Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Many churches in Jonesboro are preparing for their Christmas Eve candlelight services.

Typically, during a candlelight service, the flame from a single candle is passed around a church congregation, with the light representing the idea of Jesus being the light of the world.

“It scripturally stems back to this idea of Jesus Christ being the light of the world and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it, as it says in John Chapter One,” said Rev. Dr. Michael Roberts, pastor at First United Methodist Church (FUMC) of Jonesboro. “This image of light has been a powerful symbol of the Christian faith from the very beginning.”

While each service is generally the same, individual churches will add their own variations based on church tradition or preference. Aaron King, pastor at the nondenominational church Fellowship Jonesboro, told JRN that in addition to lighting candles and singing, their service includes hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.

“Ours specifically is pretty laid back. We take Jesus seriously, but we don’t take ourselves seriously, and we like to welcome people as they are,” King said. “[We] really try to emphasize the family nature of it and make it a welcoming service for our kids.”

Roberts said FUMC Jonesboro’s service will begin with the lighting of the Advent Wreath and Christ Candle.

The Advent Wreath has four candles symbolizing hope, love, joy, and peace, with each candle lit for each week of Advent, according to the United Methodist Church. The Christ Candle, located in the center of the wreath, is lit on Christmas Eve and typically serves as the source of flame for the congregation’s candles.

“We call it a Candlelight and Communion Service, so we have communion on Christmas Eve as well,” Roberts said. “Our choirs tend to pull out all the stops. Beautiful music is a part of the service.”

Cory Epps, lead worship pastor at Central Baptist Church, said his church began hosting its candlelight service to have a simpler service to complement its “high-energy service.” The high-energy service, he said, occurs on the Sunday before Christmas Eve.

“On Christmas Eve, we can kind of dial things back a bit. We will go more simple instrumentation. That actually lends itself to a very special moment for people to come together, light their candles, and sing those carols together,” Epps said. “It’s nice to remember why we’re there worshipping together, but also to kind of remember the many Christians who have gone before us in history and kind of getting to take part in that.”

Central Baptist Church’s service will end with communion, he added.

All three church leaders noted the importance of hosting candlelight services for the community.

“Loneliness is a big problem in our culture right now, and it is especially apparent during the holidays,” King said. “Having these opportunities for the community to come together and making them where it’s not just an internal thing, but a ‘Hey, anyone is welcome to come and receive hope and to receive belonging and community around the gospel and around the story of Christmas,’ I think that’s a very important thing for a community right now.”

The Christmas Eve candlelight service times for each church interviewed are below. Many churches around Craighead County are hosting candlelight services. For the most up-to-date information, check the individual church’s website or Facebook page.

  • Central Baptist Church: There will be four services: 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Located at 3707 Harrisburg Road.
  • Fellowship Jonesboro: 5 p.m. Located at 1801 Woodsprings Road.
  • First United Methodist Church of Jonesboro: There will be three services. The 4 p.m. service will be more contemporary, Roberts said, while the 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. services will be more traditional. Located at 801 S. Main St.

“I would also encourage people who do already have a church home, if they have Christmas Eve services, please go and attend at your church,” Epps said. “I think that would be a good thing for everyone.”