On Christmas Eve, the weather here in the Lansing (MI)-area made for pretty marginal driving, so we decided to go to the candlelight service at a neighborhood church–Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2727 Holmes Rd.
on the southwest side of the city.
The church borders two different neighborhoods, Averill Woods and Churchill Downs neighborhoods, one of the most dynamic area and most misunderstood areas in Michigan’s Capital City. This middle-class area is divided racially and ethnically and is a good place to live.
Redeemer’s Christmas Eve service had fewer than 50 people, included good instrumental music along with impressive vocalists. It was a liturgical service built around the typical infrastructure of a Lutheran service. The sermon by Pastor Jan Hite was a pedestrian message that was probably repeated in most churches.
I’m curious about Christmas Eve services in our area and other areas around the state. Did you attend a Christmas Eve service? Was it crowded? What percentage of the seats were filled? What was the message?
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I presided at a Christmas Eve service if that counts! I was horribly sick and didn’t have my voice back in time for the service. My sermon was about 10 minutes long and that was to make sure I presented the Gospel for our visitors. We had 64 in total attendance and we structured it around an Anglican liturgy but made room for lots and lots of Christmas Carols! We had a time for Communion and recessed out by candlelight singing “Silent Night.” The evening was mostly a blur for me since I wasn’t feeling 100%. I was pleased with the way the service went, the Gospel was preached, we worshipped the Lord and we shared Communion. Driving home was very tricky, though!
Fr. Jack–we were looking forward to going to the Christmas Eve service at Christ the King until we heard about the road. It had to be a busy evening for you and particularly taxing given the fact that you weren’t feeling well. Do you think Christmas Eve services were as crowded throughout the metro area? Wes