Christmas Eve Service

This is the first Christmas at our church. Ever since we came to candidate here for the youth pastor position that snowy February weekend, we've fallen in love with TCC. Today, that love deepened.

Our pastoral staff is amazing - men and women who so clearly love the Lord and desire to do His will. Our senior pastor is such a blessing; incredibly talented in so many ways, and "oozes" God.

My husband and I had the privilege of serving communion tonight, along with our Assistant Pastor and his wife. We stood on stage as people came to kneel at the altar, and offered them the bread and the wine.

What a beautiful, humbling experience. Who am I to offer this sacrament to God's people?

Husbands and wives came forward together and knelt; single women and teens... a married couple came forward with their 6 year old son, knelt together, took the sacraments and showed their son what to do. Then they all held hands and said a prayer. An elderly woman came forward, unsteady on her feet despite her cane. She couldn't go up the steps to the altar, so we went to her. Hands shaking uncontrollably, she blissfully accepted the bread and wine and gave thanks for the Lord's suffering on her behalf.

The Assistant Pastor's son is home from college for Christmas. His mother went forward to give him the bread... she bent down to place it in his hands, and her body convulsed in a sob as she realized the beauty and privilege of offering her son communion.

Another elderly woman came forward, nearly desperate to experience the Lord; her adult children held her arms as she stumbled up the steps and nearly fell at the altar. What a wondrous sight, to see such love for Jesus and thankfulness for what He has done for us.

May we all celebrate in the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what that means for us - undeserved grace and salvation.