MACK WILBERG AND RYAN MURPHY
Conductors
GEOFF ANDERSON
Bells at Temple Square, Conductor
BRIAN MATHIAS
Organist
DERRICK PORTER
The Spoken Word
NOE! NOE!
Music: French carol
Text: David Warner
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD
from Messiah
Music: George Frideric Handel
Text: Based on scripture
WHAT CHILD IS THIS? (ORGAN SOLO)
Music: Traditional English carol
Arrangement: Brian Mathias
CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING
Music and Text: Robert P. Manookin
MASTERS IN THIS HALL
Music: Traditional English carol
Arrangement: Matthew Compton
Featuring Bells at Temple Square
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN
African American spiritual
Arrangement: Ryan Murphy
THE SPOKEN WORD
“Light the World”
WELCOME CHRISTMAS MORNING
Music: Mack Wilberg
Text: David Warner
JOY TO THE WORLD
Music: Lowell Mason
Text: Isaac Watts
Arrangement: Mack Wilberg
The Spoken Word
Light the Wold
December 1, 2024
For more than 5,000 years, candles have been used as a source of light.1 And though electricity has caused the use of candles to decrease, candles are still known widely today for their deep symbolism in many religious and cultural ceremonies.
Candles represent light, hope, and divine guidance among other things. For instance, those of the Jewish faith light Shabbat candles on Friday evenings to welcome the Sabbath. Hindus light diya lamps during Diwali to signify the victory of light over darkness. Many Christians light candles during the Advent season leading up to Christmas to represent Jesus Christ as the Light of the World.
The light from an individual candle is, of course, small but potentially powerful. Rabbi Moshe Davis described its power perfectly when he said: “One candle can light another. And see how its own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other. You are such a light.”2
The light from one candle is enoughto spark new light in another. As Rabbi Davis taught, you and I have the same opportunity to share light. Our individual light may feel small, but it is potentiallypowerful—powerful enough to light the world!
Lighting the world does not require a bonfire; instead, it requires a simple flame, a light from you and me. We light the world one kind act at a time.
I’m reminded of a widow who lives in my neighborhood. Now well into her 90s, she continues to write simple notes of gratitude to those around her. Her notes light the world.
A young woman I know takes time to bake cookies and deliver them to friends and sometimes strangers. Her cookies light the world.
Another woman takes time regularly to visit those who need a listening ear. She sits quietly and listens to all they have to say and responds with a loving smile. Her listening lights the world.
I’m inspired by these women and their simple acts of kindness that light the world one candle at a time. And we can do the same! Our individual candlelight can com- bine with others and burn together brightly, illuminating every corner of the globe with hope, joy, and peace.
1. See History, National Candle Association, candles.org.
2. Moshe Davis, in Zach Lasker, “Igniting a Flame for Practice During Pandemic,” eJewish-Philanthropy, December 15, 2020, ejewishphilanthropy.com.