Carols & Candles

Join our FBCH family Christmas Eve at 6:30 pm for a quiet, reflective service centered around the Nativity with the singing of familiar Christmas carols all in the glow of candlelight. Other highlights will be special music  by church members. The service will last approximately one hour, after which refreshments will be served, along with Chef Gary’s Portugese Bean Soup, and Sharon’s Christmas Wasail.

THE CEREMONY FOR  FOR LIGHTING THE FIFTH CANDLE (THE CHRIST CANDLE) ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Candle Lighting Ceremony:  Relight the first four candles.  As the ‘Christ’ candle is lighted say, ‘the first candle reminds us of the hopes of the prophets, the second of the humble birth in Bethlehem, the third of the wonder of the shepherds, and the fourth of the star that guided the Wisemen.  We now light the Christ candle. We recall again that Isaiah said, ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.’  This light is Jesus.

Story:  Christmas is not just remembering something that happened on a long ago night in a far-away place.  Christmas means that God loves us and sent Jesus to teach us about how to live.  In a few days we will take down the Christmas tree and the lovely lights and ornaments will be packed away, but the celebration of God’s love can be day after day after day.  ‘Joy to the World…the Lord has come!’

Prayer: ‘O, Holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us we pray; Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, The great glad tidings tell, O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel, Amen.