Our Christmas celebrations at church were just so good this year. For the first time ever we had our service at 11 pm on Christmas Eve following a "Living Nativity" in the church car park.
The service itself was simple, and, for us, quite liturgical. We processed into the dark building behind the candle representing Jesus. Then Grant read John 1, and when he got to the part about the light shining in the darkness, Tim cranked the floodlights to full brilliance lighting the whole room at once. After that it was alternating songs and readings, then a sermon and all done in just on an hour.
A few people mentioned how powerfully they were touched by it.
Here's what I thought made it excellent:
1. The time. Having a late night service is so disorienting that it makes you more aware - it knocks you out of "same old, same old" thinking.
2. The people- worshipping in the greatest congregation in the history of christendom is pretty cool. We are like a family coming together-- the good sort of family that is :)
3. The rhythm of going out and coming in- the time we spent in being out on the street with the message and then coming together to worship together is the pattern of our lives. We should be constantly on mission and at worship whether together or alone.
4. The participation of many people.
5. The contrast of coming from darkness to light and having that dramatically presented.
I am starting to think there is a lot of depth in the traditional liturgies that we from the evangelical/ charismatic parts of the church have missed out on. I don't mean saying the same words week after week without ever changing anything. I'm talking about the structures and rhythms of worship together. When worship is just entertainment, you never really touch the transcendence of God.
I miss those candlelight services. Those were the highlight of my childhood.
ReplyDeleteYes they are great. I'm sure we've planted some great memories in the hearts of our children.
ReplyDeleteChristmas Eve service is my favorite of the whole year. Probably because of the hour, it does make you more aware. It's exciting, it's happy, and full of promise.
ReplyDeleteI agree Lois that the hour does make you more aware.For me the interesting experience was that you don't have to do anything difficult, demanding or technological to help people focus on God. This was a simple, traditional style of liturgy which brought the message into people's hearts. Some of the other churches did big flashy productions, which I once would have tried but we don't have he resources for that. What we do have is a group of people with very deep relationships with one another and with the Lord- you can't beat that :)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!!! Such a warm feeling can't be bought with flash!
ReplyDelete:)
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