Christmas at Grace … New Possibilities

We all know the difficulties we’ve experienced over the past several months. The question we have tried to ask ourselves at Grace, as we have shifted almost everything we do to a new way of doing it, is, “What are the possibilities?" We have stuck with that question, not because we are optimistic or confident – or desperate – but because we are created in the image of God who never gives up. Our God is a creating God who continues throughout the history of humanity to find new ways to communicate God’s love to us. 

We will celebrate God’s creative gift to us in just a few weeks at Christmas. Even if we are required to stay home for everyone’s safety, God still comes to us, moves right in with us, suffers alongside us, guides and girds us for this life we live even during a pandemic.

So, what can we do to celebrate that incredible gift?  

Our tradition of passing the light of candles is certainly something I will miss. Like you, I’m sure, I cherish being in the warmth of the company of others, surrounded by the gradually growing light as we share it flame by flame, enveloped in the music that tells the story and opens our hearts to the transcendence of God. It’s an experience that allows us to feel both the mystery and the unfailing love that is God.

We hope to bring that moment of transcendence to life for our community in a new way this year! Grace will host a luminary drive on our beautiful Grace UMC property on Christmas Eve! Our prayer is that this Drive-thru Luminary will become a gift from Grace Church to our community to bring the light of Christ into the world.

Grace can offer nearly half a mile of luminaria with stations along the way to tell the Christmas story. From the safety and warmth of cars, participants can leave the darkness of the world behind as they turn into the church and follow the luminaries to the manger. Click here for more information.

This gift from Grace to our community can only become a reality with your help. If you would like to contribute to the cost of this gift, please click here to give and choose the drop-down for the Journey to the Manger. We can also use loans of solar lighting or battery Christmas lights, station decoration teams, and dream teams to help plan the displays. 

We pray this luminary drive becomes an extension of our Christmas Eve worship opportunities which we will also provide for your at-home celebrations. Click here for more information.

For a list and description of stations available, contact Chamus (education@peopleofgrace.org) or Pastor Daniel (associatepastor@peopleofgrace.org). If you have other ideas or contributions, email me (seniorpastor@peopleofgrace.org). I look forward to working with all of the people of Grace to celebrate the light of Christ in our midst!