Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 2006

Last night we held our 3rd Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (we have done one every year except last year), and we had about 110 people attend - it was good. You know, I never know exactly how those kinds of events will come off, but it came off well. I was reminded in a very touching way how incredibly evangelistic and Christ-filled Christmas is, and why the world fights it so much.

Maybe that sounds like a "duh" statement coming from a minister, but the traditional Christmas carols are inundated with the Gospel message - Hark the Herald Angels, O Holy Night, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, etc. Fitting songs such as these fit into our praise and worship fairly easily, although they take work since we only sing them during one season of the year. But it is no wonder than anti-Christian people would find Christmas so offensive as it is so powerfully evangelistic - talking about Immanuel - God with us - and receiving Him.

And as we had many visitors in the service last night, I had the strangest thought for just a moment - that maybe I had designed the service to be a little too Christian - I thought maybe the non-Christian visitors would be slightly uncomfortable. And then I came to my senses, as I thought to myself, "You know what? We can go anywhere else and not get the message right! We can go to school productions, theater events, movies, TV and get the watered-down or wrong messages about Christmas. As the pastor of a growing, vibrant church, I had better get the message right!" - and so that passing thought was gone - "I don't receive that!"

And when we lit the candles near the end of the service and sang How Great is Our God - it was phenomenal! The lyrics say, He wraps Himself in light and darkness tries to hide and trembles at His voice...it was amazing to be part of a crowd of worshippers singing this as we held our lights, knowing that He is the Light of the world that pushes away the darkness of sin and death, and we are His lights, bringing the good news of peace to everyone.

There were a few times last night when we sang a cappella (without instruments) on Joy to the World and O Come All Ye Faithful, and the congregational singing was incredible! It was like directing a large choir, as harmonies rang out and I was overjoyed to hear such an incredible voice of people praising God.

After everyone had gone, as I shut off the lights in the building, I thought back to 2003 and our first Candlelight Service - small, intimate (30 people?), and not planning to have to read without the lights on (I read by candelight at one point, and quoted from memory at another point) - and as I stood in the darkened sanctuary for a minute, I thanked God for how far He has brought us in just three short years.

And so today, Christmas Day, as I have had the chance to sit back and ponder last night, and open gifts from so many wonderful church members, I just thank God for the Gift of His Son, a Gift too wonderful for words, and thank God for the wonderful people that I have the joy of ministering to and serving God with...