I found our Candlelight Christmas Eve Service particularly meaningful this past year.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would our own church family be interested in attending as they did once before? Would guests and newcomers seek out a candlelight service like they once did? Blessedly, I knew that the weather wouldn’t throw us a curveball at the last moment. But, with the virus still rampant and new rhythms securely established, I wasn’t sure if families would want to squeeze into pews, sing Christmas carols, and light candles.
Well, they did. And thank you, First Baptist Church, for choosing to be present. More than that, thank you for being thoughtful and hospitable. You repaired last year’s candles to use them again this year. You showed up early to be an usher. You sang in the choir. You cheerfully greeted guests. You took photos of families so that everyone could be in the shot. It was a good evening for our church and our community.
Because you showed up and chose to be with us, the light from the Christ candle multiplied and filled our sanctuary—and community—with the warmth and loveliness of light.
We kept our candles lit a bit longer than we have in the past, and for a good reason. Christmas reminds us that Jesus is a light in the darkness. We attend the candlelight service—and church offerings—to allow God’s light to shine through us. So naturally, we’d want to keep our candles lit as long as we can.
Jesus tells his followers, “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
Christ tells us that we are the light of the world and that God calls us to let our light shine before others so that they can see our good deeds and give glory to God in heaven. (Matthew 5:14)
Interestingly, in that same teaching from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus links this description and function of light with the discipline of listening. He says, “Then pay attention to how you listen.”
According to Luke, Jesus has an awkward moment when his disciples tell him that his family is there to see him. “But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Luke 8:21)
Again, Jesus refers to hearing and listening. The bottom line is that listening to God’s Word is the key component for discipleship.
As the infomercial from the 1990s used to intone, “But wait! There’s more!”
Because there is.
Listening is important. How we listen is critical. Whether we put what we hear into action dictates whether we can call ourselves part of Christ’s family.
This year, we’re focusing on our listening skills. We need to listen differently. We need to listen to God’s Word with new ears. We need to listen to ourselves and one another for understanding rather than out of defensiveness.
Just as we hold candles as a congregation together on Christmas Eve, listening is a practice that is best done together.
Choose to be together with us as we listen for God’s voice in new and fresh ways in 2022.