Just a Small Thing
by: Craig J. Sefa
Late one evening the week after Christmas in 2010, I sat with my guitar in the dark sanctuary of Springfield United Methodist Church (Springfield, KY) as the soft glow of street-lights reflected through the beautiful stained glass windows.
I was thinking about the amazing Christmas Eve Candlelight Service we had there only a few nights before, and the church-wide Christmas party afterward at one of the member’s homes. It was such a small gathering, maybe 20 or 30 people, but to this day it was one of the most special Christmas Eve nights I can remember.
Sometimes… maybe most of the time… it’s the small things that mean the most. That’s what this week’s song is all about. As with a number of my songs, I wrote “Just a Small Thing” sitting at that altar rail late at night. I was drawn to pray for all those who missed out on such a beautiful encounter with the Holy Spirit at that Christmas Eve Service.
There are of course a million reasons not to go to church on Christmas Eve. As a pastor I’ve heard them all. Usually it involves family being in town or being away at a family member’s home. Sometimes we’re just too busy or the weather is bad or we don’t like to drive in the dark.
For me and my family, however, the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is our one non-negotiable tradition… well actually one of three. We also have to bake my grandmother’s coffee cake which we always had as a birthday cake for Baby Jesus when I was a kid and there is the homemade Maryland Crab-cake dinner for Christmas Day [because I’m from Baltimore and good crab-meat is just too expensive to buy more than once a year :-)].
There is something about the Christmas Eve Service that sets the tone for the rest of the holiday. Yes, we are all busy. Yes, there are a million things to distract us. Yes, sometimes it’s cold or even rainy and we don’t like to drive in the dark. Yes, the kids will probably wake us up early on Christmas morning and we don’t want to be out too late. And yes, it may be that some family members won’t come and don’t understand why we’ve left their annual gathering for a few hours.
But honestly, if we set all of those excuses aside, can we think of a better place to be to celebrate the Light of the World entering into our darkness than a candlelit sanctuary singing Silent Night? It’s so much more than sentimentality or nostalgia. Through this small faithful act of worship we join with that small gathering of shepherds around a manger so long ago and that small thing becomes a celebration that spans the centuries and invites us into the eternal celebration of the angels’ songs… Glory Hallelujah, our Savior has come to us!
No matter what your plans this year for Christmas… no matter where you may be or who you may be with… please find a Christmas Eve Service somewhere. Take your friends and family with you if they will go. It may seem like such a small thing, but it just might have eternal worth.
(Just a Small Thing - Chord Sheet)
Just a Small Thing
Verse 1:
Just a small church in a small town
Sunset glows through the stained glass panes
Just a small congregation gathered
On an icy cold December day
How few will know the joy inside
The hope and love that burns so bright
By candlelight we sing our Savior’s birth
On this peaceful silent night
Chorus 1:
It’s just a small thing, unnoticed by the world
That God Himself, came to dwell on earth
But the people gathered to share a miracle
Just a small thing, Oh, of eternal worth.
Verse 2:
Just one small child in a small town
The stars of heaven sing His praise
Just a few lowly shepherds gathered
’Round this baby in the hay
How few will know the Joy He brings
Hope of earth, Incarnate Love
How many heard the angels’ sing
This child of Peace was born for all
Chorus 2:
It’s just a small thing, unnoticed by the world
That God Himself, came to dwell on earth
This baby boy, born to save our souls
Just a small thing, Oh, of eternal worth.
Bridge:
The great become small
The small become great
The foolish outshine the wise
The first shall be last
The last shall first
How such a small thing can turn the world
upside down
Chorus 1 & 2
If you are a musician and would like to play along, you can link to the chord sheet for “Just a Small Thing” here. These are free to copy for personal or public use in worship. I would only ask that you share with me how they are being used.
If you or someone you know would be interested in recording a more professional version of any of these songs, please contact me. I would love to work with you.