RCT-2 celebrates Christmas Eve with candlelight service

Photo By Lance Cpl. Glen Santy | Staff Sgt. Michael Bauer, a Maintenance Management staff non-commissioned officer, with Regimental Combat Team 2, reads scriptures to the congregation at the Christmas Eve service, Dec. 24. Songs were sung in-between scripture readings that told the story of the prophecy and record of the birth of Christ.  

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AFGHANISTAN

12.27.2010

Story by Lance Cpl. Glen Santy 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, Afghanistan - Cmdr. Bill Appleton, Regimental Chaplain of Regimental Combat Team 2, hosted a Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Forward Operating Base Delaram II dining facility, Dec. 24, 2010.

The service was an open invitation for anyone who wanted to celebrate the Christian holiday.

“The reason we have the candlelight service is because it is a creative way to tell the true meaning of Christmas,” said Appleton. “Which is that a light has come into the darkness, the birth of Christ.”

During the service, lyrics of songs were projected on a screen using a projector for the congregation to sing along. In-between songs, lessons were read of the prophecy and record of Christ’s birth.

“We’d read one part of the scripture and then sing songs and carols that tells the same message as the scripture we just read,” said Appleton. “So by the end of the night we’d sung about 20 songs that tell the beautiful message of the birth of Christ.”

The attendance for the service almost filled with Marines and sailors serving aboard FOB Delaram II. As people began to arrive, Christmas carolers sang holiday melodies while the patrons choose their seats. Even the audience began to sing along, adding volume to the holiday cheer.

“Out of all the holiday events, this one I think had the biggest turnout so far,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Bauer, a maintenance management staff non-commissioned officer, with Regimental Combat Team 2. “I think the service went really well.”

As the service went on, emotions ran deep through the hearts of the congregation. Some would sway and raise their hands in praise as they sang the Christmas hymns; others found tears in their eyes.

“I was impressed,” said Appleton. “I saw the emotions and expressions on people’s faces; I could see their hearts were being challenged and refreshed anew as they listened to the story as if it were their first time.”

Appleton added that since the unit had arrived in Afghanistan approximately 388 Marines, sailors and a variety of others had come to Christ, excepting .

“Celebrating Christmas while you’re deployed can make it seem like Christmas Eve is just another day,” said Bauer. “So being able to take some time off and focus on something other than work really eases the mind.”

During the final sermon the congregation lit glow sticks, in place of candles used in traditional church services. Although the kem light candles would at some point loose their glow, the spiritual light the congregation received would not.

As the service came to a close, the Marines and sailors and all those in attendance wished each other Merry Christmas.

With the warmth of the candlelight service in their hearts, they dispersed into the cold winter night of FOB Delaram II.

• Date Taken: 12.27.2010
• Date Posted: 12.27.2010 12:56
• Story ID: 62672
• Location: FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELARAM II, AF