A Glow Stick Christmas
Typically on Christmas Eve our family will attend the Candlelight – Lord’s Supper service. It is one of the traditions we have and it helps us to focus our minds and hearts upon the Lord. It allows us to make sure He is at the focal point where He should be. This is one service that our family looks forward to each and every year. Not only is it an enjoyable service but it is one that is filled with reverence for our Lord. It is one in which there can be solemness and joy expressed with a still, quiet spirit and be filled with music and praise. This year however the tone was much different. There were many who disagreed with my hubby, my children, and I on this matter. The reverence and seriousness of the celebration was lost.
Am I the only one who realizes that you can be serious and joyful at the same time? You can be serious and have fun at the same time? You can take things seriously and still enjoy them? There are times and places to act, to behave in certain ways. We do not have to remove the serious nature of things to enjoy them and be blessed. When we try to make things practical and fun all the time the meaning is often lost.
This year while the Lord’s Supper was being served many people were chuckling, giggling, and talking (rather loudly too). Where is the reverence and the gratitude due to our Lord? Did it even mean anything to them?
When it came time for the candlelight service instead of candles we were given multicolored glow sticks. The reasons given for this choice were: no fire hazard, easier for children, and solidarity with our troops. Let me ask, what is wrong with parents supervising their children? The hazard is not that high if children are supervised. It is not that difficult to help a child. I can understand the solidarity with the troops who are deployed but personally I think this was not appropriate. For those in the deployed setting I do not have issue with them using them. In this service though we are to be honoring Christ not other people.
It was not necessarily the fact that we used the glow sticks, it was the attitude and atmosphere that accompanied their usage and was associate with them. The sense of reverence was gone. It wasn’t even about solidarity with the troops, it was about fun. There were people laughing, children waving them around, teenagers using them as drumsticks, and we even noticed someone holding up a cell phone! At least with candles, children have to be still, you are more focused and aware. There is more of a sense of reverence rather than the carnival atmosphere we experienced. There were several people who thought it was wonderful and so much fun. There was one person who said it was great and that he will always remember the service. We will too but it will not be a good memory it will be one in which we saw the Lord take a backseat to entertainment.
So, is our family alone in this? Do you think we are over reacting? What would you do or feel if this was a service you attended? What are your thought and ideas? Share with me your Ponderings!
Posted in Christianity, Christmas, Pondering
December 29th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I think it is near to impossible to effect good change on a group which is spiraling downward in their tastes, preferences and behaviors. The hard truth is that they don’t want what you have.
You’re right in my estimation, but the truth is that it doesn’t matter.
btw…we attended your old stomping grounds to see Tim off to Africa. There was no candlelight, but it was very reverent and wonderful.
December 29th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I wish we could have been there! The service there last year was wonderful, yes, no candlelight but they do know how to make Christ the focus of every service there at Faith! I wish we could be there in person to send them off to Africa but Iknow the Lord hears our prayers for them even way up here in Alaska! I will probabaly do a post on them in the near future and their new ministry!
January 4th, 2009 at 4:35 am
I hear you. The glow sticks just revealed what was already going on in the heart. Every year we go to another church for Christmas Eve service. We have to hunt for one that is even having a service. Most churches feel that everyone would rather be at parties then church on Christmas Eve.
I miss the solemn reminder of what Christmas is about. There is nothing wrong with fun. The problem is that very rarely to the people of God take anything seriously anymore even something as sacred as Communion.
January 4th, 2009 at 4:37 am
What? Changed your commenting application?! I hope my comments still count!
I’m with you when it comes to being reverential, but God also wants us to come before Him honestly. Unwittingly, many have shown their heart through their actions– through the glow sticks. We have cheapened Christianity. We have diluted the meaning of why Christ died.
But we cannot pretend that we still hold these things sacred– nor should we encourage pretending– we need to pray for those around us– especially those that name the name of Christ. It needs to be something that comes from the heart, as well as something that comes out of reverence for Almighty God.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I understand how you feel. Sometimes I question whether I’m reacting too much to how Christmas is slowly being forgoten or replaced by idol worship in a very subtle way. It’s everywhere included in the church and people just don’t seem to want to see it for what it is. Most think it is fun and harmless. But in reality it has made Christmas what it is today. It has brought on expectations of something that it was never meant to bring. It has diverted the real reason why Christ came, into a joyous occassion for unbelievers and anyone else who would care less about the blood, but brought them in to partake. My son asked me the other day why people who don’t serve Jesus would celebrate Christmas so heartedly. They aren’t celebrating the birth of Christ. They are just celebrating, and they don’t know what.
But if you asked them to tell you about Santa Claus- they could. If you asked them about the Saviour, some might.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:08 am
I totally agree with you. I do feel that church services have become very worldly when it comes to if you are being entertained. I am sorry you experienced this but it may be a chance to share your views with others. I pray God will be glorified.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:09 am
The hearts and attitudes of the service you described breaks my heart. God never looks at the physical but at the heart and I am sure he is saddened too. We don’t go to a church service on Christmas Eve, our church does the Christmas service on the Sunday before. But we go to my hubby’s parents were those who are away from family can come and be a part of our family. We eat and have fun but then we sing carols and worship our Lord. We pray and we read Luke 2 and talk about why we celebrate in the first place. During that time there is reverence and no giggling or playing. How very sad that a service at church could be so disrespectful and well watered down for lack of a better term. You are right it isn’t necessarily the fact that glow stick were used it is the heart behind it and the atmosphere they produced.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Hi!!! I hope to not loose many friends by taking some time off… I want to keep in contact with you!!!
We also attended a candle light service Christmas eve. I love those!!! My two year old really loved blowing the candles out as we walked out and sang. Silly girl!
Have a great week. I’ll shoot you an e-mail sometime today or tomorrow – ok?
Valerie
January 4th, 2009 at 10:10 am
We too were disappointed at the behaviors of those who attended our Christmas Eve service. Hubby had to confront some teenage boys sitting behind us and they responded with complete arrogance. Parents were not controlling their children. There was a lot of talking. We didn’t even have anything that resembled a glowing light! Disappointed…. You are not alone!
January 4th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Wow – I’ve never seen this and it saddens me.Reading between the lines I can guess where this may have occured.
We did candles here. It was solemn and joyous….
We used glowsticks for kids and candles for adults at the wing sponsored “Christmas Tree lighting and Santa” shindig.
The glowsticks really wouldn’t bother me as much as the yucking it up attitude that would naturally accompany them. I’m glad we had candles….I believe we show our solidarity with deployed troops every week in many ways at our chapel. This issue never even came up for our Christmas service.
January 4th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Finally commenting on your blog… (Lurking on all large family and adoption blogs) We handed out glow sticks to all the kids at church. My husband is the pastor and we FIRMLY believe in “Suffer the children to come to ME”
What do you do when your first child is born? Are you quiet? After all the screaming and hard work, the new mom weeps loudly with tears of joy. The father dances like a leprechaun and shouts for joy. Everyone involved is not quiet. Not even the baby!
So having 10 kids dancing in front of the alter (At a baptist church) with glow sticks singing Christmas hymns at the top of their lungs, celebrating THE birth of a first born son is incredibly appropriate!!!
January 7th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
*sigh*
I’m kind of a tradition-loving person, and I love the candles :0) Holding onto an open flame does seem to encourage a bit more focus, but ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you’re holding, but what is in your heart.
Your mention of people who were chuckling, giggling, and talking during the Lord’s Supper is more revealing…
For my family, glow sticks would definitely be a distraction, as we use them as toys… and why not? They’re fun! But I’m looking for something more – something deeper and richer – than “fun” at a Christmas Eve service and/or the Lord’s Supper.
January 7th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Julie- I totally agree w/ you concerning the Lord’s Supper behaivor being more revealing. Ultimately it isn’t the item that was used it was the hearts that accompanied them.