I’ve been wrestling over a rather insignificant pastoral issue: Is is OK to move the candlelight portion of the Christmas Eve service?
Traditionally, the candlelight portion of the service occurs at the conclusion of the distribution of Holy Communion. This is followed by the closing hymn, which has traditionally been “Joy to the World.” While I like the way the service ends, I’ve never been a fan of the candlelight service being at the end. To me, it seems out of place.
Within the Christmas Eve Divine Service, we’ve celebrated the birth of the our Lord Jesus Christ in song, word, and Sacrament, and then we light candles, turn the church dark, and sing “Silent Night.” This doesn’t seem like a proper movement structure to the service.
I’ve been toying with the idea of moving the candlelight portion to earlier in the service, maybe before the Holy Gospel. Maybe we can have the lights turned a bit down, not much, throughout this early part of the service and then, at the conclusion of the candlelight service, put the lights up full-power and hold the Gospel procession and proclaim the birth of the King. And then, we celebrate with more singing, the preaching, and distributing the Lord’s Supper. We end the service on a huge up tick.
Then again, this is just me babbling.
But I have to think about this one.
