When I was growing up, the Christmas Eve Service was my favorite service of the whole year. Palm Sunday and Easter were good, but the Christmas Eve Service was better, and it wasn’t just because Santa came during the Christmas Eve Service in my house (although it might have helped). Maybe it was because it was dark and we were in our best clothes, or the wonderful Christmas hymns, or sitting and listening to the Christmas story. It might have been that at the end of the service we all lit candles and then walked outside singing Silent Night so we could tell the world, both literally and figuratively, that the light of Christ had come. Even though I didn’t really understand why the service was so important when I was growing up, I knew it was a wonderful and amazing night.
Christmas Eve is a little different now. I have my own family and our own traditions. I am reading the Christmas story and leading in worship rather than just sitting and listening. It also really isn’t very practical to take lit candles outside to sing several verses of Silent Night in Michigan when it is freezing and, hopefully, snowing. I have a daughter that I get to help understand what Christmas is really about, and it is still up for debate whether Santa will come during the Christmas Eve Service or during the night.
Even though things have changed, the wonder and magic of the night itself has not changed. I am still awed every Christmas Eve when I am able to stop and really think about what we are celebrating. It is the birth of the Messiah. Really! The birth of the Son of God! This is amazing and awe-inspiring news! God is Immanuel, God with us. God sent His only Son to live our life (minus the sin part) and through His death and resurrection to pay the price for my sin so that I can live eternally with Him.
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On that one night, in the little town of Bethlehem, to a poor unknown young girl and her fiancé, the Savior of the world was born! The Savior of the world and my own Lord and Savior was born that night. He was born for you, for me, for the entire world. This is not just a nice story, this is Good News, this is earth-shattering, darkness defeating, life-changing news! That is why Christmas Eve is such an amazing night!
May the wonder and awe of the first Christmas fill your hearts and minds and may you gain a greater and deeper understanding of the miracle of the birth of the Savior born who was laid in a manger that night so long ago.
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If you are looking for a place to worship on Christmas Eve, please join us for our Christmas Eve Service at 5:00pm in the Auditorium/Multi-Purpose Room at Brownell Middle School.
God bless & Merry Christmas, Rev. Liz Arakelian, www.LivingHopeEC.org
