‘Twas the Saturday after Epiphany…Conclusion

She worked and she fiddled,

she wrangled and wiggled

those wicks, but still nothing!

And a few people giggled.

Then laying a finger upside of her nose,

and the lighter at a new angle I suppose,

from two candles, two flames, they arose!

But one soon went out —

one fizzle, no shout.

Once joyous, the Wreath

seemed a circle of grief.

So going ahead, what else could we do?

God still blessed the service, the time it just flew.

When all was quite finished,

came Judy and Larry, as ready as ever,

to straighten things out;

they’re both very clever.

The wicks were just fine,

the trouble was deeper:

Something so simple

’twas really a sleeper.

These candles were covered

and spring-loaded, too,

so that when they’d burned down,

they’d always look new.

But there does come a time

when the candle’s all gone,

with nothing for the flame

left to build upon.

That time had now come,

’twas naught to be done,

but refill the space

with another new one.

Now ready for next year,

the Wreath it doth wait,

while people in pews, and pastors alike,

know someday ours will be the same fate.

We want to give light while now we still can,

each youth and each child, each woman and man.

Yet there will come a day

when our light goes away,

our flame lit no more.

Something new, something better in store:

like those candles, replaced,

we’ll find ourselves even more graced,

with the promise and joy

from the Bethlehem Boy,

of no darkness ever:

just Christ’s light

and love which

nothing

can sever.