(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
(704) 599-9810 | Worship Sundays @ 10:55 a.m.
✨ “The Manger and the Oppressed” — God born not into power, but into vulnerability, solidarity, and hope.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – December 24, 2025
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2–7 | Luke 1:26–38 | Luke 2:1–20
On Christmas Eve, Holy Covenant United Church of Christ gathered by candlelight to tell the ancient story once more — not as nostalgia, but as living truth. In a world marked by injustice, displacement, and longing, worship invited us to encounter a God who enters history not through empire or dominance, but through vulnerability, presence, and love.
Worship opened with a piano duet of “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” followed by a Call to the Heart that named why we gather on this night: not because all is well in the world, but because God chooses to dwell within it. Christmas, we proclaimed, is not an escape from reality — it is God’s commitment to meet us in it.
The Christ Candle was lit by the Hankins family, marking the culmination of Advent’s journey. As the flame rose, we named what this birth proclaims: love has come near, hope has been kindled, peace is possible, and joy abides. The light of Christ, we declared, continues to shine wherever compassion, justice, and mercy take root.
Scripture unfolded in a sacred rhythm — Isaiah’s promise of light dawning in deep darkness, Gabriel’s announcement to Mary, and Luke’s telling of Jesus’ birth amid occupation, displacement, and scarcity. These readings reminded us that Christmas is not sentimental — it is profoundly political, deeply human, and unmistakably hopeful.
Pastor Chris preached a sermon titled “The Manger and the Oppressed,” inviting us to see the nativity not as a gentle tableau, but as a radical declaration. God enters the world among the poor, the displaced, and the vulnerable — revealing where divine love continues to show up today.
Music formed the heartbeat of the Christmas Eve service, carrying the story of incarnation with reverence, beauty, and conviction. A solo of “O Holy Night” followed — offered as a welcoming invitation into the mystery of the night, drawing the congregation into holy stillness and awe.
The Handbell Choir offered a series of stunning and spectacular musical moments throughout the service. With clarity, precision, and grace, each piece rang out like prayer made audible — bells proclaiming peace, hope, and light in ways words alone could not. Their shimmering presence grounded the service in reverence and beauty.
The Chancel Choir gave moving and powerful performances that anchored the theology of the night. In “Away in a Manger,” they offered tenderness and intimacy; in “Christmas Lullaby,” they gave voice to comfort and promise; and in the anthem “Candle in the Night,” they proclaimed hope that refuses to be extinguished — a light that endures even in deep darkness.
As the service drew toward its close, Eric Miner and Ed Vickery announced the birth of Emmanuel through a powerful and stirring presentation of “All Is Well” by Michael W. Smith — a declaration of faith that does not deny the world’s pain, but trusts God’s presence within it. The congregation then joined together in the candlelit singing of “Silent Night,” voices unified as light passed from flame to flame, filling the sanctuary with peace.
We departed carrying more than candle wax and melody — we carried a calling: to bear Christ’s light into a world still longing for justice, dignity, and peace.
✨ “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”
“God chose a manger — and in doing so, chose the oppressed, the forgotten, and the hopeful.” — Rev. Christopher Czarnecki
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