Christmas Eve holds some of my favorite traditions of the whole Christmas season. Since I was a little girl, we've always gathered in our living room as a family on Christmas Eve. We light all the candles, turn off the main lights, and take some time to worship together as a family. Luke 2 is read aloud and then we each have a chance to choose the Christmas hymn that we would like to sing. We always go youngest to oldest so my spot as the 2nd to choose has been getting higher and higher as we've been adding nieces and nephews through the years. After singing together we usually open the special packages that various family members and friends have mailed (including chocolates and other yummy food) and Mom often gives us one special gift to open. This year she gave all of us from little Gabrielle to Dad a pair of new pajamas! Mine are pink and oh so cozy!
Around 10:00 the Lensches with kiddos went home to put them to bed but the night was not over for Ben and Henry and me. We headed to Faith Presbyterian Church to attend their Christmas Eve candlelight service which begins at 11:00 p.m. We've started going to this every year and enjoy it very much. It is a continuation of the time we have with our family of singing and reflecting on God's Word. The service is simple: about 10 lessons from the Bible leading up to Christ coming as a baby and interspersed with congregational and choir singing. This was Henry's first time at a Christmas Eve service so it was special to share this time with him too. We also love wishing a Merry Christmas to many of our special friends from our childhood that we know there. After midnight we come back home, tip-toe past our stockings that are out, and settle in for a night of slumber before our big Christmas Day.
Hee, hee, I saw you working on this and had to come take a peak myself. I'm sad I missed Christmas Eve service with you this year.
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