Christmas Eve Service: Stories Behind The Songs

Take your Christmas Eve service attendees on a journey to discover the meanings and backstories behind popular Christmas hymns and carols.

This special evening is designed to offer a peaceful space to reflect on the true meaning of the season. Discover the historical context, the heartfelt inspirations, and the enduring messages that sparked the lyrics for these popular Christmas carols. 

The evening concludes with a meaningful and traditional candlelighting ceremony as the congregation sings "Silent Night" together. The sanctuary fills with the glow of candlelight (and if you choose, glowsticks for the children), a powerful symbol of the light and peace we have through Jesus.

Do this as a service or as an intergenerational event. This can be done with the “voices” standing off stage and using a microphone, or with the voices dressed in character on the stage.

Included in this product:

• Historical backstory for each song
• Scripture readings
• Order of Service
• Two Candlelighting Ceremony templates

Songs in this Service:

• Hark The Herald Angels Sing
• O, Little Town Of Bethlehem
• I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
• The First Noel
• Joy To the World
• Silent Night

Needed for this service:

• Readers for each of the six song stories and scriptures    (Hint #1: Increase congregational engagement by using different readers for different stories.  Hint#2: Many of these scriptures are short passages that can even work well for elementary students.)
• Music or song leader to lead the congregation in singing the above songs
• Large candle on table in front of the congregation (for non-Advent Wreath Candlelighting Ceremony) plus matches or lighter
• 2 or more people to help light candles 
• Candles to pass out to attendees – some churches prefer to pass out glowsticks to the children
•  For an Advent Wreath Candlelighting Ceremony: Advent Wreath with five candles, plus matches or a lighter

Stories are printed on separate pages to make it easier for your readers.

Read scriptures from your preferred Bible version. Hint: Print Scripture Readings out ahead of time in large print for easy reading.

This product is a digital download.