Music and Rituals

One ritual I have attended for many years is my church's candlelight service. On Christmas Eve, my church does a service where we light candles and worship. Preparation for this event starts sometime in early December when members of the congregation decorate the church with a Christmas tree, branches of holly and cedar, candles, wreaths, and poinsettias. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas Eve, one of the four advent candles, representing love, joy, peace, and hope, is lit until Christmas Eve when the center candle, representing Christ, is lit. Before the service begins, there is traditional religious Christmas music playing, such as Holy Night, Away in a Manger, Angles We Have Heard on High, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and/ or O Come All Ye Faithfull, as people come into the church. If the church has access to a pianist they will play the instrumental version of these songs, if not, a CD will be played through the speakers instead.

Once the service starts there is no more music until they pass out communion. One of the church members will sit at the piano and play Nothing but the Blood of Jesus and There is Power in the Blood while communion is being passed out.  

After communion, the church members stand up if they are able and grab a candle. Once they have a candle, they will file around the inside perimeter of the church's worship hall. The preacher then lights his candle from the center candle, explaining the symbolism behind the lighting of the candles and the passing of the flame. The people on either side of the preacher will light their candles and pass the flame from person to person around the church until everyone has their candles lit. While the flame is being passed, one of the Decans sings one of the traditional religious Christmas songs mentioned earlier. Once everyone has their candle lit, the congregation will sing one verse of Silent Night acapella before the preacher shares ending statements. In past years, the song has been accompanied by guitar or piano. 

After ending statements, the candles are blown out and returned, and everyone is sent home to be with their families while the traditional music mentioned earlier begins to play again. Although I’m not very religious, this event is special to me as it brings people together for more than worship. The symbolism of the ritual can be interpreted in many different ways, which makes it a joy to come together with family and friends every year.