CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
John 1:1-14
Candles
Joseph — red
Mary — blue
Jesus — ivory
Two shepherds — green
Three angels — white
Three Magi (Wisemen) — burgundy
Only the 1st and last stanzas of the hymns are to be sung
Prelude — Christmas music
"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from
the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:1-2, 14.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9: 6-7
The birth of Jesus was like this:
1. Joseph "Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph (Light Joseph’s candle), but before they came together, she was
found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to
expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what
is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because
he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:18-21).
2. Mary "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married
to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary (Light Mary’s candle). The angel went to
her and said, Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. Mary was greatly troubled at his words and
wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor
with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and
will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over
the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be, Mary asked the angel, since I am a virgin?
The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the
holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and
she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. I am the Lord’s servant, Mary
answered. May it be to me as you have said." (Luke 1:26-38).
3. Congregational Hymn — Joy to the World "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken
of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And
everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to
Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary,
who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to
be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son (Light Jesus’ candle). She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a
manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:1-7).
4. Solo — What Child is This? "And there were shepherds (Light shepherds’ candles) living out in the fields nearby,
keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around
them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will
be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign
to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
5. Congregational Hymn — While Shepherds Watch their Flocks "Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host (Light
angels’ candles) appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to
men on whom his favor rests.’"
6. Congregational Hymn — Angels we have heard on High "When the angels had left them (Extinguish angels’ candles) and
gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which
the Lord has told us about. So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger"
(Luke 2:8-16). (Extinguish shepherds’ candles)
7. Magi (Wisemen) "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi (Light Magi’s
candles) from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his
star in the east and have come to worship him……’ [Then] the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until
it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they
saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and
presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh" (Matthew 2:1-12).
8. Congregational Hymn — We Three Kings
9. (Extinguish all but Jesus’ candle) "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land
of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
10. Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper
11. From Jesus’ candle, the congregation will light their candles one by one.
12. Congregational Hymn — Silent Night, Holy Night
13. At the conclusion of the hymn, the congregation will silently exit the sanctuary with the candles lit.
