Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve 2011 Service, Part 2: Holy Communion & Candlelight Ceremony
Click on any image above to view it in larger format, and/or click on the arrow below to view most of the Holy Communion and Candlelight ceremonies. (Our server limits video posts to 100 mb.)
A Super Spiritual High: Communion and Candlelight!
A service that combines both Holy Communion and a Candlelight Ceremony is about as good as it gets, spiritually speaking.
That's what folks got at Tinney Chapel UMC, the quintessential country church, on Christmas Eve.
After a powerful message by Pastor Sue Gross, "Jesus, The Light Of Christmas," the focus moved quickly to Holy Communion during which the congregation recited Confession & Pardon, The Great Thanksgiving and the Prayer After Receiving, after which Pastor Sue broke the bread and filled the cup. Everyone was served the meal during Holy Communion.
Immediately, the lights went out and previously distributed candles were in the hands of the entire congregation, each lighted from a neighbor with the first lighting by Pastor Sue and the Christ Candle.
During the congregation's rendition of "Silent Night," the service ended and the congregation departed in silence.
It was, indeed, a silent, holy night to remember!
