As a lector at St. Mark’s in Mystic, it was my honor to read the prophecy from Isaiah at the Christmas Eve service several years ago.

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…”

As I stood in the pulpit I noticed Ivan, one of my seventh grade students, sitting in the congregation. I didn’t recall ever having seen him in church before, but on Christmas Eve many unfamiliar faces are in the pews.

When school resumed after the holidays Ivan spoke to me as he was coming into the classroom. “That was a pretty good speech you made on Christmas Eve in church.”

I replied, “Thank you, but you know I didn’t write it.”

“Oh,” he said, “I didn’t know that.”

Robert F. Welt of Mystic is a retired longtime teacher in Groton Public Schools.