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In searching for a traditional Christmas Eve service, this was one of the few churches we could find listed offering a later service time (since we were just rolling into town about an hour beforehand). We arrived right on time, which meant we were late...and also late for this service, because it had already started! We were both given a program as we walked in, but once we sat down we noticed the people around us had candles for use towards the end of the service as noted. I was bummed we had not received candles. That's a huge part of the tradition...well, for me at least. Suddenly, a gentleman sitting behind us quietly gave us his candle. How cool is that!?! Fortunately, about midway through the service they brought around candles for anyone who had not received one when they arrived. Ta-da! Candles for everyone! Since we were "on time-late", we had to take seats three rows back from the front. Sadly, this meant we couldn't see the stage very well for the large (albeit, beautiful) Christmas tree. I could see a choir...kind of...and then I realized they had handbells set up. I haven't seen handbells since I was a kid, and I was pretty excited about their performance. It did not disappoint! I could have easily watched an entire concert's worth. The choir was good too. Although, like the handbell performers, I wish they had performed more as a group. I was also mildly disappointed there weren't more traditional hymns sang throughout the entire service. But now I'm just being picky and wishful. Communion was offered to anyone that wished to partake, and I felt they did a fairly good job at briefly explaining it to anyone new to the concept. I've taken communion several different ways, and how they particularly distribute the bread and the wine was new to me (or at least to my post-TBI brain). After dipping the bread into the wine and consuming it (intinction), you are to go kneel at the altar and pray. While kneeling, you can also give your tithe or an offering if you so desire. I liked two things about this: 1. You're giving discreetly since there's a "tray" directly in front of you at the altar where you just lay down your cash or check. No awkward passing of a bucket, tray, trash can, whatevs. 2. 100% of the money they collected during this particular service was donated to a local hospital for purchasing child car seats for parents who cannot afford them. The end of the service was great. As everyone was lighting their candles, they started to dim the house lights until they were off as the congregation sang together a cappella. It was very simple and very beautiful. We had been instructed to depart in silence after the service was over, but I giggled as two people did not follow this rule...only because they wanted to say something nice to us rather obvious newcomers. One was the nice gentleman sitting behind us, and another was a woman who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Both of them made it a point to try to make us feel welcome, saying they hoped we would come back. Although this church's style would not be my preferred "cup of tea" if I lived in the area, I was still very impressed by these folks' kind gestures. read more
9 years ago
