Luminaries lit the walk to this year’s candlelight Christmas Eve service that for the first time featured the Festival of the Nine Lessons of Christmas. Nine short scripture readings telling the fall of man, God’s promise of a Messiah, and Christ’s birth alternated with congregational and choir singing. The choir sang both “Ave Maria” and the Hallelujah Chorus of “Handel’s Messiah.” Everyone sang “Silent Night” as the light passed from hand to hand.
