Welcome to the 82nd Candlelight Carol Service hosted by the community at First Baptist Church of Pasadena. This annual tradition is always a snapshot in time of a congregation welcoming the Advent spirit with anticipation and celebration. In some years the sound was driven by the pipe organ (which now sits quiet above the choir); in other years there has been a full brass and strings orchestra. This year we have gathered the sounds of our people, handbells and electric guitar, choir voices and harp. The songs are mostly familiar Christas tunes, with some new ones that have captured our imagination. At the center of the chancel stage sits the manger, a central sign of the story we are stewarding with all this music and motion.

Jesus.
Immanuel.
God with us.

So let’s tell this story once again. Angels and barn animals and the holy family. The prophet Isaiah will guide our Scriptural imagination, with a selection of short readings and reflections that weave a fuller tapestry of meaning. We are glad you have joined us as fellow storytellers. Please sing along where you know the words. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas.

After the service we will have a time to gather and share some cookies that many of you brought to share. If you parked in our Holly St garage, make sure to validate your ticket at the Welcome Desk. We invite you back to join us each Sunday at 10:30am for our regular worship service. On Christmas Eve we will gather in our Chapel at 6pm to share an intimate service of Scripture, singing and passing the light of Christ. We hope you can join us.

Thank you to all of the friends who helped put this service together. Our Choir has been through a lot of changes and unknowns, yet they consistently lead with dignity and grace. Paul Baker stepped up to conduct the choir, carrying them across the Advent season. That beautiful harp you heard, also Paul Baker! The low end of our sound is credit to Rick Guetschow on electric bass. Scott Martin is the heartbeat of our sound on the drums. Daniel Gledhill joins us as a guest pianist of brilliant gifts. Natalee Ellis brings the joy with her presence as a worship vocalist. Sam Linkowski is on keys, with a quick shift to handbells. Speaking of which, how about the handbell choir!? Melody Bundy joins us to conduct our ringers. Our youth and kids make up the nativity and “Friendly Beasts,” corralled by Pastor Andrew Masembe and Caeden Harrison. The mixed quartet is made up of Bill Douglas, Tina Berry, Jonathan Fisher and Vanessa Mendoza (also the soloist on our opening choir piece). Pastor Chip Barabas invited us into our offering time and shared one of our reflections on Isaiah. Lead Pastor John Jay Alvaro held down the other speaking roles through the service. Back of house is Steph Wong assisted by Jennifer Nishizaki. Tariq Rabadi keeps the flow moving with the slides. At the helm is Pastor Riley Taylor as our Worship Pastor, celebrating his first Advent with us and coming in clutch. Behind the scenes are so many other people who helped make tonight possible, from office staff to volunteer decorators and bakers and child care workers. Liturgy is known as the work of the people. These are our people, and we are blessed to belong to one another.