The holidays bring forth a sense of nostalgia for most of us. We reminisce about Christmases past and all of the wonderful times we’ve had with family and friends. It is our cherished traditions that make us look forward to a continuation of those customs in each new holiday season.
Just as we have family Christmas traditions and fond memories of family and friends, we also relish the awesome times we have shared together as the congregation of the First Christian Church during the Advent season. Several people have shared their memories with me in recent weeks and their words have comforted me.
This year, especially, we look forward with great anticipation. Just as it was when we prepared to decorate our borrowed sanctuary for Advent, we were uncertain of how our place of worship would look. We had the decorating of our old sanctuary down to a science, knowing where each piece of greenery was to be displayed and where every other Christmas adornment was to be placed. However, when the time came to embellish our current sanctuary, though unsure, so many members came forth to lend hands and make our new home a wonderful place to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was when we had placed that final piece of greenery and that last of thirty nativities in the windows of the Presbyterian Church that we knew we had continued what was most important about our Advent preparations. We had created a beautiful place to welcome those who wanted to worship our newborn king just as we had done across the street!
Now, as we look back on the past several Sundays of the Advent season, we know that we have worshiped with honest hearts. But again, uncertainty prevails as we also look forward to our very special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Again we are uncertain of how it will be in our new home. What will it be like? Will it live up to our expectations? Again, we are nostalgic about our many, many Christmas Eve worship services shared in our previous home and many have shared their fondest memories.
For some, the recollections of cantatas, bell choirs, and children’s music programs emerge as what has made the Advent season so special. For others, it is the words of our beloved ministers from the past whose words at the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service still ring in their ears. The most popular memory shared by so many was captured in the words of John Gladson: [During one very special Christmas Eve Candlelight Service], Rev. Dan Haggard, our interim minister, looked out at all those gathered and proclaimed “What a beautiful family!” I remember having a feeling of warmth and peace that was about much more than the beautifully-decorated sanctuary. I felt encouraged and thankful to be a part of something so much greater than myself. That moment was especially significant, as our congregation had endured some tough times during the previous year or so. Several of our beloved families had even left the church. Despite all that, our church family still had much to celebrate as we gathered around Christ’s table that Christmas Eve. I will always be grateful to Rev. Haggard for reminding us of that!
And yet another frequently shared remembrance, also originating from one of our previous ministers, was shared by Carolyn Ahring: I think my most fulfilling memory during the Advent season was the Candlelight Christmas Eve service that Reverend Biggs sang, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and everyone left the sanctuary in silence. When we got outside it had started snowing and it was absolutely beautiful and peaceful. So many of us recalled that exact night because of that beautiful tenor voice piercing the darkness from the balcony coupled with the silent exodus into the snowy twilight. It was truly a holy night!
May you also be comforted by these shared recollections. Know that we have been truly blessed to have communally experienced so many wonderful Advent seasons together as a congregation. It is those heart-warming and spiritual moments that bind us together and make us a strong and united Christian family.
Come join us on Christmas Eve for our Candlelight Service. None of us knows exactly how it will look or sound, but each of us who has been there before knows that it does not matter that we have walked across the street. We will be given the gift of love through our meaningful worship service. “Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!”
Terry Johnson
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