"Christmas Candlelight Service"

When the holidays roll around, my family has a few traditions. Some are small little things, such as watching Elf every year, and opening specific presents the night before Christmas, along with larger ones such as decorating the house and Christmas tree and visiting family both before and after the holidays. Every year for Christmas, we go to a candlelight church service followed by a visit to my Aunt Karen’s house. 

Throughout the service, there are many songs being sung along with live music and a Christmas themed message spoken by the Pastor. My family is very religious, so this is something my parents look forward to every year. Sometimes the service can get a bit boring but my favorite part is the candle lighting. Each attendee gets a candlestick, and at the end of the service, the pastor and usher come around passing the flame. Row by row, the attendees pass the warmth of the candle to the next person in the row. 

While this happens, a “Silent Night” is playing and attendees are encouraged to sing along. By the end of the song, everyone's candle is lit up. The lights get turned off during a part of the service so everyone’s candles glow. It truly is a beautiful experience to show how one light can spread to everyone in the room. The warmth of the candle can brighten people's hearts and show them the Christmas spirit. 

As beautiful as this is, every year I always worry about the safety aspect. I wonder what would happen if someone dropped the candle or lit themselves on fire? So far, nothing bad has happened in my many years of going, but it is a concern that can spoil the moment. Usually, the kids have glow sticks to prevent fires, but accidents happen, especially during the holidays. Good news is that there are fire extinguishers in the buildings, and the ushers and pastors are properly trained for these special services to ensure the safety of everyone. I think that Christmas magic allows these services to run smoothly and protect everyone from the possible dangers while working with fire in a candlelight service.