Christmas Eve Candle Light Service – Follow Up
The Church Growth Consulting site has had a lot of response to our article on Christmas Eve Candle Light services. There have been emails asking for more information on how to actually strcuture a candle light service. Here is how we normally structure our Christmas Eve services:
As people come in they are handed a candle which should already have the drip protector in place. We welcome everyone and then we usually do our music program. Christmas songs, a couple of specials, some little things by the children, etc. We usually do a short message about the reason for the season and then we begin the candle lighting. (When I finish the message I give instructions for candle lighting) What people need to know is that once a candle is lit it needs to be held straight so that wax doesn’t drip on their skin. When someone is lighting a candle they will put their unlit candle on a ninety degree angle into a lit candle. Once their candle is lit they hold it straight up. A lit candle should never be turned sideways! Also, they need to be careful not to light the hair of the person in front of them on fire, this can happen).
When you are ready for the candle lighting, get your room as dark as possible. Light one candle at the front of the church. From that one candle have your ushers each turn their candle into the one candle that is lit and light their candles. Have them go to the first chair of each row and have the person in the first chair turn their candle into the ushers candle (Remember, the lit candles are always held straight) then the person in the second chair will turn his candle into the lighted candle of the person in the first chair, etc. The ushers then move on to the next row and do the same thing, lighting the candle of the person in the first chair, who then lights the candle of the person in the second chair and so on. As more and more candles are lit the sanctuary will become very bright. The analogy is that Jesus is the light of the world and as we spread the light it overcomes darkness. We usually sing a song called “Light of the World” or “Silent Night” during the candle lighting. We don’t make people hang on the to lit candles for more than about five minutes. Once all the candles are lit you may want to invite the people to stand and sing a final chorus of whatever song you have been singing. It is really a remarkable sight.
Over the years we have come up with a way to blow the candles out. It is kind of “hoakie” but the people seem to enjoy it. We close our service by singing Happy Birthday” to Jesus and then everyone blows out their candle. Make sure you have someone standing by the light switch to turn the lights back on! We pray that you will have a great service!
