I recently updated the Candlelight Service! You can find the new post HERE, but I have changed out the links in the post to the new download in case you land here and don’t care to read the new post. ~Amy
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Every year, my family attended the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at our church. As the sun set, we sang hymns, followed the Christmas story, and watched as the final candle, the Christ candle, was lit. Then, the light was passed around the dark church and faces shown and eyes sparkled in the candlelight.
A people in darkness no more.
For many years after I married, we continued to travel to my home church for this special evening; however, as our family grew, the tradition became a scary one, rather than one filled with beauty. I spent the first half of the service trying to keep the children from eating their candles and the second half trying to keep them from burning themselves. All this while sitting in a church pew longer than my arms could reach. Finally, I decided we would have to give it up and just stay home.
However, I wasn’t about to let go of the tradition and all its rich meaning. Instead, I exchanged the long church pew for my living room and wrote my own Christmas Eve service for our family to enjoy.
The Candlelight Service is a simple one, but so beautiful as it takes hymns and Scripture and follows the story from longing to realization to spreading the Good News!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE!
Here is a list of supplies you will need to share in this wonderful tradition:
2017 update: Last year, we decided to purchase smaller candles and drip protectors. They were inexpensive, and a very nice addition! Another really neat added extra is this set of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We own oils, but I am adding these to our tradition this year.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE!
Kristi V. says
I can’t begin to tell you what a blessing this will be for my family this Christmas Eve. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. Merry Christmas and God bless you!
danielle says
SO many times I find myself heart connecting with your thoughts and how you express them. Not to get all sappy-happy on you…but sometimes it’s good to hear and say…you fill a Spiritual Mentor void for me. We live in a very spiritually dark area of the country. My husband is Providentially (otherwise we’d be somewhere warmer with more churches!) leading a small church plant. And my heart resources are close to nil. I’ll have little pity parties more often than I care to admit. But then, you’ll post something that speaks to me. Encourages me. Challenges me. Frees me. And it’s such a blessing.
Thank you. And Merry Christmas!
…danielle
Amy says
Awww, thank you, Danielle! That does my heart good. And I hope you can use this – It really such a simple, yet beautiful service. 🙂
Dana says
This was my FAVORITE part of Christmas growing up. I was disappointed to see that things had changed to more of a special music service the last time I was back. (I think that may have been the first time I took my husband back home.) I was thinking of writing my own service, too, to have at home, but it wasn’t going to happen this year very well, so thanks so much for sharing!
Amy says
I knew you would be able to relate! I had no idea it had changed. 🙁
Jennifer W. says
Thank you so much for sharing this special tradition. I will put it in the works for our family’s Christmas dinner together. A few people in our family are lost (that sadly includes my Dad) and I hope this will help bring the light of Christ into their hearts.
Amy says
Wonderful! I pray it does help to bring light. 🙂
Jen Hyams says
Thank you for this. It’s very lovely and a nice tradition to start.
P says
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Merry Christmas to you and yours and may your season be filled with Love, Laughter, and time with your Family.
Kathy Sykes says
This is so lovely and just goes to show that you can praise the Lord anywhere. And how beautiful to have family traditions.
Dawn says
I’ve been thinking about doing something like this since we will actually be home this year instead of traveling. Reading the Christmas story, candles and family communion – I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Christmas.
Shelley says
Your readers may also be interested in the Nine Lessons and Carols that date from 1918. King’s College, Cambridge, has a beautiful recording of this service.
kathy king says
thanks
luci says
I’ve been a subscriber for a while. I would like a copy of your prayer service. How can I get it since the current emails I receive do not have the link? Thank you!!
Amy says
At the bottom of today’s email, you should see a link. 🙂
Danielle B says
Thanks Amy!! When I read your reply from my phone earlier today, I thought you had said, at the bottom of EVERY email I should see a link. lol I was like wow, how did I miss that?
Checked it out… love it. Definitely want to incorporate it. Our church doesn’t have services on Christmas Eve.
Amy says
Wonderful! Enjoy it! 🙂
Belinda says
I love the title of your blog! My “arrows” are raised…God bless you in raising yours!
Joe says
Hey. I subscribed as required and don’t seem to be able to access this Christmas resource for a Candlelight Service. Thanks for you help in advance.
Amy says
The link to the Christmas Eve service is in the bottom of each email that comes from Raising Arrows. 🙂
Melinda Elam says
I can’t seem to find how to download this Christmas Eve Service. I am already signed up to receive your emails. Can you help? I already downloaded the Thanksgiving Service and would love to have the Christmas one as well! Thank you for your blog! I know it is a lot of work and I am continually blessed by it!
Amy says
The link is at the bottom of every email that comes from my blog to your inbox. 🙂
April McNeilly says
Hi. I’d really like to download your free Christmas Candlelight service… I can’t seem to get access to it. Can you please help?
Amy says
Hi April! If you signed up for emails, you should have gotten a follow-up email with the link to the Subscriber Freebie page. Additionally, every email that comes from Raising Arrows website will have the link and password in the bottom of the email. 🙂
Terri says
Thanks Amy
Amy says
Will you repost this so we can download again. I have a printed version but wanted a hard copy on my computer
Amy says
Hi Amy! It is a subscriber download, so it never goes away for subscribers to the blog. It’s on a password protected page here that can be accessed for subscribers. The password is in the bottom of every email that comes from the blog. 🙂
Autumn Jones says
I loooove this idea! What a great tradition to start. I used to love Christmas Eve candle services, but never thought about doing it as a family at home. Thank you so much. 🙂
Angela says
I would love to have this! I’ve been a subscriber for a while. How do I get that link? Thanks for all your effort to bless others!
Amy says
There is a link at the bottom of all the emails from Raising Arrows as well as a link in the weekend newsletter that went out this past weekend. Were you able to access it?
Angela says
Sorry. I can’t seem to access it. thanks for your time.:)
Juli says
I subscribed but I am having a hard time finding the link
Amy says
You should get a followup email with the link. 🙂 Let me know if you do not receive it.
Lynette Andrews says
I have signed up and am anxiously awaiting the link to the Candle-Light Service!
Andrea says
Hi Amy,
I signed up for this late – we are doing the Twelve Days of Christmas in our home this year and I think we can still incorporate this into our family worship. Will the emails still include a link even though it is past Christmas? Thank you for your time and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Amy says
Yes! Enjoy!
malinda george says
I am trying to find the program that you used in the candle light program. I am wanting to do this with my family and would really like.
Amy says
If you are a subscriber, the link and password are at the bottom of each email you receive from me. If not, you will need to subscribe.
Wendy Smith says
I’m looking for a simple Christmas Eve Service that I can share with the residents of the Nursing Home that I am a Chaplain at. The simpler, the better! They are not “into” a lot of pomp and pageantry so your service sounds perfect. I look forward to hearing from you.
Wendy Smith
Jon hubbard says
I think a home Christmas Eve service is a wonderful idea. I would like to use this, if possible, and thank you so much for sharing this. God bless.
Alexis Hamrick says
My friend just told me of this. She and her family have been doing the for the past few years. I’m excited to start it with mine. Thanks for sharing!
Kathy says
I look forward to the emails
George McNair says
I am a subscriber but I am unable to download the Christmas Eve Candlelight service. Please help.
Amy says
At the bottom of all of my emails from the site is the link and password to the Subscriber page where the Candlelight Service is located for download.
George McNair says
Sorry, but it does not work for me. I will try another site.
Nancy Ackley says
Thank you!