Christmas Eve – Lighting of the Christ Candle

We have gathered at this wreath
all this Advent season to light candles.

We claim that Emmanuel, God with us
is Light and Darkness in a world
that must work and rest
be generous and self-careful,
experience tears and laughter,
in order to share
both the hurt and humor of others.
from the deep place of knowing it.

Let us light these candles on this holy night.

I light the candle of hope,
and hopelessness cannot hide.

I light the candle of peace,
and expose hatred as fear turned inside out.

I light the candle of joy,
and everyone is welcome with a smile,
a moment of beauty or wonder.

I light the candle of love,
and hands are clasped around the world.

THIS IS CHRISTMAS
The evergreen singing aloud its poem of constant renewal,
The festive mood spreading lilting magic everywhere,
The gifts of recollection calling to heart the graces of life,
The star in the sky calling to mind the wisdom of hope,
The warmth of candlelight glowing against the darkness,
The birth of a child linking past to future,
The symbol of love absorbing all violence
THIS IS CHRISTMAS
(Howard Thurman)