I have many memories of Christmases past. I remember the family gatherings, the toys, the meals at my grandmother’s house, but most of all I remember the Candlelight Services. The reading of the birth of Jesus from Luke, the singing of the beautiful Christmas hymns, especially Silent Night with the candles in our hands lighting up the darkness of the Sanctuary. It was my favorite service of the year. For a child it was amazing. It was wonderful. It was joyful.

The Candlelight Services still hold special meaning for me today. I think that they are even more meaningful today due to the growing maturity of my faith. It is even more amazing now as I think of God giving His Son to us, to be born of the Virgin Mary, for us, for me, for this world. It is even more wonderful to consider the shepherds in the field watching over their flocks that night when suddenly the heavenly host appears to them and starts singing, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all men of good will. It is even more joyful for me now as I join in with my brothers and sisters in Christ to sing those joyous Christmas Carols. Hearing all of your voices joining mine moves me spiritually and emotionally every year. It is indeed a very special and glorious night to be able to spend Christmas with the family that God has given to me here at Trinity.

I pray that each of us would be filled with awe and wonder during the Christmas Eve services as we hear the Great Story of Jesus birth, sing joyful songs of praise to the newborn King, and experience all that God offers us in the Divine Service. May it be a night that we look forward to and a night that we remember throughout the coming year.

May the Lord grant to each of us a very blessed Christmas as His presence abounds in us granting the peace in knowing that Jesus was born for us so that He would grow up to be the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!

~ Pastor Webb