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Orlando Christmas: Christmas Eve - Day 4 (click once on any photo
to display full image) |
We
attended the Christmas Eve Worship Service at First United Methodist Church.
Wei-Shen played O Holy Night on the violin before the service and it is amazing
how what appears to be such a simple act can have such a profound impact on
others. After the service one of the members of the congregation was in tears
as he told Wei-Shen that his performance brought back memories of a friend who
used to sing this song but has since passed away. Click this link to view
Wei-Shen’s performance.
The pre-service also featured the Fantasy on Ukranian Bell
Carol performed by the Wesley Ringers. The songs that resulted from the array
of bell sizes and precise timing of each ringer were quite impressive.
A
lighting of candles ceremony began in a pitch-black church with all of the lights turned off. The only source of light was
the main candle at the front of the church which was lit earlier in the service
(see the tallest candle in the first photo below). An assistant then took the
flame from this candle to light his candle and then used his flame to light
another person’s candle. This person then used their flame to light the candle
of the person next to them and this was repeated until everyone’s candle was
lit, which symbolized the passing of Christ’s light to others. The service
concluded as we all sang Silent Night while holding our lit candles (see second
photo below and this
link for a video snippet).
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