Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

Every year, the First Baptist Church of Aiken holds a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and this year, Matthew performed the special music for the evening. 

We arrived early to set up and go over the order of service.  Here Matthew is talking with Mr. Bennet, the music minister at First Baptist.

The church was decorated beautifully for the occasion...

Matthew was able to play a few instrumental pieces as well as background music for the Lord's Supper.

At the end of the service, everyone sang "Silent Night" while Matthew played the dulcimer.  The music filled the old church beautifully as everyone's voices rang out the words to that lovely Christmas hymn.

Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven above
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Savior is born,
Christ the Savior is born.