Churches creatively celebrate the Christmas season

"It is a way to celebrate Christmas" whether a simple nativity, a musical extravaganza or a tour of Jesus' Bethlehem on the church property. And after months of preparation, Florida congregations, large and small, share the Good News with their communities - that Jesus Christ, the Savior, is born.

Each year, First Baptist Church in Indiatlantic gives the community a free Christmas concert by presenting a living Christmas tree pageant. This year is the 25th anniversary of the event and the musical "Fire of Hope" will be performed, according to minister of music Curt Combs.

Senior pastor Jim Johnson told Florida Baptist Witness more than 100 church singers, drama team and instrumentalist rehearse 13 weeks to be ready for approximately 500 people at each of the six performances. The choir is comprised of ten area churches.

"It is a way to celebrate Christmas and a consistent way to present the Gospel," Johnson said. "It is more than a show."

Scheduled performances for the concert are Dec. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14 at 2 and 6 p.m.; and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. For more information, call 321-723-5217.

Dusty streets, a crowded inn

For the third year, First Baptist Church, Keystone Heights will present "Walk Thru Bethlehem" to their city.

"This is an opportunity for our church to celebrate Christmas with our community, and share the true meaning of Christmas," said Jim Prose, pastor, FBC Keystone Heights.

Prose said about 150 members take part in musical mini-dramas as people walk through a replica of the city Bethlehem complete with a market place, a synagogue, the inn and a leper colony. Besides the townspeople, the audience meets Roman guards, a tax collector and watches scenes from Jesus' life.

"Our desire is to portray the 'Bible times' when Jesus Christ was born-the real meaning of Christmas," Prose said.

Dates of the tour are Dec. 6-8 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. For information, call 352-473-7201.

Special delivery

For almost 25 years Wayside Baptist Church, Miami, has created a special place for people with special needs, and Christmas time is no exception.

Approximately 225 cast members have memorized lines and 17 songs to present the musical "More Than Christmas," according to Robbie Arnold, special ministries director at Wayside.

"Christmas is one of those rare times of the year when the heart is opened up," Arnold said. "For our special needs individuals, it's time for them to shine and to share their special gifts with others." She said it also gives them a sense of recognition and acceptance.

The group performs the Christmas event every two years. On the alternate years, they travel to nursing homes for Christmas caroling.

Pastor Gary Johnson is thankful for Wayside's special ministries.

"The Lord's hand has been evident in many ways and I have to congratulate all of our workers for making this happen," Johnson said. Since 1982, the special needs department has grown from 20 to 150 members. He said families have joined the church because of the ministry.

Arnold told the Witness the project is fun and challenging, "after it is over and done, it makes everyone want to do it again and again."

The one-hour presentation will be Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. followed by a church wide reception. For information, call 305-595-6550.

Lights, camera, action

Main Street Baptist choir in Leesburg was one of thousands of churches to send in an audition tape for an opportunity to perform in Disney's Candlelight show at Epcot this Christmas season. The show combines a 300-member choir, The Voices of Liberty, special lighting and narration to tell the story of Jesus' birth from the book of Luke.

"Candlelight is the only show performed at any Disney location that is 100 per cent about our Savior, Jesus Christ," said John Kimer, minister of music for the church. Their performance was Nov. 29 at the American Gardens Theater. Kimer said paying Epcot customers may see three shows each night from Nov. 29-Dec. 31.

"We were blessed to be a part of it," Kimer said. He said prayer made it happen, because someone prayed while they made the audition tape.

Kimer also was asked by Disney to offer a program of Christmas carols for the resort visitors during December. His 18-member ensemble will perform at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Disney Yacht Club Resort Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Coronado Springs Resort Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and All Stars Resort 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Next year, Kimer wants others to join with Main Street for the Disney audition. For information, call 352-787-4530.

Singing trees and 167,400 twinkling lights

Since 1980, the Singing Christmas Trees at First Baptist Church, Orlando, have brought the Gospel to more than half a million people.

This year, for the first time, a curtain made up of hundreds of feet of fabric will open to reveal totally re-designed trees with over 167,400 lights, said director of Production Services, Jim Hughes.

In addition, approximately 250 dramatists in costume will depart from tradition in a creative way to engage in new musical arrangements featuring actor Marquis Laughlin, the program coordinator for Sola Scriptura, a ministry of The Holy Land Experience in Orlando.

Performances are Dec. 6 and 13, 7:30 p.m., Dec. 7 at 3 p.m., Dec. 14 at 1 and 5 p.m. and Dec. 8 and 15 at 5 p.m. All seats are reserved for $5 and $7 and are available by calling 407-514-4555 or go to: www.firstorlando.com.

Love came down

Southwest Floridians may celebrate Christmas by attending McGregor Baptist Church production of "When Love Came Down" in Ft. Myers. The 200 plus cast includes a 170-voice choir and a 30-piece orchestra to present the dramatic musical with special effects and live animals.

This year's production not only has an expanded cast but new sets and new costumes, according to Brad Ragan, director of communications for the church.

Performances begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 14-15. For information, call 239-936-1754.

To the ends of the earth

Mike Jeffries, associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale, told the Witness that their Christmas pageant is the church's single most effective outreach event.

"More than half of our Sunday-morning visitors say they first heard about our church because of the Christmas pageant," Jeffries said.

In its 19th year, the pageant features a cast, crew and choir of 1,200 volunteers plus biblical barnyard animals and three camels. It as been featured on the front page of USA Today and Jeffries estimates that during the 19 performances each year nearly 50,000 people attend.

"The audience is challenged by the true claims of Christmas," Jeffries said. "And those who indicate a desire to receive Christ as personal Savior are contacted by our evangelism team within 24 hours."

And the pageant can be seen around the world. The PBS station WPBT produces a video/DVD for television and for distribution to every ship in the U.S. Navy, every Marine outpost and every Air Force base. This year the pageant will be translated into Arabic and broadcast to Afghanistan and the Middle East, according to Jeffries.

Jeffries said the pageant is not only an outreach but it unifies the church family for one purpose.

"This is the time we're most like the First Century New Testament church," Jefferies said. "All joined in one accord, dependent upon God and one another to accomplish something that we could never do alone."

Performances began Nov. 29 and continue through Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Each Saturday and Sunday there is a 2 p.m. matinee. For information, call 954-527-6800.

Send the very best

More than 2,000 visitors will visit First Baptist Church in Cocoa to hear and see Christmas cards come to life, according to John Barber, associate pastor.

"Our program focuses on the beautiful Christmas cards we receive and how our favorite cards tell the true meaning of Christmas," Barber said. For seven years the church has built picture frames of 20 X 15 feet and 8 X 10 feet in the sanctuary.

While the choir sings the "cards" come to life with scenes from Dickens, Charlie Brown or winter landscapes culminating with the birth of Jesus.

Although the project begins in August, the 150 people involved enjoy the work, according to Barber. He said the professions of faith and rededications each year make it worth the effort.

This year the performances began Dec. 1 and continue through Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. For information, call 321-636-2868.

A simple story

In a more informal and casual setting, First Baptist Church, Windermere produces a simple outdoor drive-by nativity.

"Sometimes we have a goat," said Troy Schmidt, director of communications for the church. "But we always serve cookies and apple cider."

Schmidt said about 40 people help portray the night of Jesus birth. Performances run every half-hour between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22.

"This is a family event to encourage our community to come visit our church," Schmidt said.

He said he hopes people will take a break from shopping and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.

For information, call 407-876-2234.