The End of a Northern Nativity?

   

No crowded eastern street, no sound of passing feet;

far to the left and far to right

the prairie snows spread fair and white;

yet still to us is born tonight

the child, the King of glory.

2 No rock-hewn place of peace shared with the gentle beasts, 

but sturdy farm house, stout and warm,

with stable, shed, and great red barn;

and still to us is born tonight

the child, the King of glory.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3: 16-17 NRSVue 

The long-suffering readers of my blog will know that I love the almost folk art paintings of the late William Kurelek, a Canadian artist who created meaningful images of the Christmas story in his Northern Nativity series. The complement to these paintings is my favourite Canadian carol, No Crowded Eastern Street, with words by Frieda Major (1958) later set to music (1970) by Robert Fleming. 

Both the paintings and the hymn offer ways to see and hear the story that are unique to our Canadian context. Except that in many respects they don't anymore. In my lifetime we've gone from a white Christmas to just dreaming of one. No matter what deniers and shovel-phobic people may say, the end of seasonal snow and cold is a clear sign of climate change, and I find it obvious. This past week marked a record low snow cover across our "land of the frozen North". It's as though we've set our vast nation to defrost. 

We'll be in church on this Christmas Eve but I got out early with family members for a bit of a ramble early on this morning. It was mild and snowless and the river we walked alongside was ice-free. I loved the outdoor time with those I love, and tried not to be overwhelmed with dread for our grandchildren. 

I wonder if the Kurelek paintings and the lovely carol should become icons or mantras for our resolve to honour the Creator, the God who loved the world so much that he/she/they joined us in it for the salvation of all that lives. 

The peace and courage of Christ be with us all, eh? 

3 No blaze of heavenly fire, no bright celestial choir,

only the starlight as of old,

crossed by the planes' flash, red and gold;

yet still to us is born tonight

the child, the King of glory.

4 No kings with gold and grain, no stately camel train:

yet in his presence all may stand

with loving heart and willing hand;

for still to us is born tonight.