.
Love to all beings.

Compassion to all beings,
North, South, East, West,
above, below.
Compassion to all beings.

Joy to all beings,
North, South, East, West,
above, below.
Joy to all beings.

Serenity to all beings,
North, South, East, West,
above, below.
Serenity to all beings.

Lead us O Lord,
From darkness to Light,
From the unreal to the Real,
From death to Immortality,
From chaos to Beauty.