Candlelight Service

[Lutherrunner]

Gotta be one of my favorite things....such a peaceful and joyous occasion....reminds me of childhood....and that is a LONG time ago....

I sure love being a Lutheran.....

 

[ctay]

I wish I could of went to our candlelight service last night, hubby's family gets together christmas eve, in the evening though.

 

[KagomeShuko]

*sniffles* NO CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE! - Thanks Hurricane Rita!

But, I did go to the episcopal one where they did turn out the lights and had candles lit - 5pm and 11pm (this one had stinky incense. . .LOL)

Stein Auf!
Bridget

 

[Flipper]

Gotta be one of my favorite things....such a peaceful and joyous occasion....reminds me of childhood....and that is a LONG time ago....

I sure love being a Lutheran.....

(to the candelight service part - not the LONG time ago part )

 

[RedneckAnglican]

We didn't get to do the candlelight service thing either...we were on the road...didn't get to her folks house until almost 9 pm...after being on the road that long I went to bed...really missed it though...this is the first year in a while I didn't get to go...

 

[C.F.W. Walther]

Went to pick up my wife from the airport. Flight arrived early so we went to the 10 PM candelight service at St.Marks in Eureka even though we were still an hour and a half from home.

Left the church and it was clear out. Got caught in a blizzard (literally) around Gerald Missouri. Could hardly keep the car on the road because we had limited sight. The road was slippery because the temp was above freezing. Must have been localized because by the time we got home there was absolutely no snow anywhere. Weird!?

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Eureka, huh? I always wondered what St. Mark's was like. My Oma and Opa lived in Eureka when we were growing up. Oma took me many, many Sundays to the early mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eureka. I remember being sooo tired. After mass we would return to Oma and Opa's house and have breakfast...because we always fasted before receiving Holy Communion. She made the BEST buttered toast and served mandarin orange segments (from a can)...which I thought was quite a luxury! Great memories I have of that time with my Oma.

Oh...for the record...our family did the 11:00pm candlelight service at the Lutheran Church. It was quite the deal. Choir was in all out performance mode , liturgy was not standard but "creative" or something. Was such a trip...so many references of the Saints praying with us. I mentioned that to my husband and he denied it! Ha! He wasn't paying attention! Anyway...I was cool with those references.

I attended vespers alone earlier in the evening at the Greek church. That was great, too...started with readings from Genesis, then Isaiah, Jeremiah, Michah...plus Luke and many, many others. Basically the story of creation up to the birth of God Incarnate. Quite rich.

 

[ChiRho]

Eureka, huh? I always wondered what St. Mark's was like. My Oma and Opa lived in Eureka when we were growing up. Oma took me many, many Sundays to the early mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eureka. I remember being sooo tired. After mass we would return to Oma and Opa's house and have breakfast...because we always fasted before receiving Holy Communion. She made the BEST buttered toast and served mandarin orange segments (from a can)...which I thought was quite a luxury! Great memories I have of that time with my Oma.

Oh...for the record...our family did the 11:00pm candlelight service at the Lutheran Church. It was quite the deal. Choir was in all out performance mode , liturgy was not standard but "creative" or something. Was such a trip...so many references of the Saints praying with us. I mentioned that to my husband and he denied it! Ha! He wasn't paying attention! Anyway...I was cool with those references.

I attended vespers alone earlier in the evening at the Greek church. That was great, too...started with readings from Genesis, then Isaiah, Jeremiah, Michah...plus Luke and many, many others. Basically the story of creation up to the birth of God Incarnate. Quite rich.

Your vesper service sounds eerily like Zion's.

 

[SPALATIN]

I went to my mother's church for Christmas eve services at 6:00 rather than the 11:00 Candlelight service. While I like the Candlelight service I have little ones who would not have made it that late. Besides the youngest one accompanied me and Santa Clause made a guest appearance during the children's message (Tying Santa Clause to Jesus through Saint Nicholas) and he gave all the kids a little stuffed bear.

The next morning we went to our church for the Christmas day service and received Holy Communion. I would say that going to church this Christmas was a very good thing.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Your vesper service sounds eerily like Zion's.

Zion's? Is this from past memory? I thought you were at Redeemer now or did you just go to Zion for other reasons?

I have Cyberstones in my blog reader. You do realize that Redeemer isn't representative of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.-----R

 

[ByzantineDixie]

I went to my mother's church for Christmas eve services at 6:00 rather than the 11:00 Candlelight service. While I like the Candlelight service I have little ones who would not have made it that late. Besides the youngest one accompanied me and Santa Clause made a guest appearance during the children's message (Tying Santa Clause to Jesus through Saint Nicholas) and he gave all the kids a little stuffed bear.

The next morning we went to our church for the Christmas day service and received Holy Communion. I would say that going to church this Christmas was a very good thing.

When our children were little we used to take them to midnight mass (OK, candlelight service if you prefer) with us. One would sleep in the pew and the other on the kneeler...but there were a few years when they were too old to do that and too young to stay up that late without causing a ruckus. Once the youngest was in middle school we were able to return to our previous practice.

St. Nicholas' feast day is on December 6. We used to celebrate it in our family when our children were small. Have you read about his escapades at the Council of Nicea...he is way cool.

 

[SPALATIN]

Zion's? Is this from past memory? I thought you were at Redeemer now or did you just go to Zion for other reasons?

I have Cyberstones in my blog reader. You do realize that Redeemer isn't representative of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.-----R

By their official stand on issues or what their individual congregations have taken to do? Since the Synod acts only in an advisory capacity to each congregation it can only suggest that the congregation take the "official stand" which is why you have no real continuity in how the sacraments are distributed from one church to another. Zion belongs to the English district which is non-regional and Redeemer is also part of this district. I wish that there was a Lutheran Church in Minnesota in this district I would try to go to it.

 

[ChiRho]

Zion's? Is this from past memory? I thought you were at Redeemer now or did you just go to Zion for other reasons?

Past memory. I was at Redeemer for both midnight mass and Christmas morning.

I have Cyberstones in my blog reader.

I read Petersen everyday. Good stuff.

You do realize that Redeemer isn't representative of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.-----R

Huh? It's the only Lutheranism I know.

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Huh? It's the only Lutheranism I know.

May your innocence never be shattered.

You know...I have to give my former pastor credit. At the candlelight service he made it a point to talk about communion twice...to say everyone was welcome if they believed what "we" (meaning the members of the church believed) and instructed them to read the bulletin which had a nice list of things that stopped short of saying "Lutheran" but did speak to the true Body and Blood of Christ, forgiveness of sins, etc. So things have tightened up a bit since I left.

He even made a point of saying if someone wanted a blessing they could approach with their hands crossed on their chest and get a blessing instead of communion. I have NEVER heard him say that before and in a way (oh, in that "I think way too much of myself" way) I wondered if that wasn't for my benefit because I have stopped communing at the Lutheran church and initially (because I didn't want to deal with all the questions) I came up with some creative ways to be absent from the pew at the right time. Very recently however I have been able to just sit there--much to the horror of my dear Lutheran friends. My youngest son came back from communing and looked at me in these puppy dog eyes (quite the act--he knows the deal) and said "What's wrong? Our Jesus isn't good enough for you?" :o

 

[SPALATIN]

ChiRho,

I just sent an Email to your Pastor asking if he knows of any churches in MN that are located in the English District.

Well it looks like the Vikings killed their own chances for a playoff spot. Just as well anyways as they probably would have lost in the first round. I am hoping that this coming Sunday will be the last for the Mike Tice era of coaching. He may be a nice guy but we all know where they end up in the long run.

 

[ChiRho]

ChiRho,

I just sent an Email to your Pastor asking if he knows of any churches in MN that are located in the English District.

Well it looks like the Vikings killed their own chances for a playoff spot. Just as well anyways as they probably would have lost in the first round. I am hoping that this coming Sunday will be the last for the Mike Tice era of coaching. He may be a nice guy but we all know where they end up in the long run.

There is an English District website here.

Vikings? I am not ready to speak about them yet. Give me a few weeks. But yes, Tice should be gone.

 

[ChiRho]

May your innocence never be shattered.

You know...I have to give my former pastor credit. At the candlelight service he made it a point to talk about communion twice...to say everyone was welcome if they believed what "we" (meaning the members of the church believed) and instructed them to read the bulletin which had a nice list of things that stopped short of saying "Lutheran" but did speak to the true Body and Blood of Christ, forgiveness of sins, etc. So things have tightened up a bit since I left.

He even made a point of saying if someone wanted a blessing they could approach with their hands crossed on their chest and get a blessing instead of communion. I have NEVER heard him say that before and in a way (oh, in that "I think way too much of myself" way) I wondered if that wasn't for my benefit because I have stopped communing at the Lutheran church and initially (because I didn't want to deal with all the questions) I came up with some creative ways to be absent from the pew at the right time. Very recently however I have been able to just sit there--much to the horror of my dear Lutheran friends. My youngest son came back from communing and looked at me in these puppy dog eyes (quite the act--he knows the deal) and said "What's wrong? Our Jesus isn't good enough for you?" :o

Bet that one hurt, even if you know the hidden insult. I get that all the time from my parents. Did think about receiving a blessing?

 

[ByzantineDixie]

Bet that one hurt, even if you know the hidden insult. I get that all the time from my parents. Did think about receiving a blessing?

I actually toyed with that but it didn't process well so I stayed put. I didn't know if going up to get a blessing could be construed as me acknowledging that my former pastor actually held some kind of legitmate office in the Church. Now I have no problem receiving a blessing from you or another Christian but it wouldn't be while you were officiating in a church service and I wouldn't be sending a message that I acknowledge you holding some kind of office.

Anyway...right or wrong...that's what I was thinking.

 

[Flipper]

St. Nicholas' feast day is on December 6. We used to celebrate it in our family when our children were small. Have you read about his escapades at the Council of Nicea...he is way cool.

A lot of people in my church celebrate St. Nicholas' day as the day that "Santa Claus" brings the presents to the children, and they open their presents then. Christmas Even and Christmas day is then free to be spent entirely at church celebrating the birth of Christ.

I always thought that was a great way to do it.

 

[Edial]

Gotta be one of my favorite things....such a peaceful and joyous occasion....reminds me of childhood....and that is a LONG time ago....

I sure love being a Lutheran.....

It's a first time I have seen it in a Lutheran Church.

I really liked it.

Thanks,
Ed