Silent Night…

One of my favorite traditions from home (that I know will be surely missed this year) is attending the Candlelight Christmas Eve service at our church.  Each year, it’s a packed house.  The service is interspersed with carols, hymns and a message from our wonderful pastor.  My favorite part, however, is at the end when the lights are dimmed and our pastor lights a candle from the altar, passes it to ushers who then pass it to each person holding a little candle they received as they entered the sanctuary.  Pretty soon, candlelight engulfs the sanctuary as we sing all the verses of Silent Night.  It’s so lovely and so poignant – the spreading of the light represents Jesus, the Light of the World, who came as a little baby on Christmas.  I’m going to miss that service this year.

However…

I was able to attend a wonderful Candlelight Concert at the American Church in Paris two weekends ago.  There were 7-8 different choirs (children/adults/men/women) that performed many different songs of the season.  There was also a rather impressive 5-octave handbell choir (I love bells!!! Especially handbells!), which gave me goosebumps just listening…I miss playing in our church’s handbell choir, too :(  The church, which is essentially a cathedral, was filled with the sounds of voices and bells for just about 2 hours!  The decorations were lovely and I was so glad that I was able to go…

Lights dimmed, bells ready...

ACP choir

Children's choir...love the little one in light blue!

Men, women and children

A different children's choir using sign language...

All the choirs together!

Congregational sing-along...

Beautiful stained glass window at the rear of the church

Pew decorations

Amazing Christmas tree!

‘Tis the season…

Bells are ringing ♥