2021 Candlelight Service

Speaker 1: Amen, man, it's singing. You may be seated at this time. One of our traditions around here every year is to invite all of the kids that are here in the service to come up here to the platform. And typically what we've done is we've just read from the Bible, the Christmas story. But I wanted to do something a little bit different this year. And those of you that are regular attenders here, you know that I'm not opposed to putting in a plug for a good product or show the chosen every once in a while. And last year, my wife got this book for our kids. It's from kids read through and wonderful resource. We get all kinds of different things Bible stories, special events, helping kids deal with different things in life that come up. Sometimes we just don't have the answers for even as adults. But this book is called This is the Christmas Story is a wonderful book. And so if you are in the sixth grade and you want to come up your sixth grade or below, then you're welcome to come up here to the platform for us to read this book. And if you do come, then you get a candy cane after you're done. These are jelly belly candy canes, so you know they're good, but come on up here and just sit right in this area right here. Turn face this way over here, Carter. I'm still here. All right. Very good, very good. You got a little that maybe a little nervous about coming up here and you'd like to come up here with them. That's fine as well. All right. Any anybody else want to make their way up here? OK. All right, I'm going to sit right here and we're going to read this book now. There is a part of this that I am going to need your help on. So I want you to practice this with me. All right. So we're done talking with different people. We're going to I'm going to say that they believed and then I need you to say. And they praised God. All right. So let's practice that. Are you ready? And they believed, and they are perfect. I might have to give you all two candy canes if all the boys. Yes. You want three candy canes? Oh, I don't know if I have enough for that. All right. Let's go ahead and get started reading this is the Christmas story. I'll try to make sure my sees the pictures right. The Christmas story began a long time ago, but it didn't begin with the baby. It began with a promise. God made a promise after Adam and Eve, the first people disobeyed him and sin darken the world. God promised that someday someone would come to bring light into the dark world. Many years later, God promised a man named Abraham that his family would have more people in it. And then there are bright stars in the dark sky, and one of those people would bring light into the dark world. Abraham believed, and he led all the strong, more time Abraham believed, and he made the perfect. Abraham's family grew bigger and bigger, just like God had promised. They became the nation of Israel and they asked God to give them a king. David was a very good king, but the world was still dark. Then God promised David that someone from his family would be the one who would bring light into the dark world. David believed. Very good. Many years later, God told a man and Isaiah to give a very special message to his people. The light of the world is coming. Isaiah believed. You believe, Isaiah? Isaiah told the people that the one who was coming would be God himself, God would come to them as a baby. The baby would be called Emmanuel, which means God with us. So the people waited and waited and waited and waited and waited and waited for 400. Who's reading this story?

Speaker 4: I am.

Speaker 1: Then one day an angel named Gabriel told a young woman named Mary that she was going to have a baby. Mary was scared, but the angel told her not to be afraid. Gabriel said Mary's child was a gift from God. The light of the world God, it promises people. Mary believed. And oh christ, I know. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph the angel also visited him in a dream. He told Joseph that the baby was from God and he should name the baby Jesus. Joseph believed. Joseph was from the family of Abraham and King David. God was keeping his promises to them. Because of a law Mary and Joseph needed to travel to Joseph's hometown, as you might know with his hometown was Bethlehem. While they were there, it was time for Mary to have the baby. Into the darkness, after all that waiting, the light of the world was born. In know lobby, you guys say, Oh. OK, stop. This is the Christmas story. Mary wrapped Jesus in a blanket, laid him in a manger for animals, were fed. That same night, some shepherds were watching their sheep in fields nearby. Suddenly, angels filled the dark sky singing because Jesus was born. Glory to God in the highest. Shepherd's hurried to find Jesus. He was right where the angels said he would be the shepherds believe. Later, wise men called Magi saw a bright star in the dark sky. They follow the star across the desert. They found Jesus the light of the world. The wise men believed and. Oh. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus came to be the light of the world. The Christmas story began with a promise. But it also ends with one Jesus, the light you came into the Dark World promises that one day he will return and the world will never be dark again. We believe and we have. He in yeah, is it a great, great work? All right. Come grab a candy cane, just one this one, this one. That's like you said, too. If there's leftovers, you can get some after the service. Yeah, yeah. All right. Grab one. Grab one.

Unidentified: All right. And.

Speaker 1: Of course. That's a good one. Carter. See right there. Yes. All right. It looks like I have a lot left. So after the service, you did not get any game or if you'd like another candy cane, you may grab one, they'll be out on the welcome desk. All right, at this time, we're going to show another video and then we'll get ready to light candles and glow stick break the plastic.

Speaker 3: Hey, welcome. I'm the Christmas search engine, and I can help you find anything related to DIY Christmas decorations. Oh OK. Let's jump right in. Here we go. What date Christmas this year? December 25th What date Christmas next year? December 25th Song that goes de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de. I think I know what you're looking for. I'll cook ham. OK, I'll cook ham fast. Oh, ham flamethrower recipe. What Christmas present mom. Nice. Cheap ice. What did Christmas 2035 series? Is Santa Claus real? You should maybe ask your parents about that gift wrap bowling ball. Please be careful. Custom Dog Christmas. Sorry, what Christmas dog? Custom cute. Oh, you mean the costume Christmas dog costume? Cute gift wrap accordion? That's going to be tricky. Can I drink expired eggnog? No. What happens if drink expired eggnog? Why did you even ask me in the first place? Dealing with relatives? OK, dealing with nosy relatives? Well, dealing with my nosy, overbearing relatives who won't stay out of my business. Sorry. Yeah, it's pretty much all the same stuff. Gift wrap a saddle. Who are you buying this stuff for? Santa Claus riding a unicorn? Santa Claus riding a unicorn socks? Is that a thing? Search it up. Oh wow. Here they are. Take my money. Norwegian tree skirts. How many lights? One outfit? Pajamas. Dog singing Christmas carols. Oh, hello. What is Christmas really about? I've got just the thing. An Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David. Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. Because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. So, Jesus? Jesus. Yeah, absolutely.

Unidentified: Thank you. Huh.

Speaker 3: How fix burns him? OK. You know what? Forget it. Pizza delivery, Christmas Eve. No problem.

Speaker 1: I was pretty good appreciate, rather than that, finding those wonderful quality videos for us here tonight. We're going to do now is we're going to get ready to go ahead and start lighting the candles. And as as the kids heard in the story, Jesus did come to be the light of the world, but it doesn't take much looking around to see that there are still a lot of darkness in this world. And yet God's desire is that light. The gospel of Jesus would shine on the lights on the hearts of all men. And here in just a moment, I'll have them take the stage lights down and we're going to start with one candle in the light mine and and then I'm going to hand it off to the mat. And then if any of our officers here, they want to come out of it or light theirs, and we're going to watch as the light spreads throughout this auditorium. And I know that there's like an empty spot here, but once it is fully lit, it's really amazing to see how all of us being or shining the light God is given to us that we receive from someone else really can have quite a dramatic impact on just this room. I believe that that is a picture of what Jesus wants to do through our testimony as we shine the light of the gospel to others around us. And I'm sure tomorrow all of us, many of us will have opportunity to be around family, friends, different different social settings and just encourage you to take that opportunity to share the light of Jesus with those as you'll come into contact with. We do have special cables. Is there anyone that didn't get a candle when they came in? You put your hand up to make sure you get one. All right, looks like everyone is on hand, all right. I think everybody's got one right. You guys go ahead and hit those safe flights. And we're going to get started here.

Unidentified: Yeah, go ahead. And.

Speaker 1: As your candle is lit, you want to join us in standing. Now, why don't we do the first in the third, but then on the fourth?

Speaker 4: So I led the whole the night.

Unidentified: Oh yes, oh.

Speaker 4: Always right around your. Mother and child holy. And so tender and mild sleep in. Then leave. Peace, sleep in heavenly peace. Yes. So I let. Night, holy night, should. Earthquake had side Lori stream from.

Unidentified: And of all, our heavenly

Speaker 4: host seems awfully young Christ, our savior is all. Cries Savior is. So I would.

Unidentified: I'd hold the line wondrous all the. Line line with. The. And Charles,

Speaker 4: let us see.

Unidentified: To large. So singular is.

Speaker 4: All rise. Save your is more

Speaker 1: listening, that third verse of a

Speaker 4: cappella, so I live now, I owe the I'd son of God. Love's pure light, radiant beams from high holy days with the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord at birth,

Speaker 1: Jesus Lord at I. Uh, let's pray their heavenly father. Thank you so much for this time that we can spend together. Thank you for the wonderful story of Christmas and the promise that you fulfilled in bringing light to this world. Thank you for the picture that we can enjoy this candlelight service of the way your light shared from person to person. I pray that each one of us would seek to spread your light as we go about our separate ways here this evening or may bless us. Give us a good year in the coming year in Jesus name that I ask these things. You met. You are dismissed.

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