It was 2:00 p.m. pacific time on December 24th at the 2101 Building in Santa Monica, California. Folks were lined up around the corner, eagerly waiting to take their seats in the main ballroom for the John-Roger / John Morton Christmas Eve Seminar.

Upstairs, in a room far away from the crowds, technicians were busy connecting satellite and Internet listeners and viewers with the broadcast; there were people on-line and on-air from Ojai and Santa Barbara, CA, San Rafael, CA, Skokie, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Maryland, Jacksonville, FL, Australia, and a number of other locations.

To this observer, it was amazing to see how the children have grown, more handsome and more beautiful than ever before. Adults and children alike were fitted out in their holiday finery, and, in addition to the incessant and high-volume talking, the MSIA choir gathered on the upstairs landing, and laughed and sang their hearts out just prior to the beginning of the proceedings.

To start off the evening, Ariel Downs, Claire Donnelley Morton, Alia Koontz and Susan Frye sang a lovely, acapella song, which brought a sweet peace into the room.

John-Roger, in his usual and inimitable style, looking healthy and rested, began by reading a poem that touched our hearts, leaving everyone misty-eyed. Among other things, J-R told stories on himself, read from the “Disciples of Christ calendar,” and spoke of the gladness of the season, and the gratitude that goes with it.

Then John-Morton opened his portion of the evening by doing a baby blessing on Sophia Crenna, daughter of Alexandra and Richard Crenna. John talked about his upcoming trip to Pakistan in January, and about following the heart, and he said that it is time for all of us to answer the call, whatever that call is within us.

The evening closed with a variation on “Silent Night” by Ariel Downs, Susan Frye and Alia Koontz; then delicious refreshments were served in the lobby of the building, and everyone stayed to mingle with their friends and acquaintances, before hurrying home to await Christmas Eve, and the touching of Angels to the earth.

You can watch and/or listen to MSIA’s Christmas Eve Seminar online at http://www.msia.org/popup/xmas_eve.php.