I finally posted the sermons for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A few observations:
First, I was and remain uneasy about the way I use ‘darkness’ on Christmas Eve. On the whole, I avoid any usage that might elide or ‘naturalise’ an equation of darkness (and heaven help us, especially b/Blackness) with evil. I usually substitute notions such as ‘gloom’ or ‘obscurity’ with no particular loss of metaphorical effect. For this sermon, though, focused on night-time, and on its characteristic chill, heightening of loneliness, and so on, I just couldn’t wring other words to do the work that ‘darkness’ does. I think I avoided pointing the words toward any easy association between night-time and evil (especially since that would be an uncommon usage for me, not something hearers would have expected) — but I don’t think I’m immune to criticism on this point, and will sit still, penitently, for a scolding.
Second, I don’t think I stuck the ending (as you might say) of Christmas Eve. It just didn’t feel like a closing cadence. I may be too fussy about that, though.
Third, I think the Christmas Day sermon may have worked, mechanically, much better.
They’re here (I mean, there) for you to judge for yourselves, though.