December 24 The Eve of Christmas

Sunday:  Since Christmas Eve fell on a Sunday this year, Calvary's Sunday service was geared around it with three identical services: 9AM, 10:45 and then 10PM. It's a candlelight service and I always love it. I attended the 10:45AM service. When I walked into the sanctuary, my neighbor Jackie was also walking in alone. She asked if we could sit together and I gladly agreed.

Andy led the worship with many Christmas carols, and the Christmas story was read intermittently from Scripture. Any children who were present in the service were given cool Christmas stickers that told the story of the birth of Christ and a special Nativity sheet on which to stick them. As we sang the carols with the words on the screen, each appropriate sticker would also be visualized so that the kids could place their stickers on the sheet right then. Later, all children, ages 12 and under were invited up to the front of the sanctuary for a special reading and greeting with one of our children's ministers. They were given special "fake" candles to hold, light, and hold high at the end.

Claire, one of the children's leaders was leading in worship and she invited all of the children to do the motions to "Go Tell it on the Mountain". She did such a great job leading them in worship. What a gifted young woman she is with children. It was so much fun to watch the kids (100+) all doing the motions together and singing loudly ... with such JOY.

Pastor Jim gave a "devotional" using a poinsettia to illustrate his message of a winter-bearing seed and blossom, how the seed is germinated and the length of time between planting and blooming (98 days!). This year, guess what day is exactly 98 days from Christmas Eve? Yes! Easter Sunday! Pastor's words were sweetly spoken about the preciousness of Christ's individual life, death and resurrection making it possible for His Light to rescue all who live in darkness (me!).

Pastor then took his one candle, lit it and then lit one candle in each section of the sanctuary. Those single candles went on to light each neighbor's candle (etc) until everyone in the church held a shining light. We raised them up in the darkened church and it was ... amazing ... gorgeous ... WONDERFUL!

Thank you, dear Jesus--Savior and Lover of my heart and soul--for making THE way for people like us to be healed, restored, forgiven, made NEW. You are a wonderful Savior.