When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” …John 8:12 (NIV)
I just got home for our little church’s yearly Candlelight Service. While most churches that have a Candlelight Service do so on Christmas Eve, we decided any time would be a good time to remember the Light of the World, Jesus. Our former pastor, Br. Knickerbocker, who no longer has need of candles since he is in heaven now with the light of Jesus, started the tradition of having Candlelight Communion many years ago. I would guess as many as 25 years, but I can’t say for sure. At any rate, our church is continuing the tradition with our new pastor, Br. Rice.
I have always thought Christmas Candlelight Services are especially joyful and meaningful. Back before my mother got ill, I would sometimes go enjoy Candlelight Service at her church in town. That service was especially beautiful since it started at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. You picked up a candle on the way into church and then because there was always good attendance, someone would come down the aisle to the end of each pew and light the first person’s candle. Then that person would pass the light (or flame) on to the next person and on until everyone in the church had a lit candle. The church lights would go off and the service would continue with songs, Scripture, and sharing of the Lord’s Supper. On the dot of midnight, the people silently left the church, extinguishing their candles in the foyer before they went outside. All the while, the church bells would be striking the midnight hour. The sound of the tolling of the hour and the holy silence that surrounded the people encouraged a profound feeling of worship.
Our Candlelight Service wasn’t like that. Our pastor read the Christmas story from the Bible and shared other words of joy, and we sang those old familiar Christmas carols. We did light our individual candles from the one candle that represented Christ. Then we turned out the lights and shared the beauty of our lit candles and considered how each of us could let our light, given to us by Jesus, shine out into the world.
You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. …Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
We had a small group tonight, but we listened and sang and worshipped. Then we enjoyed some applie cider, hot chocolate, and of course, a few Christmas cookies.
I tried to find some history of Candlelight Services online, but found that we have a variety of thougths about these services and what they mean. Perhaps candles are so universal and have always been a part of worship from the times when people found their way to worship places with torches and lanterns. Once there, those altars were lit by candles. A candle can penetrate the darkness and give light to our world. Indeed, we can push back the darkness of the world by sharing our light given to us by the Lord.
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 Corinthians 4:6 (NIV)
Have you ever attended a Candlelight Service? Or have you ever known someone whose light brightened your world?
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I’ve taken my characters to church in some of my stories, but never to a Candlelight Service. Perhaps an idea for the future.
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I have never been to one. Our daughter was born on Christmas Eve so we celebrate her birthdays only that day. I remember holding her in my arms on Christmas morning as nurses caroled up and down the hallways. Too bad they can’t still do it!
I have never been to one. Sounds beautiful! Our daughter was born on Christmas Eve a little before 12 pm So we celebrate just her birthday that day. I remember holding her in my arms as nurses were caroling up and down the hallways. So beautiful and such a special memory!
Author
What a beautiful memory, Shari. I can only imagine how great that was as you held your newborn baby and the nurses were singing about Jesus as a newborn. I hope you have a great day celebrating your daughter again this year. Happy birthday to her and Merry Christmas to you.
Attending the Candlelight Service has been a part of my life since I was six years old and it was always at 11:00 PM. In later years our church had two services. One at 6:00 and one at 11:00. When the lights were extinguished and the candles lit we always sang Silent Night and then left the church in reverent silence. I love Candlelight Service. It’s my favorite service of the season.
Author
Sounds as though your church had a similar way of conducting the service as my mother’s church, Linda. What a treasure to have so many great memories of such services with loved ones and friends through the years! Thank you for sharing your experience with Candlelight Services.
Yes, I have attended candlelight services associated with Christmas celebrations at several churches to which we have belonged over the years. They are such a special and memorable way to share the real message of Christmas, which you so clearly described in your post. I especially like sense of peace and worship in these services that focus on God’s gift to us, our unity with fellow believers, and our personal challenge to be God’s lights in our homes and communities.
Author
I like your description of these services, Roberta. God’s gift to us. Unity with fellow believers. The challenge to be a light to the world around us. We are blessed here in America to have the freedom to worship as we wish.
I have always loved Candlelight services and I love the way you describe the reverence of leaving of the place of worship in silence. That’s beautiful! I have never been to a service that did that, but it appeals to me very much.
Some of the most memorable Christmas memories revolve around the Christmas Eve services and singing of carols and just being together with family/friends.
Author
The going out in silence did add to the feeling of awe and worship, Amy. Our church doesn’t do that. In fact we generally have a time of fellowship after the Candlelight Service. But I do think the ones at my mother’s church were special with them ending at midnight on Christmas Eve and the silence as we went out into the winter night.
Family and friends are one of the very best things to enjoy at Christmas.
We go to one on Christmas Eve every year. One of my favorite Christmas events!
Author
I love the Candlelight Services too, Dana. Hope the weather doesn’t interfer with your service this year.
I know I haven’t been to one as as adult. It seems like I have just a bit of a memory of people in our church holding lit candles. It must have been a one time occurrence.
Author
That’s interesting that you have that fragment of memory, Connie. I’m sure if you were very young, the candles glowing might have been something that stuck in your memory.
We had a Christmas Church Supper last night but when we left I noticed how pretty the windows looked with out little candles in the windows that come on every evening at the same time.
Author
Christmas candles can look lovely in windows, Janice. I’d think that would be especially true if your church has stained glass windows. Our little church doesn’t, but then we don’t have candles in the windows either. 🙂 I love it when churches make sure to have times of fellowship and celebration.
I attended a candlelight service last night. The church had an afternoon birthday party for Jesus followed by the service.
Author
That sounds like the most fun, Lucretia. Our former pastor always had us sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas. A birthday party is even better. Love it.
I’ve attended candle light services many times and find it beautiful and touching to my soul.
I would enjoy reading about it in one of your books!
Author
I’ll have to see if I can make that work sometime with my story and characters, Pamela. I had a Homecoming Service that turned into a revival service in my book, Orchard of Hope. I also had Jocie being part of a Christmas play in Summer of Joy, I think. The title says summer but as one reader pointed out, the story has snow and winter. 🙂 But after the winter we can look toward the joy of summer, can’t we?
I have always loved the candle lighting services at our church. Thank you . Ann, for your beautiful words about this special time.
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Thank you for reading my words, Lynda. My husband today was wondering why we light candles and why people want to do that. I told him that I think Christians have been lighting candles in worshipful ways forever and that for most of us the candlelight makes us remember the Light of the World, Jesus.
We had our candlelight service last night at our church! There were some readings and songs about the Christmas star and expecting Christ. Our pastor gave a short message, and then we turned out the lights, lit our candles, and sang some Christmas carols. It’s always one of my favorite traditions.
Author
We sang one carol by candlelight and it was lovely, Elizabeth, even though we were few in number. I videoed it but maybe I shouldn’t have kept singing while I was doing that. It sounds as if your church had a beautiful service.
Our church does Christmas Eve communion and people just come in and out during that time as they are able. A former pastor did a candlelight service quite a few years ago now at our church and had everyone there stand around the sanctuary with our candles and after all were lit, it was beautiful and peaceful. My very first candlelight Christmas service I went to was as a young teen and I went with my great-grandmother and my grandmother. It was at a Historical church near and the same name as the school I went to. It has no heat, and it was very cold that night, but it was also a beautiful experience. A bunch of little shining candles opening our hearts and minds to the enormous light and love of the Lord. 🙂 Merry Christmas, Ann!
Author
Love the memories you shared, Hope. I could see you standing in a circle with your lit candles and then in the old church with your grandmothers. What beautiful memories to have in your heart. Your church’s Christmas Eve Communion is a lovely service too and a special way to not only remember that Jesus’ birth is the reason for the season but also why he was born. The Greatest Gift.
Our church’s Christmas Eve candlelight service is my favorite part of Christmas.
Author
I love ours too, Diana, although this year many of our members didn’t come. We have an older congregation and many of them don’t like to drive at night. And then the flu has been everywhere. I hope your service was or will be well attended.
Our church does one similar to yours and I have always loved that time of reflecting on Christ who is my Savior and all he gave up to come as the baby in the manger and go to the cross for me. What can I do?? Be his light here as long as I have breath. Merry Christmas!!
Author
Lovely thoughts, Cammy. Christmas and the beginning of a new year is a great time to think about what we can do and how we can be a light to those around us. Merry Christmas to you too.
haven’t been to one
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I hope you’ll get to experience a Candlelight Service someday, BN.
Yes, I have and still do. Although, it’s not a midnight service. I would love to attend one and that time. 0urs is at 5 pm. Still, the Light is Jesus and He dispels all the darkness.
Author
Yes, you are so right, Lisa. Whenever we feel darkness around us, we can remember the Light of the World, Jesus. The Candlelight Services are a good reminder of that plus how when we keep our lights lit with the love of the Lord, we can share that love with those around us.
Thank you so much for the wonderful memories this article brought back to my mind and to my heart! I didn’t realize how much I needed to be reminded of them, so it’s a special blessing to me tonight and I’ll carry it in my heart all week long.
Author
I’m so glad you found the post a blessing, Patricia, and one that will carry you through the week as you get ready for Christmas Day. Sometimes we need to stop of remember the reason for the season.
Yes, I’ve attended many a candlelight service. Each one has been especially worshipful and meaningful. Our church usually observes a candlelight service on Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday or Good Friday. A New Year’s Eve service would be another great time for one. Each one symbolizes that Jesus is the Light of the world, and He dispels the darkness in the world.
Author
I agree that the services late on Christmas Eve always have a little special added feel to the worship, Suzanne. But our earlier in the week one is nice too. New Year’s Eve would be a good time to remember the blessing of the old year and the blessings to come in the New Year and our Lord who does bless us.
Although I have been a church goer all my life, I have never attended a candlelit service.
Yours sounds beautiful, your Mom’s too.
I have lots of people that has been and are a shining light to me.I am blessed that way.
Author
I hope you’ll find time and a church to go to a Candlelight Communion Service sometime, Lisa. Those service just add an extra feeling to the worship experience.
And I’m knowing that you have surely been a shining light and a blessing to many of those who know you.