Paul and Melanie teaching the Acolytes about THE LIGHT OF CHRIST.
Light in the form of a flame is carried into the church sanctuary to symbolize the entrance of Christ’s light into the place of worship. Candles are lit before the service begins and, once the ministers have concluded the service’s final blessing are extinguished to symbolize the exit of the Lord’s light with the people of the congregation out into the world. The Bible verse found in John 8:12 – “I am the Light of the World” – is the primary inspiration for this ritual of candle lighting and extinguishing to begin and end a Methodist worship service.