December 25 – “A flexible, fabulous Christmas Eve”

All the Christmas preparation at church finally came to its climax yesterday.  We had a pretty good, average size crowd at the morning service.  Of course the people who made up that crowd were way above average.  There was a lot of holiday hugging among the family.  Chris and I were presented with a really nice gift basket with popcorn and assorted candy as well as gift cards from the movie theater and several restaurants.  We were admonished that the gift was for just the two of us … no sharing.  They wanted to make sure we took some time to relax.  I guess we may get to go see Star Wars after all.

Then came last night … wow. 

One family arrived a little before five (our start time was six), but they were looking for the Catholic Church.  I gave them directions and returned to helping Chris with the pre-service preparations: putting drip guards on 101 candles and getting Communion ready for 80 (We never know what kind of crowd we will have at our special services), entering worship stuff into the computer, plugging in the Christmas lights, setting out the worship bulletins and trivia tests, going over my notes.  Just a typical preparation time. 

We knew something was going to be up when the first couple to arrive were visitors, one from Houston and one from Las Vegas.  And then more people started arriving.  And arriving.  And arriving.  Before the night was over we had set out every one of the 100 new chairs we just bought along with 15 or 20 others we scrounged up.  When all was said and done, we figured there were more than 120 people there, in a room that comfortably seats probably 80.  Don’t tell the fire marshal.  It was amazing. 

It was also challenging.  Chris and Jennifer scrambled to prepare more communion cups and candles.  The people were all flexible and in a great Christmas spirit.  When we sang “Go Tell It on the Island” (Our Galveston version of the Christmas classic), I saw several 20-somethings making up hand motions and laughing with the children near them.  And towards the end of the service a gentleman sitting in the back of the room near Chris volunteered to join the Praise Team right there to play the conga drums.  He was good, too.  Made it possible for Dale to move back to his first love, the guitar.  The Visual Verse went over great.  People were taking pictures of it, and many of them knew the verse already, so they had a great time trying to match the pictures with what they knew it was supposed to say.  Oh, the verse was Isaiah 9:6.  Check it out below.

They really got into our tradition of giving away donuts and ornaments to people who have to work on Christmas Eve.  We only had nine ornaments left of the 100+ we ordered.  The ten boxes of donuts were all grabbed up, and people were telling me who they intended to give them to.  One lady was especially excited.  She wanted to try to duplicate her experience from two years ago (the last time she was in town was two years ago on Christmas Eve).  She told me, “Two years ago when we were here we took some donuts to a policeman at Moody Gardens when we went to see the Festival of Lights.  I was really scared I might get arrested when I ran up to a police cruiser in the middle of the night.  But he laughed and really appreciated the donuts.”

Perhaps the most humbling part of the evening came when we entered into our communion candlelight portion of the service.  Folks were encouraged to go to the communion station first, then pick up a candle and light it from the Christ Candle of the Advent wreath.  With 120+ people in our little worship center, all lining up for communion and then lighting candles, you can imagine how crowded it became.  But the people were all patient and kind to one another.  Jim and the Praise team did a great job covering with the music.  We sang “O Holy Night” two or three times (And new Praise Team member David led out in that one with power and a sweet spirit), and then “Silent Night” no less than five times.  We certainly needed the extras so hastily prepared, but in the end everybody got a candle.  And the final verse of “Silent Night” that we sang acapella was beautiful.  Most assuredly a Christmas Eve to remember.

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Happy birthday, Jesus.  We love you and thank you for the myriad of people you bring our way.  May they have a safe and happy Christmas.  Amen.