This season is one of many stories. Stories of light, stories of struggle,
stories of hope and transformation. As we approach the darkest time of
the year, we come together to celebrate not just the winter festivals of
light—Advent, Solstice, Hanukkah, and Christmas—but also the power
of the human voice to bring hope, to challenge injustice, and to ignite
change in the world.
*
The Christian Christmas story, we heard today from the writings of
Luke, begins with the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, a place of
deep spiritual significance but also one fraught with conflict. I visited
Bethlehem just before the lockdown, and I felt the tension in the streets,
the uneasy silence at the checkpoints, and the weight of history pressing
in on the present moment.

This year, as we hear news from Gaza, Syria, and Ukraine, we are
reminded of the darkness that still engulfs many parts of the world, but
especially the Middle East. Since the dreadful attacks on Israel by
Hamas, over 40,000 people have died in Gaza, the majority innocent
civilians, and war rages on in Ukraine, tearing lives apart. The darkness
of war casts a long shadow over the Holy Land and the world. There is
also conflict elsewhere, and political polarisation that brings challenging
uncertainty.

In such a world, where injustice and suffering seem overwhelming,
where does the light come from? How can we find hope? And how do
we use our voices to bring about change? The human voice has always
been a beacon of light—a call to truth, justice, and love. It is the voice
that sings songs of resistance and compassion, the voice that speaks out
against oppression, the voice that carries the message of peace.
In his poem Everyone Sang, Siegfried Sassoon captures the
transformative power of the human voice in the midst of horror.

He said:
“Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on—on—and out of sight.”

These words remind us that, even in the most oppressive of times, the
human spirit can break free. The song, the cry, the voice can rise above
the noise of destruction. And it is through this voice that we can find our
way out of darkness. It is the voice that brings light to the world.
But it’s more than that; we are reminded too of our own role. Building
on that last piece by Jodi Chen Hayashida, we are reminded of our
Unitarian Universalist covenant:
“Love is the Spirit of this Church, the quest for truth is its sacrament, and
service is its prayer. To dwell together in peace, to seek knowledge in freedom, to
serve humanity in harmony with the earth, thus do we covenant together.”
This is the promise we make to one another—to seek truth, to dwell
together in peace, and to serve the world with love. Our voices must be
the vehicle for this covenant. We must use our voices not only to speak
the Yet, even then, despite the power of the voice, we recognize that
words alone are not enough; action is needed to match our convictions.
*
This time of year is a time of song, and the swell of carols accompanied
by the organ is a well-rehearsed and recognised piece of that. On an
organ there is an organ stop known variously as the Vox Humana, the
Voix Humaine, or “Human Voice,” provides a fitting metaphor for the
role of the human voice in the world. When played, the Voix Humaine
stops all other sounds, rising above the noise of the organ’s other stops,
just as the human voice can rise above the chaos of the world. Amid the
busyness of life, the hustle of business itself,, and the terrifying din of
conflict, the voice can be a beacon, a clear and steady call for justice and
compassion. Like the Voix Humaine, we are called to use our voices to
pierce the noise of the world and to remind others of what is truly
important.
*
As we gather today, we turn to the candles of the season—symbols of
the light, and the solo voices, that we must carry into the world.
We have here nine candles – and a huge thank you to Karen for sourcing
these. Nine candles, as you would see in a Jewish menorah at the
coming time of Hannukah.

As in the Jewish traditions, each candle here represents a value, a
principle, that we must nurture and protect. As the candles are lit, these
lights remind us of the work ahead, the work of using our voices and
our actions to bring about change.

The Light of the Candles

So, I ask for our volunteers to begin by lighting the candles that
symbolize these values, values that are needed now more than ever.
And as they are lit, so too will we hear the human voice – the voice of
reflection, of guidance, of faith.

[JOY]
The first candle is for joy, the light that comes in the midst of struggle.
Despite all the pain and hardship in the world, there are moments of
joy—moments when love, laughter, and beauty break through. Perhaps
it’s a smile shared between friends or a quiet moment of peace. These
moments of joy remind us that light exists even in the darkest times.

[TRUTH]
The second candle is for truth, the light that reveals what is hidden. In a
world where truth is often distorted, where misinformation spreads like
wildfire, we must hold fast to the truth. The truth of the suffering in
Gaza, the truth of the struggles for justice in Ukraine and Syria, the truth
of the systems that perpetuate inequality and oppression. Truth is not
always easy, but it is always necessary.

[MORALITY]
The third candle is for morality, for the principles that guide us in
discerning right from wrong. Morality is the lens through which we see
the world, the light that helps us navigate the complexities of life. It calls
us to question the injustices around us and to act in ways that bring
about a more just and compassionate world.

[COURAGE]
The fourth candle is for courage, for the strength to stand in the face of
fear and uncertainty. Courage is required of us all, especially in times of
crisis. It takes courage to speak out against injustice, to challenge the
systems that perpetuate violence and inequality, and to act in ways that
bring about real change.

[FREEDOM]
The fifth candle is for freedom, for the right to live without oppression.
In Gaza, in Ukraine, in places where people are denied their basic
freedoms, we must hold this candle high. Freedom is not something to
be taken for granted, but something that must be protected and fought
for.

[FAITH]
The sixth candle is for faith, for the belief that there is a path forward,
even when we cannot see it. Faith is the trust that the work we do, the
voice we raise, and the light we carry will make a difference. Faith gives
us the strength to keep going in the face of adversity.

[HOPE]
The seventh candle is for hope, the bright light that shines in the
darkness. Hope is what sustains us when all seems lost. It is the belief
that things can change, that we can make a difference, and that love will
ultimately triumph over hate.
[LOVE]
The eighth candle is for love, the most powerful light of all. Without
love, all other lights are dim. Love is the force that connects us, that calls
us to serve one another, that propels us to act in the world. Love is the
reason we fight for justice, the reason we stand up for the oppressed,
and the reason we keep speaking out for what is right.

[GUIDING LIGHT]
Finally, we light the ninth candle, the guiding light that carries us
forward into the coming year. This light calls us to take the lessons of
this season with us, to let the light we have celebrated here today
continue to shine in our lives. As the shamash light of Hanukkah, it is
the light that guides our way and reminds us that the work is not over.

It is best this candle is lit by the future – the longer range future. And I
wonder if there are perhaps three children that might be able to light
this together?

It is only just beginning.