music!

For the first time ever our church had a string quartet on Christmas Eve. There were approx. 45 people in the choir. They stand facing the congregation. We sat near the front and the music was out of this world.

Does your congrgation do anything differently for the Christams Eve service?

This year, instead of having 2 services - the early, children's "Birthday Party for Jesus" and the later, traditional communion our Pastor combined them into one service - the first half was the Birthday party part with songs, and stories geared to the children and the children sitting up at the front to take it all in, including singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus. The second half of the service was quieter, with communion and then the lighting of cancles, turning out the lights, and singing Silent Night in the candlelight - this is my absolute, most favorite part of the service

This morning, as we were singing Christmas hymns, I turned to my Mom and commented that I just love this season in the Church - I love to sing the traditional Christmas carols

Our church which always has a band playing and us singing hymns also sang Christmas carols this year. At the Christmas service there must have been about 2000 people there and near the end we were all given a white candle to light. The entire place looked like sunshine. had burst forth.

We passed the light at our congregation too. When all the candles were lit and the lights were off we sang Silent Night. So peaceful.