Candlelight Service 2023

1800 Opening Music (Mike and Loriann Overlin)

1805 Welcome/Invocation (Chaplain Godley)

1810 Lighting of Advent Candles – Meaning “The Advent of Our Lord” (Chaplain Godley)

During Advent, we prepare ourselves spiritually for the anniversary of Christ's birth. The Advent candles are a reminder of God’s promise to us of salvation through Christ. Four Sundays that lead up to Christmas remind us of Christ and the virtues of hope, peace, joy and love that He brought us.

In some traditions, the first candle (usually purple) represents God’s forgiveness of man’s sins symbolizing a shining light—the hope and anticipation of the coming of Christ.

The second candle (white) presents purity, peace, and justice brought to the world by Christ and His sinlessness.

The third candle (pink) represents joy calling to mind the joy of the shepherds on the first Christmas eve as we celebrate the birth of Christmas.

The fourth candle (also purple) reminds us of the royalty of Christ as “King of Kings” and to remind us of the Holy Family’s Bethlehem experience. It also calls to mind His love for us.

- https://www.artzabox.com/a/answers/christian-faith/what-is-the-meaning-behind-each-of-the-four-advent-candles

1815 Offering & Song – Congregation “Go Tell It On the Mountain” (Led by Mike Overlin)

1820 Scripture Reading (Bill Sims)

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

1823 Song – Congregation “Joy to the World” (Led by Mike & Loriann Overlin)

1820 Sermonic Scripture Reading (Luke 1:26-38) (Bill, Holly and Lisa Sims)

1828 Message - “And What Shall We Call Him?” (Chaplain Godley)

1840 Blue Christmas Prayer/Lighting of the Blue Candle (Chaplain Lee and Nehemiah Lee)

Prayer: God of mercy, hear our prayer in this Advent season for ourselves, and for our families and friends who live with the struggles of illness and the pain of loss. We ask for strength for today, courage for tomorrow, and peace for the past. We ask these things in the name of Christ, who shares our life in joy and sorrow, death and new birth, despair and promise. Amen.

1845 Scripture Reading (2 Corinthians 4:6, 2 Samuel 22:29) (Scott and Yolanda Weber)

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Samuel 22:29 (NIV)

29 You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.

1848 Song – “Mary, Did You Know?” (Led by Mike Overlin)

1850 Communion (Chaplain Godley)

1855 Lighting of Congregational Candles (Scott and Yolanda Weber)

1858 Song – Congregation “Joy to the World” (Led by Mike Overlin)

1900 Benediction (Chaplain Godley)