The production was simple, yet powerful. Mr. Downing still narrates the story with passion. Members of the community participate and there were loads of angels and shepherds on hand. They have over 300 costumes at the ready for any one wanting to be an angel, a shepherd or a wise man.
There we stood, in the snow covered field, with hundreds of others singing Oh Come Let Us Adore Him as loud as we could.
It was not the production or the costumes that were great; nor the sound system, but the passion and the Spirit that was present. I cannot remember one quite like this. It was the greatest display of God’s presence I have felt at a Christmas service in many years . There was another one that was also amazing, you can read about it HERE.
The very words, “Prince of Peace,” “King of Kings”, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” and “Christ the Lord” rang in our spirits and caused some to weep. And never have I heard this verse at a Christmas pageant: John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
You’d think that a spiritually tingly service like this would be enough, but then they invited all the guests in for hot cocoa and cookies – hundreds and hundreds of us! The family (not a church) did 4 shows!
I met one of the sons (in a very crowded farm house); he looked right through me, as he wished me a Merry Christmas. “Thanks for coming and celebrating the birth of our Savior,” he said.
Who are these people? I thought – and I am still thinking that.
What we need is real Christianity, not a bunch of religion. It's easy to poo-poo Christmas; however, I guarantee you, that if I am alive next year, you’ll find me in a little snow covered field in rural Massachusetts adoring my King and Savior amidst the smell of cows, donkeys and sheep.
How about you, what was the most moving time you had this Christmas season?
2 comments:
A small candlelight service on Christmas Eve where we gathered to hear the nativity passage from Luke read then went to the altar in families to pray. Finally, the 50 or so present prayed together as a group, and a few testimonies were sprinkled in before we closed.
Silent night...holy night.
I feel pleased inside as I read your account. God and His people are just not the same in every place at every time - yet in it all He is glorified! Glad to know that you and yours got to enjoy this event.
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