COME ON, CHRISTMAS!
The one-hour Christmas Candlelight Communion service last night couldn't have been any more beautiful or more meaningful, to all of us. As I held the communion emblems in my hands--a tiny cup of grape juice and a wafer--which represents Christ's body and blood--I said as I swallowed the wafer, "I receive healing from You, Lord, healing, healing, healing," for the Bible says His blood saves us and the 39 stripes He bore on His body HEALS us!
The singing was extraordinary, how it always is! From his L-shaped keyboard, Pastor Mike accompanied his wife Dana on O, Holy Night, which always sends chills through me, and their son Chad played a trumpet solo, also accompanied by Pastor Mike, and we sang traditional carols and had other special music.
Communion came toward the end after two, short but punchy guest speakers spoke, and then the ushers lit our individual candles, and with all of those hand-held candles shining brightly through the dimmed sanctuary, and with us singing Joy to the World, well, even as a writer I can't describe my emotions. Gladness? Thankfulness? Happiness? Check!
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Pictures: Dana singing O, Holy Night. Pastor Mike and Dana. The worship team. Alex, our grandson, praying. The hand-held candles.
Notice the beautifully-decorated stage. Pastor Mike and Dana have a Stage Blitz a month before Christmas every year, and our parishioners turn out with enthusiasm and camaraderie to turn our sanctuary into a Christmas wonderland, all to honor Christ. On the night of our Christmas play/musical, it's the backdrop. Our people also do the same in two of our other buildings on our campus. Our church looks like we called in the House and Gardens TV specialists to decorate. I've never seen a prettier church at Christmas, and Milton and I have spoken in churches across the Southeast and Caribbean!
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Come on, Christmas. I'm ready!
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Thank You, Jesus, for being willing to leave Your throne in heaven to come to earth for ME, so that I might have salvation from my sins and a place in Heaven forever and ever.
posted by Kristy Dykes @ 7:05 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Dear Kristy,
Thanks for telling us about your Christmas services and the joy of sharing those with your family and friends. I am rejoicing that they are with you this Christmas and you with them.
We are celebrating here in NJ with four of our five children home with us, including our son Ben who is on leave from the Marines, and our daughter Melissa who is now working as a nurse in Philadelphia, and the twins who are at home with us. Just missing our oldest son who is in ministry in Hawaii with his wife and two young sons. But we will see them in February.
Tonight will be our Christmas Eve service with lots of food and fellowship after. Our church is moving to a new facility this week, so this is the last service in this building. It will be a bitter sweet time. God has done so much here...but the church is people, and praise His name, they are all coming with us!
We send our love and Christmas Greetings to you and your dear family. You continue to be on our hearts and in our prayers!
Love to you all this Christmas,
Carrie
Kristi, may you and your house have a Blessed any Merry Christmas. May the babe of Bethlehem be born in all our hearts and lives anew and afresh as we seek to serve Him all our days, and may all our days be filled with his presence. tom
Hi, Carrie! Good to hear from you. I just received your Christmas card, and the pics are so good. I felt like I was there with you.
I'll pray for strength for your church move. It's a lot of work, isn't it?
Love ya, Kristy
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