“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and they were terrified.”

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'”

Luke 2:9, 13-14 ( NIV )

Time: December 24, 1979
Place: Canisteo UMC, Canisteo, NY

Our family left early (6pm) for Christmas eve service because our choir was performing a cantata and I was singing. It started to snow just before we left home, so while the road had just a dusting of snow, it was easily traveled.

The service that evening was beautiful. Poinsettias covered the dais, with multi-level triangles on each side pointing to the cross. The cantata was inspiring. Even though we had been practicing for months, the words and music seemed to come to life. Everyone was touched.

At the conclusion of the cantata, the choir recessed down the center aisle to the back of the church with our lighted candles, where we joined the congregation in singing Silent Night. At the end of the song there was a silence that seemed to last an unusually long time before people began stirring to leave. Because I was near the entrance to the church and was curious as to how much snow had fallen, I opened the door to look out. I was treated to a most beautiful winter scene. The street lights displayed the very large snow flakes falling softly, but rapidly.

In the period of a couple of hours since we had left home, it snowed nearly eight inches. Looking out that door and seeing not a track - human , animal, or vehicle - and all the pristine snow and complete silence after a moving service, was like being handed a special blessing from the hand of God. That experience still has the power today to move me to tears. I have never forgotten the moment God put his hand on my head and whispered to me that this was His gift to me - all as I stood beneath the stoop of the church entrance.

This is the first time I've attempted to put this experience into words, and I realize how much I think back to that night and relive that special time. You see, that was the night I was touched by the hand of God, and I really felt Him touch me.

PENNY BANGS