Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Debra Richardson | The advent wreath was lit by Chaplain Luke Phillips, the 1-201st Chaplain, during the...... read more read more
Camp Buehring, KUWAIT—Service members at Camp Buehring, Kuwait hurried to the post Chapel Christmas Eve night, anxious to claim a seat beside their fellow soldiers and friends. Upon entering, the strong aroma of coffee and hot chocolate beckoned all to the refreshment table as acoustic guitars resounded, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
The service, titled “A Festival of Lessons and Carols,” consisted of nine lessons in which each lesson was read by six different chaplains, all of whom are stationed at Buehring.
“The lessons begin with the fall of man into sin and works its way into describing the promises of God to the first Israel and then to the world,” Sgt. Adam Casto, the 1-201 Chaplains assistant explained. “It continues to explain the prophecies of the coming Messiah, with each scripture reading correlating with a Christmas carol.”
“It was one of the best Christmas celebrations I’ve ever been to,” continued Casto. “It was festive with a sense of reverence.”
Before the service concluded, Chaplain Luke Phillips, the 201st chaplain, lit the advent wreath.
“We light an advent wreath to remind us of the light of God,” explained Lt. Col. Michael H. Heuer, the post chaplain. “There’s something about Christmas that changes people. Christmas offers hope and promotes peace and good will toward men because the light changes our hearts.”
From the light of the advent wreath, Chaplain Heuer lit his candle and then promptly turned to the waiting chaplains to light their candles as well. And so the process continued until each person in attendance held a lit candle. As the crowd bent their heads in unison to pray, only the solemn voice of Heuer was heard.
As the candles were extinguished, “Angels we have heard on high” reverberated throughout the room. Service members made their way from pew to pew, shaking hands of friends while meeting others for the first time. As the final two soldiers progressed to the rear of the chapel, shaking hands with each chaplain present, the candles on the advent wreath were extinguished.
“It didn’t feel like Christmas until I came to church tonight,” admitted Sgt. 1st Class Renee Garton. “The music was wonderful and the message was beautiful; now, I can enjoy Christmas.”
| Date Taken: | 12.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.26.2010 04:59 |
| Story ID: | 62607 |
| Location: | CAMP BUEHRING, KW |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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