Some Helpful Candlelight Service Tips

How To: Have a Candlelight Service

My church recently held a candlelight service. It was a beautiful and amazing experience. This service is popular during the Christmas and New Years service.  I wanted to share some tips and ideas that I gathered from this night.

1. Don’t let outside light in.
My church has no windows in the main auditorium. So we didn’t have to shut out the outside light. If your church has windows, you will want to cover them. A large piece of cardboard outside the window should work.

2. Start the service in the light.
Keep the lights on to start the service. You don’t want people tripping or falling as they find their seats, or for some Baptists, their assigned rows! It’s safer to start out with the light on.

photo by mseckington

3. Be safe!
Check with the local fire department to see if there are any rules or regulations they may have for your community.

4. Use the right equipment!
Check for candlelight service accessories from your local Christian book store. Make sure to get the candle protectors. You can also try this website: Christian Supply

5. Have a set schedule.
Having everyone in the dark for a long period of time will make some minds wander. Having a set itinerary of what comes next will help to make the service run smoothly. Especially, if you will be having everyone hold a lit candle.

6. Have lots of help.
My church had the ushers help with the passing out of the candles and to help direct the people. They had some of the kids helping too! They held the baskets with the candles so the ushers had an extra hand.

7. Be aware of the time
Most of the candles used won’t last for very long. Save the candles for everyone until the end.Perhaps, during a song and the closing prayer.

8. Keep everyone informed.
My sisters and I sang during the service. We knew when we would be singing and where we were to stand and then pastor called us up at the appropriate time.

9. Keep it simple.
To host this type of service, you don’t need to do anything elaborate. Singing congregational Christmas songs, sharing testamonies of what God has done, reading the Christmas story (Luke 2), all are elements you can incorporate into your service

Have any more ideas? Share them with us!

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