04 Jan Christmas at Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio)

Andy Sikora (right), senior pastor, Renew Communities (Berea, Ohio)

The power of Christmas is that Jesus became one of us and moved into the neighborhood to meet our needs. This Christmas we asked, “Wat would it look like for Jesus to move into your neighborhood this year?”

Instead of doing one big Christmas project as a church, we decided to empower our people (especially Missional Communities) to identify needs in their “neighborhoods” and invite their friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to help meet those needs. The projects were very exciting, and the results were inspiring.

• The West Park MC collected $420 to give to a single mom to help her buy groceries and clothes, and to pay utilities.
• The North Ridgville MC collected food and bought gifts for families in need in their community.
• The Parma MC collected toys for 10 different families (approximately $500) who would not be able to celebrate Christmas.
• The Teen MC had a dinner and raised over $400 to buy gifts for kids in need in Parma.
• A group of people raised $3500 for victims of Hurricane Sandy in Staten Island so that 17 different families were able to celebrate Christmas. This money was raised through donations, benefit concerts, and selling over 700 cake-pops.

We shared the video above on Christmas Eve update people on all of these projects.

02 Jan Christmas at Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

Gayle Thorn, Mt. Zion UB (Wayne, Ohio)

On Christmas Eve 2012, we held our first Christmas Eve worship service in our new worship center. Our sanctuary was adorned with beautiful Christmas decorations.

Pastor Mark Ralph led us in singing a number of Christmas carols, and also shared some meditative thoughts on Christmas. We were also treated to a variety of songs and readings from members of the congregation.

The sanctuary was bathed in candlelight, starting with our Advent candles and ending in a candle-lighting ceremony symbolizing our desire that our lives be a light that leads our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and community to faith in Jesus Christ. The flame was passed from person to person, candle to candle, as one small flame grew and grew until our sanctuary was ringed in candlelight!

It was a gorgeous ending to an awesome evening spent reflecting on our Savior’s birth and worshipping his majesty! The evening was captured photographically by our resident photographer, Stormie Thorn.

02 Jan Christmas at Gaines UB (Caledonia, Mich.)

Josh Greenfield, Communications/Creative Arts Director, Gaines UB Church (Caledonia, Mich.)

The Gaines Church Christmas Bash originally began as a “Staff Open House” to wish our congregants a “Merry Christmas.” The staff provided delicious appetizers and a Christmas environment in a warmly lit space. Over the years, the event has grown, and merged with other events to form the “Gaines Church Christmas Bash.”

The event now consists of carol singing (100% by request from the audience), children’s mini-play, a few talent show-type performances,” young adult skits, and memories of the previous year. Three chocolate fountains provide dessert which delight nearly every attendee and guest. Lemon-spiked water, coffee, hot tea, and iced tea wash down the desserts and veggies everyone gorges on.

For years, events were ministry-specific and scattered about. Now, the Gaines Church Christmas Bash draws a crowd 25% larger than our total weekend service attendance, most of which are family and friends thanks to the kid/family emphasis. The event has grown exponentially, and with over 280 people this year, it is sure to continue as one of those events that “work” at drawing a crowd.

From the variety acts, to the massive declarative singing of “O Holy Night,” to the concluding singing (or slaughtering) of “The Hallelujah Chorus,” truth is present and celebrated in this Christmas event.

02 Jan Christmas at Anchor UB (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

The Christmas season included three special events for Anchor Community Church (Fort Wayne, Ind.).

December 9. Anchor took its annual Christmas party to the Coventry Meadows nursing home–food, music, caroling down the halls, and pictures with Santa. (In 2011, Anchor held its Christmas party at the Charis House home for homeless women.) (See Facebook photo album.)

December 23, morning. Every year, a Christmas tree appears in the lobby with several hundred small ornaments, each bearing the name of an everyday item Anchor needs–cleaning supplies, lightbulbs, batteries, photocopier paper, kitchen items, coffee, etc. Attenders take an ornament or two, buy the items, wrap them up, and bring them back to Anchor. Then they are opened together. On December 23, after a short children’s program, the Anchor children passed out the gifts to adults in the congregation, who opened the gifts. This not only provides much-needed supplies for the church (and eases the budget), but gives even casual attenders a way to make a low-cost investment in the church. (See Facebook photo album.)

December 23, afternoon. Anchor held a joint Christmas service with New Zion Tabernacle, a predominantly African-American church located a couple blocks away. The two worship teams practiced together for three weeks prior to the afternoon service. Each team did a few songs separately, and then two songs together. The service was held at New Zion Tabernacle. (See Facebook photo album.)