Dave Winters, associate pastor of Vineyard Community Church, demonstrates the acoustic style of the church’s upcoming Christmas Eve service. (Photo by Tim Ashley)

For many Christians, Christmas is a time of reflection and celebration. The birth of Christ causes one to think deeply and also to rejoice.

It’s also a time when churches hold special services. Vineyard Community Church, 7566 E. 1000N, just south of Syracuse at the intersection with SR 13, is holding a Christmas Eve service from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the theme of “Cookies and Carols.” The fairly informal service has a different twist than a traditional Christmas Eve service.

There will be singing of Christmas carols for about 30 minutes, but acoustic style with a guitar, keyboard and hand drum to create a more quiet, intimate setting. Cookies and hot chocolate will be served, too.

This will be the fourth year Vineyard has offered a participatory type of Christmas Eve service, but each one has been a little different. A goal is for families to have a shared experience of celebrating Christmas Eve in a hands-on, tangible way.

Four activity stations will be set up for the service. A cross and manger station will focus on reflecting about how the birth of Jesus can cause one to look at the cross, where the death of Jesus brought new life. The candle station invites people to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one or as being symbolic of a desire to invite the light of God into one’s life. Christmas can be a painful time for some.

A words of encouragement station offers the chance to quickly make a simple Christmas card or write out a note of encouragement for someone you see good in or are especially proud of. And an ornament station will have green and red construction paper for children to write something or make a simple Christmas ornament. It is designed for children, but adults can participate too.
In addition to the activity stations and singing carols, a short Christmas devotional message will be given. The public is welcome to attend the one-hour service.

For more information about the Christmas Eve service, call 574-457-4880.