It is Christmas Eve!! Time to light our final virtual candle. The Christ Candle!! There is no script for this from Matt Rawle’s book. So this one I took from the UMC Discipleship website:
We have heard the call to keep watch. But what are we keeping watch over? Maybe we’re looking for something that will define us, something that will remake us, transform us. Some relationship, some hope, some love that will make us new. Maybe we’re looking for the gift we remember this night.
O holy Child of Bethlehem / Descend to us, we pray / Cast out our sin and enter in / Be born to us today / We hear the Christmas angels / The great glad tidings tell / O come to us, abide with us / Our Lord Emmanuel (sung or said)
What we go out to see in the muddle of our world is not necessarily the Christ child or the light that glows within. No, I think what we watch over is the world that he came to save: the masses of humanity who think they can find salvation in the stuff of this life, like we know we do sometimes. When we forget. A world that has room for a Savior, even when we’ve forgotten it. And part of what we’re keeping watch for is to see whether we can make room—room for grace, room for joy, room for peace, even at our worst. At our most needy. And most helpful, and grace-filled. Keep watch.
Let us light these candles and complete this circle as we rejoice in the light that shines in the darkness and declare with joy and with hope –
Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Hallelujah. Amen.
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/articles/advent-candle-lighting-liturgy-2022
Tonight we light the Christ Candle:
It is Christmas Eve. Maybe you are looking for a church to attend this evening. Let me extend this invitation to join me at my church. I know this isn’t a direct invitation, but act like this is as direct as if I showed up at your house and grabbed you by the ear and shouted “Let’s go!”.
Tonight is Candlelight Service, which is by far my favorite service of the year. And not just because they let me play with fire. But also because this is the night we sing all the Christmas Carols that are straight bangers! And that is another kind of fire.
So if you are looking for a church service tonight because you haven’t been to church for awhile or you have never been to church and want to check one out or because your church doesn’t have a Christmas Eve service, join me tonight!
- Where: Boone First United Methodist Church
- Location: 703 Arden Street
- Time: 7 PM
- What: We remember the story of God’s love-made-real-on-earth, in a baby named Jesus, through the reading of Scripture, singing of carols, and celebration of Holy Communion. Everyone is welcome to experience this meaningful time of community and celebration! The nursery will be made available for families with small children.
Merry Christmas Eve to all of you! Christ is almost born!
Back in March I decided to take part of a Saturday and take a tour of the Iowa State Capital. A recent bastion of government over-reach and government meddling with basic human rights. And on top of that, where many of the laws are passed that has put a once proud state into nearly last in ever meaningful economic indicator and put what was once the best educated state in the country into a state that’s education levels are firmly in the bottom of the middle of the pack. Good work guys!
Despite the inherent ugliness of what goes on inside of this building, it is objectively beautiful We are once again living in a Gilded Age.
Here is the first collection of images.
There is still one more collection of images to share from the symbol of Iowa’s Gilded Age.