When I was growing up, the Methodist Church we attended had a Christmas eve service around 11 p.m. with lit candles for parishioners to hold, sharing the light, candle to candle. I've been looking for that type of service for years. Maybe churches don't do that anymore. I've looked for Catholic churches offering the same, can't find. I think it is a time when most people would want to go to church and it would get too crowded, so maybe they don't do it anymore either.
It's all in your own heart or spirit, ya know? It's how you feel about it as you reflect on the representation of what we are celebrating.
Things and circumstances in families change and I've been struggling to nail down some family traditions. Remembering what the kids want is more important than whether I feel like doing this or not. Put up the stockings I made, the tree, decorations Grandma made, teddy bears. Make cookies and breads. Share them with others. Visit those who are living alone. We've gone caroling with others and delivered a plate of cookies to those we're singing to.
Where I grew up snow was always considered a part of the Christmas scene, I miss that here.
Going to a holiday concert is fun, best if it's free, lilke the one we found last year. Start looking now for good opportunities to hear an orchestra. So much power from all those instruments!
