Let's Talk: Christmas Traditions
Keep the Candle Burning
Many families celebrate Christmas Eve at church with a candlelight service and the traditional singing of hymns such as “Silent Night, Holy Night,” and “Oh Holy Night.”
If your family plans to attend, be aware that this is also a night when those who don’t typically go to church may be visiting.
Make room for visitors by parking further from the door. Look for strangers and greet them with a smile and a “Merry Christmas.”
Give up your regular pew or move to the inside of the row so that those who may be unfamiliar with your church can easily find a place to sit.
Be ready to engage those who are receptive to conversation. Tell them you’re glad they came and invite them back for a Sunday service.
If you are in leadership or have influence regarding the service, make sure the Gospel is clearly presented and that people are invited to ask questions or share prayer requests after the service.
Don’t pass up this opportunity to clearly light the way to a relationship with Jesus Christ. Like the angels on the hillside in Bethlehem so long ago, share the good news on this holy night.
“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:10-14).
