Candle Lighting Liturgy

Christmas Eve
The Christ Candle
Scripture: John 1

Now we light the Christ Candle to remind us that all of God's gifts--Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace--are to be found in God's greatest gift, his Son, Jesus Christ.

(light the Christ Candle)

In the Gospel of John we read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world."

"He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."

(Leader lights his individual candle from the Christ Candle)

Tonight we celebrate the birth of God's Son. But if all we do this night is retell the stories, the light of Christ will shine only within these walls, and the world will remain in darkness. We must take the light of Christ within us, brightening up our own lives, and carry it with us out into the world so that it may shine into the darkness, bringing God's gifts of Love, Hope, Joy, and Peace to all people.

(Leader begins lighting candles of congregation members sitting next to the aisle)