02 Jan Christmas at Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

Gayle Thorn, Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

On Christmas Eve 2012, we held our first Christmas Eve worship service in our new worship center. Our sanctuary was adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations.

Pastor Mark Ralph led us in singing a number of Christmas carols, and also shared some meditative thoughts on Christmas. We were also treated to a variety of songs and readings from members of the congregation.

The sanctuary was bathed in candlelight, starting with our Advent candles and ending in a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing our desire that our lives be a light that leads our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and community to faith in Jesus Christ. The flame was passed from person to person, candle to candle, as one small flame grew and grew until our sanctuary was ringed in candlelight!

It was a gorgeous ending to an awesome evening spent reflecting on our Savior’s birth and worshipping his majesty! The evening was captured photographically by our resident photographer, Stormie Thorn.