What Christmas is all about
During the holiday season, advertisers use a vast array of approaches to get their Christmas agenda across to consumers. Churches are equally as creative in their attempts to convey their versions of the Christmas message to the community.
From bell ringing to dance, from dinner to dramas, their Christmas messages are portrayed in a variety of ways.
Tim Iman, praise worship leader at St. John's United Church of Christ in Evans City, decided to use multiple approaches to share the church's message to the community. The title of the St. John's production is "The Lessons and Carols of Christmas" and will feature carols by the choir, bell choir and praise band. It also will include liturgical dances, inspirational photo collages, short dramatizations and storytellers.
"The program involves a series of scriptural lessons that take the listener on a journey from the acts of sin in Genesis through the prophecies of a savior in the Old Testament, the angel appearances to Mary and Joseph, and finally the familiar story of the manger birth," Iman said.
For Iman it was about creating an opportunity to escape the hectic pace of the holiday and put the focus on what was anticipated more than 2,000 years ago."Today, our emotions are less likely to be related to a longing for a savior, but instead are a reaction to the frantic hustle and bustle leading up to the holiday," said Iman."'The Lessons and Carols' program takes our focus back to the scriptures and reminds us why we all share those feelings of longing, hope, joy, and, hopefully, peace in this season," he added.In West Freedom, The Park Hill First Church of God is communicating the Christmas message through drama. The church is hosting its third annual Christmas dinner theater this weekend.The Rev. Shawn Morgan of Park Hill described dinner theater as a a way to share the message in a non-threatening way. Titled "He is Born Child Divine," this year's event tells the story of Mary from childhood.Each night about 200 people attend the dinner and stay for the drama, Morgan said — and accommodating the crowd takes planning.
"Our preparations begin back in June and July with the thought process and choosing of the musical. We begin rehearsals in September, and staging begins in late October or early November," Morgan said.At the North Main Street Church of God on North Main, worship pastor Tim Falling said planning for the annual living Christmas tree services began years in advance of the first performance in 2002.The display includes risers constructed and decorated to resemble two Christmas trees on which more than 100 singers perform.Each of the two sets of risers contains five tiers measuring 2½ stories tall. They include 32 artificial Christmas trees collectively embellished with more than 90,000 lights."Instead of the music department presenting a gift of worship and celebration for the benefit of the congregation, we wanted to expand that to the congregation of North Main Street Church of God giving a gift of worship and celebration open to the entire community," Falling said."The lighting is all choreographed with the music, making a truly amazing and beautiful presentation that captivates both children and adults," Falling said. The music changes each year, he added.Music is also a theme at Hill United Presbyterian Church on Second Street.
"In Christianity, music is used at all times of the year to reinforce the spoken word in a way that summons up emotions and meaning," said Kathy Sawyer, who is in charge of the music ministries at Hill."As Charles Wesley said, 'Music prepares the heart to receive the Gospel'. Wesley is credited for writing some of the most classic hymns of the church," she added."During Advent and Christmas, we have a special set of music that brings back memories, that makes us joyful, and that hopefully causes us to reflect more deeply on the coming of Christ into all of our lives," she added.Sawyer said hosting a variety of events gives the community an array of opportunities. The opportunities include a program this weekend titled "Emmanuel, God With Us.""In addition to the singers, it involves narration by three pastors, a jazz combo featuring four college students, a 24-voice children's choir and two keyboards played by Peg McGuirk and Jessica Sanzotti," Sawyer explained."We will be presenting 'The Christmas County Spelling Bee' that same evening in the Hill Church Sanctuary," she added. "This is a full-length musical about the different names of Jesus," she said.On Christmas Eve the church will also offer two additional ways to connect with the meaning of the season.
"We'll be holding our Happy Birthday, Jesus party and service at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. It is a family-friendly Christmas Eve service with stories, songs, games and a birthday cake," Sawyer said."It also features our guitar ensemble, contemporary carols and a Christmas story told by Pastor Clark Sawyer," she added.The church will also be holding a traditional Candlelight Service at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve with handbells, soloists and choirs to compliment the sermon.Handbells also come into play at Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church on Diamond Street. Mary Davis, director of the bell choir, begins in September to craft the sounds of the season.The choir is made up of people age 12 through 25 who practice weekly for three months and volunteer their time to play at church and other places during the holiday."This year we will be presenting the story of Mary, Joseph and the Baby with narration and bells. On Christmas Eve we will be accompanying carols during the service," she said."We have found the bells to be an effective and extremely rewarding way to celebrate the holiday," she added.
Butler County religious groups have worked diligently to communicate the message of Christmas. Here is a sampling of some Christmas programs they are offering:<b>"Lessons and Carols of Christmas" </b>WHAT: A program featuring nine lessons of biblical scripture enhanced with musical presentations. Instrumentalists, expressive dance and pantomime, youth voices and the adult choir will be featured.WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 6 and 2 p.m. Dec. 7WHERE: St. John's United Church of Christ, 501 E. Main St., Evans CityINFO: Donations of money and nonperishable food will benefit the Evans City Food Cupboard. R.S.V.P. to the free program by calling 724-538-8124.<b>Living Christmas Tree </b>WHAT: A choral program featuring 100-plus vocalists positioned in risers decorated and constructed to resemble two holiday trees. Lights are synchronized to the music.WHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 through 13 and 10:30 a.m. Dec. 14WHERE: North Main Street Church of God, North Main Street ExtensionINFO: Free tickets are available by calling 724-285-4214.<b>"A Hosanna! Holiday Celebration" </b>WHAT: Dinner theaterWHEN: noon and 5 p.m. Dec. 13WHERE: Penn Christian Academy auditorium, Airport Road, Penn TownshipINFO: Reservations are required by Dec. 9. Cost is $7 for children and $20 adults. Call 724-287-8362.<b>Boar's head festival</b>WHAT: An hourlong program that is among the oldest known Christmas celebrations with an ancient and traditional service of Christmas music.WHEN: 5 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14WHERE: Park United Presbyterian Church on the corner of Main Street and Grandview Avenue in ZelienopleINFO: Free tickets can be requested by calling 724-452-6471.
<b>Live, drive- through Nativity </b>WHAT: Nine scenes of the Christmas story that include live animals and more than 20 actorsWHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14WHERE: Nixon United Methodist Church, 334 Airport Road, Penn TownshipINFO: Call 724-586-7372.<b>"Cooking up Christmas" </b>WHAT: A children's musical programWHEN: 10 a.m. Dec. 14WHERE: CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Middlesex TownshipINFO: Call 724-898-4600.<b>"Mary, Joseph and the Baby"</b>WHAT: A handbell concert with narration on Dec. 14, with carols added on Christmas Eve.WHEN: 10 a.m. Dec. 14 and 7 p.m. Dec. 24WHERE: Grace @ Calvary Lutheran Church, 123 E. Diamond St.INFO: Call 724-283-0830.<b>"Emmanuel, God with Us" </b>WHAT: A program of narration accompanied by live jazz, a 24-voice children's choir and keyboards.WHEN: 10:30 a.m. Dec. 21WHERE: Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St.INFO: Call 24-287-5427.<b>The Stevens family </b>WHAT: A concertWHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 21WHERE: CrossWay Church, 109 Davis Road, Middlesex TownshipINFO: Call 724-898-4600.<b>"The Christmas County Spelling Bee" </b>WHAT: A musical about the different names of JesusWHEN: 7 p.m. Dec. 21WHERE: Hill United Presbyterian Church, 501 Second St.INFO: Call 724-287-5427.
