Candlelight service set Wednesday

An Evans church that routinely conducts a community Easter sunrise service now is inviting the public to a candlelight Christmas service.

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Mosaic United Methodist Church is putting on the inaugural Go Light Your World! community candlelight service at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbia County amphitheater behind the Columbia County Library in Evans.

"It is just a great venue," Carolyn Moore, the pastor of Mosaic church, said of the amphitheater where the annual Easter service is held. "We just really like being there."

The event is a partnership between Mosaic and the Vineyard Church of Augusta.

Moore said both churches are contemporary, but the Christmas service will be more traditional.

"When it comes to Christmas time, I don't think you can get any better than Christmas carols and candlelight," Moore said.

The service should last less than an hour and will include carols, music and a Christmas message. It will conclude with participants holding candles while singing Silent Night .

After the service, any interested groups, including families, office staff or church groups, may go caroling to homes of elderly adults and children with disabilities.

Maps and music will be provided to those who opt to go caroling, Moore said.

Many people want to do something to serve others during the holiday season, but have trouble finding the time to do so, Moore said. The organized caroling provides a fun and simple serving opportunity.

"Bless someone and feel good about yourself and go home," Moore said. "Go be a blessing to one family. ... The idea is we'll light candles, then we'll ask people to go light the world."

The service is free and open to the public. An offering will be collected to benefit Coordinated Healthcare Services, a nonprofit organization in Augusta serving people in crisis or homeless people who have no insurance.

For information, or to sign up for caroling, visit www.mosaicumc.org or www.vineyardaugusta.org.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: "Go Light Your World!" community candlelight Christmas service

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Columbia County amphitheater

COST: Free, offering accepted for Coordinated Healthcare Services

MORE: Organized caroling after the service. Visit www.mosaicumc.org or www.vineyardaugusta.org