SPC Christmas Eve Candlelight Service - December 24, 2025

On Christmas Eve, the members and friends of Sligo Presbyterian Church focused on Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all. A video podcast of the service is below. 

SPC Candle Light Christmas Eve Service

Christ came in simplicity. His mother was a young woman who'd found favor with the Lord. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He was first praised by shepherds. The light entered a dark world without brass bands or fanfare. Let's celebrate the simplicity of this event with one another at a traditional Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Tuesday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. You’re invited to a reception in our fellowship hall immediately after the service.

The SPC Christmas Eve Candle Light Service

Christ came in simplicity. His mother was a young woman who'd found favor with the Lord. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He was first praised by shepherds. The light entered a dark world without brass bands or fanfare. Sligo Presbyterian Church celebrated the simplicity of this event wat a traditional Christmas Eve Candle Light Service on Sunday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. 

Below are a video of the service, a recording of the message Pastor Rudiger offered and a copy of the bulletin we followed. You can stream our regular Sunday morning services going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Our Christmas Eve Message - Christmas Is About

Christ came in simplicity. His mother was a young woman who'd found favor with the Lord. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He was first praised by shepherds. The light entered a dark world without brass bands or fanfare. Sligo Presbyterian Church celebrated the simplicity of this event wat a traditional Christmas Eve Candle Light Service on Sunday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. 

Below are a recording and the text of the message Pastor Rudiger offered. You can stream our regular Sunday morning services going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m. (EST)

Well, here we are, at the end of what most of us consider the Christmas Season. And even though as we’ve moved from Black Friday to this evening, we’ve been surrounded by imagines of gentle snow falling on rolling hills and we’ve been singing about “peace on earth,” let’s get real, for most of us, getting through the last month or so has been anything but gentle and peaceful. I’ll tell you, speaking for myself, I feel like there have been times when chestnuts weren’t the only things being roasted on an open fire and that my biggest source of stress wasn’t Jack Frost nipping at my nose. Just like it is every year, Christmas is more like a marathon than a sleigh ride. I mean, good night nurse, presents had to be bought. Cookies had to be baked (at least, in my case, eaten). And halls had to be decked. In other words, there was an awful lot to get done before Christmas. And I don’t know about y’all but as the time got shorter, the pressure go bigger. My goodness, for a lot of folks, that’s Christmas in a chestnut shell. But here’s the problem. Even though this is pretty much the way it always is, all  the hustle and bustle can become so great that it can block out everything else, leaving us more tired than jolly and more distracted than focused on what Christmas is about.

But you know something, that’s no longer the case this evening. I mean, all those things that we had to do a week ago either have been done or won’t be done, at least not this year. And so right now, we can all take a collective breath, relax just a little bit and sort of refocus our attention on something that’s really simple but also incredibly profound. You see, right now we can simply remember what Christmas is all about. You know, I can’t think of a better expression of this than in what Linus said to Charlie Brown when he felt overwhelmed by the combination of a chaotic pageant rehearsal, an over enthusiastic dog,  and a truly pathetic tree sitting on a piano. 

Now, for Linus, that was the meaning of Christmas. And it can be the same for us as well. 

You see, Christmas really is about joy, and I’m talking about a kind of joy that’s intense and exuberant and unrestrained. It was something the angel believed that the shepherds would experience when they understood the cosmic significance of an extremely simple birth. And it’s something that I believe we can feel when we trust that, in spite of all the problems and pain through which we’re struggling, the destiny of the universe is resting in hands far more powerful and far more loving than our own. In fact, it’s in the hands of the one who was “wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” Now, this is something I think we need to remember, because Christmas is about joy.

Just like it’s also about peace, “on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Now that’s what the heavenly host said. Of course, this kind of peace is a whole lot more than just a lack of conflict. No, what Jesus Christ brought into the world involves a spirit that sort of ties everything together. It’s seen when all the essential elements are joined and working as a single unit for something greater than any of the individual parts. As a matter of fact, it represents a sense of wholeness that can enable us to reach out toward all those around us without the kind of rancor and hostility and enmity that’s become part of our world now-a-days.You see, the birth of Christ brought to us the possibility of genuine compassion and cooperation and love, because Christmas is also about peace.

I’m telling you, right here and right now, we can put aside the buying and the baking and the decking. And we can look past the presents and the cookies and the halls. And even if we don’t have chestnuts roasting or Jack Frost nipping or, of course, sleighs riding, we can still relax and think about what Linus said to Charlie Brown and remember the joy and the peace, because that’s what Christmas is about.

The Bulletin for the SPC Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Christ came in simplicity. His mother was a young woman who'd found favor with the Lord. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He was first praised by shepherds. The light entered a dark world without brass bands or fanfare. Let's celebrate the simplicity of this event with one another at a traditional Christmas Eve Candlelight Service Sunday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. Below is the bulletin we'll follow. If you're not able to attend in person, we'll stream the service on the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 10:00 a.m. (EDT), beginning at 7:00 (EST).

The SPC Christmas Eve Service

Christ came in simplicity. His mother was a young woman who'd found favor with the Lord. He was born in a stable and laid in a manger. He was first praised by shepherds. The light entered a dark world without brass bands or fanfare. We celebrated the simplicity of this event with one another at at traditional Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Saturday, December 24, 7:00 p.m. A holiday reception followed. 

As a congregation, we thank all those involved in both the service and the reception. A video of the service is below:

The Bulletin for the SPC Christmas Eve Service - Saturday, December 24, 2022

 On Saturday, the Sligo Presbyterian Church will gather at 7:00 p.m. to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with Christmas songs, readings and communion. And after the service, the SPC Board of Deacons invite you to attend a special Christmas reception. If you're not able to be here in person, you can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel at 7:00 p.m., Saturday evening.

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Christmas Eve Service - Sunday, December 24, 2021

SPC gathered for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service on Friday evening, at 7:00 p.m. During our time together, we celebrated the birth of Christ through readings, carols and communion.  You can stream every service live by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube page.

Below is a copy of the bulletin and a podcast of the sermon and the service.

The Message for Christmas Eve - Gathering on Christmas Eve (Luke 2:1-20)

Below is the message Pastor Rudiger offered during our Christmas Eve candlelight service. It's based on the Christmas story, as written by the Evangelist Luke. 

Luke 2:1-20 [Contemporary English Version]

About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 

Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family.

Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, and while they were there, she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.

That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said:

“Praise God in heaven!

Peace on earth to everyone

    who pleases God.”

After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.

When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. Everyone listened and was surprised. But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.

As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.

Gathering on Christmas Eve

Now, I’ve got to tell you; love coming to church on Christmas Eve. As a matter of fact, for the last thirty-five years, my two favorite services in the whole year are Good Friday and Christmas Eve. Of course, my reason for liking these two are entirely different. I mean, while Good Friday is very serious and sober because we’re focused on the crucifixion, Christmas Eve, man, it’s just a blast, because we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the reason for the season. And so every year, I look forward to gathering at church so that we can sing some carols and share communion and light candles. What a wonderful way to close out the year. And I’ve got to tell y’all, since this is my first Christmas Eve in Sligo, and having my wife and daughter here, man, this evening is extra special, at least, it is to me.

But you know, as I was thinking about it this past week, the idea of gathering, well, I don’t think that’s a major emphasis in our society anymore. In other words, I just don’t think people enjoy doing it like they used to. I mean, although we can still get together at church every week and go to games or plays or concerts every-now-and-then, there’s a lot of stuff in our world that sort of pull us apart, you know what I mean. Let’s get real, we tend to be more comfortable standing as individuals then in hang out in groups. For example, sometimes, when I’m walking my little dog Coco in the morning, we’ll pass maybe eight or nine kids waiting for the bus. And even though they’re standing in a little group, they’re all on their cell phones. Now let me be clear, I’m not saying that’s wrong or bad, it’s just different from what I remember. I mean, it just seems as thought we’ve become a little more isolated than we used to be. And I’ve got to tell, going through this pandemic, man, I think that’s made it even worse. There just doesn’t seem to be as much gathering as there used to be.

And I’ll tell you, maybe that’s why I enjoy Christmas Eve so much, because we’re all here. And you know, this idea of getting together to celebrate the birth of Jesus, well, I think it’s actually in the passage we read a little while ago. I mean, remember, since those shepherds were guarding their sheep out in these fields near Bethlehem, I’ve got to believe they weren’t hanging out together in the same place. Now they weren’t on their cell phones; still they sure weren’t together. Good night nurse, I grew up in the city, but even I know that would be a pretty stupid way to protect a scattered flock. No, according to what we read, these guys didn’t gather together until they heard the angel and then decided to go and to find the baby. You see, for those shepherds, the birth of Jesus really gathered them together in a new way.

And I’ll tell you, I think that’s something important for us to remember, particularly when we leave here this evening and go about our regular business. You see, as people who’ve come here to celebrate the coming of Christ, when we choose to gather together, I believe that three things will happen to us just like they happened to those shepherds. And let me share them with you right now.

You see, first, when we’re together, I think we we’re better able to feel God’s presence, something that, like I said, we can see happening to the shepherds. I mean, the voice of that angel gathered a bunch of guys who were guarding a bunch of sheep scattered in a bunch of fields. And when they were together, not only did they hear the angel say, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay” [Luke 2:10b-12, CEV], they also heard all those other angels saying, “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” [Luke 2:14, CEV] Now that’s what happened to them, and I’m telling you, it can happen to us. You see, when we’re together, when we’ve gather as the Body of Christ to sing and to pray and praise, I believe we can hear God and his words in a special way. And we can experience his presence as his Spirit draws us together, something that he’s doing tonight. I’ll tell you, first, when we gather, I believe we’re better able to feel God’s presence.

And second, I also think we’re better able to help one another, and I’m talking about helping one another do what is necessary for us to do. And again, I think this is something else that we can see with those shepherds in the story we read. I mean, do you remember what happened “after the angels had left and gone back to heaven” [Luke 2:15a, CEV]? According to Luke, “the shepherds said to each other, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.’ They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay.” [Luke 215b-16, CEV] Now, I think that’s really important. You see, after the heavenly host had gone, the shepherds didn’t split up or scatter. Instead, they went together, you know as a group. And in the end, they found what they were looking for, the one about whom the angel spoke. Now that’s what happened to them. And I’m telling you, it can also happen to us. You see, when we choose to face problems and pain, confusion and doubt not as isolated individuals, but rather as members of a body, a community, a family, I think we’ll be in a much better position to hear the needs of our friends and neighbors, our brothers and sisters. And we’ll be able to respond in a way that helps them, not just ourselves. You see, second, when we gather, I believe we’re better able to help one another.

And third, right along with feeling God’s presence and helping one another, when we gather together, I believe we’re better able to share the Good News, and I’m talking about sharing it by showing the kind of love and mercy that Jesus Christ both lived and encouraged. You see, this is something that I think we can most effectively do together. And I’ll tell you, isn’t this exactly what happened with those shepherds, and I’m talking about, after they’d left Mary and Joseph and the baby? Remember, according to Luke, “as the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as the angel had said.” [Luke 2:20, CEV] You see, they left the manger praising God and telling anyone who would listen what they’d seen and heard. And together, man, we can do the same thing. We can accept that we have a message to share, one grounded in this truth: God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them! [John 3:16-17, CEV] You see, we can share this message. And we can share it certainly through the words we use, but maybe more importantly through the lives we choose to live. I’m telling you, third, when we gather together, I believe we’re better able to share the Good News.

Now, I’ll always love Christmas Eve, but not just for the carols and the communion and the candles. You see, tonight can be a powerful reminder. Although there’s all kinds of stuff in our world that separates us, when Christians gather together, like we’re doing this evening, I believe we’re better able to feel God’s presence and we’re better able to help one another and we’re better able share the Good News. You see, maybe that’s what gathering on Christmas Eve is all about.

Our Bulletin for the Christmas Eve

SPC will gather for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service on Friday evening, at 7:00 p.m. During our time together, we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ through readings, carols and communion. And after the service, you’re invited share refreshments and fellowship. You can stream the service live by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube page.