Thursday, December 23, 2010

A Christmas Eve Memory...

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My favorite part of Christmas is going to church.

Not just church, but to the services where the candlelighting is done.

I was, at one time, a licensed minister. Actually, for about 20 years.

For a few of those years, I served as pastor of the local parish.

During our Christmas Eve candlelighting service, we would wait until after the sermon to light the candle, while at other services we would light it at the beginning of the service.

The CE service would start at 6:30. The church was lit subtly, the lights in the entry turned down, the ushers greeting people in the always cold and damp winter night air of Berkeley. There, people would be given a small candle for the service and ushered into the sanctuary and they would greet each other in hushed tones. People always decked out for the CE service.

So reverent!

The service would start, first with a carol, then the invocation, another carol following. The meditation would be given then a song from the choir. Brief announcements, then the sermon. A song would follow (we sang a lot!) and the ushers would turn down the lights very low.

All would rise. The candle at the podium would be lit and the candle lighter would say:

"This candle represents the light of the Spirit. That light which flames quietly, bringing a lifetime of contentment and the realization that nothing in this world is worth exchanging for it. As Jesus said, 'You are the light of the world. A city set on a hilltop cannot be hid, nor does a man light a candle and place it under a bushel, but puts it on a stand, where it may give light unto all who enter the house'. Let your Light so shine."

I had the pleasure of calling the ushers forward. I took my candle and lit it from the big candle. The ushers would offer their candles and I would light each, smiling and saying, "Merry Christmas. The Light of the Christ is within you."

The ushers turned and walked down the center aisle, offering their flame to the person sitting closest in the row and wishing them a soft 'Merry Christmas'. They would then turn and pass the flame down the row. One by one, the candles were all lit.

When the ushers got to the back of the sanctuary, the lights would be turned all the way down.

It was a magical sight to see so many candles burning, a soft glow coming from the congregation.

We would then sing Silent Night a Capella. All three verses!

"...sleep in Heavenly Peace...sleep in Heavenly Peace."

It was such a healing to look out at hundreds of people singing that song with One Voice.

At the end of the song, I would pause for just a few moments of quiet stillness.

Then, we would all sing, "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Jesus, Happy Birthday to you."

"Would you all make a wish and blow out your candle?" I would ask.

Laughter and merriment would ring out to the whooshing sound of hundreds of candles being blown out. The lights would come up and everyone was ecstatic and amused.

We would remain standing to receive the Benediction, the choir would lead a rousing rendition of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" as the ministers would proceed out. The congregation would follow and everyone would come to the Fellowship room where cake, coffee and a buffet of hearty food was awaiting all to partake.

God, I love Christmas Magic!
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