hen I first came to the church years ago, our Christmas Eve service was a small gathering. Over time, we decided to pour more energy and creativity into it, making it a celebration that draws people in. Christmas is unique—people are more open spiritually. Even those who don’t typically go to church or identify as believers can hear a carol, feel its deeper meaning, and sense something stirring within. It’s a time of year when people will say “yes” to an invitation they might otherwise decline.
This year, I saw that openness firsthand. I heard about a family who was invited through our elementary school Good News Club just days before the service. They're not regular churchgoers and don’t have a faith background, but they came. I later learned the mother was visibly moved—something in her connected with the message. That’s why we do this: to create a space where the music and the message might reach hearts in unexpected ways.
Our candlelight services are special because music takes center stage. Christmas carols are different from any other time of year. They’re familiar, beloved, and, for many, something they’re eager to sing. Unlike any other season, the music becomes an entry point, softening hearts for the story of Christ.
This year’s theme was awe—the awe of God becoming man. It’s easy to gloss over that truth, but we wanted people to feel the weight of it: the Creator of the universe stepping into our small, broken world out of love. My prayer is that people left with that sense of wonder, carrying it with them beyond Christmas Day.
