Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Introduction

For hundreds of years the people hoped for, prayed for, and waited for the promised Messiah, the one Isaiah spoke of:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel…The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as son the day of Midian…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  The zeal of the Lordof hosts will do this.”

Congregational Song: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

In His time, God fulfilled His promise:

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph (light Joseph candle) also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary (light Mary candle), his betrothed wife, who was with child.”

Congregational Song: “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

“And while they were in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her firstborn Son (light Jesus candle), and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Congregational Song: “Mary, Did You Know?”

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night (light Shepherd candles).”

Congregational Song: “The First Noel”

“And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel (light the tallest candle) said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For there is born to you this day in the city of Davida Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host (light angel candles as narrator continues reading) praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’”

Congregational Song: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

“The shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

Congregational Song: “Go, Tell It On The Mountain”

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, (light wise men candles) "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

Congregational Song: “We Three Kings”

And behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Congregational Song: “O Holy Night”

The wise men were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod, so they went back to their own country by a different route. (extinguish wise men candles)

And the shepherds went back to the fields, glorifying and praising God for everything they had seen and heard. (extinguish shepherds candles)

And the angels returned to heaven. (extinguish angels candles)

And years later, Mary and Joseph, being flesh and bone, came to the end of their earthly lives. (extinguish Mary & Joseph candles)

But the Light that began in Bethlehem was life.  And this life was the light of men.  The Light that still shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

One small light in a world of darkness.  Yet, Jesus light shines in the darkness as a beacon.

By itself, this light holds great power in that it breaks through the darkness.

But the light was never intended to stand alone.  As each one of us receive the light, we also can shine before men.  (use the Jesus candle to light one candle on each side of the sanctuary) And as we share that light, darkness grows faint and the light shines before all people.

Piano plays while candles are being lit: “Silent Night”

Pastor Ben shares closing comments and a prayer.

Philippians 2:1–11 “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Congregational Song: “Joy to the World”