By FRED KRONER
The Mahomet United Methodist Church is adapting a modern-day version to an age-old adage originally applied to postmen.
“Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor hail” … has gained an extra phrase … “nor a pandemic” will keep the church from celebrating the Christmas season.
It has taken some creative planning and adjustments – only approved this week by the Bishop – but MUMC intends to offer three Christmas Eve events.
The first one on Dec. 24 will be geared toward senior citizens and will feature a drive-in format, starting at noon. Details are still in the works.
A family event, focusing on children of all ages, will start at 5 p.m. at MUMC and will be held outside in its entirety.
Kristina Robinson, the director of inclusion at MUMC, said five stations will be set up, several on the perimeter of the church property, and families – all of whom will be asked to wear face masks – will trek from one to another.
“Our family Christmas Eve service will be a unique experience,” Robinson said. “We will have fire pits at each station and they will hear part of a story at each station.
“The kids will get something to put in their bag.”
The hope is to have a lighted pathway from station to station.
Church members will serve as the story-tellers. The first station will feature a story about the Wise Men and the fifth station will conclude with where Jesus was born.
“We’re blessed with a big outdoor campus and we will utilize that resource,” Robinson said.
The expectation is that the event will take one hour, and culminate, Robinson said, with “everyone ringing a bell at 6 o’clock. The kids will have a bell inside their bag.”
The church bell will be rung simultaneously at 6 p.m.
Another traditional staple of the evening will also happen before families leave for their homes.
“The kids will find a glow stick in their bag, and we will all sing Silent Night,” Robinson said.
Robinson said the event will take place regardless of weather conditions.
“We thought if people are willing to endure horrible weather to watch a football game, then maybe they would do that for church,” Robinson said. “We are looking forward to feeling the community connection.
“This (service) is for the young and the young at heart. I picture people bringing strollers and wagons and bundling up.”
There could be a cost-savings involved as well.
“You won’t have to spend a bunch of money on your Christmas attire,” Robinson said.
Each family will receive one bag, but each child will receive items at each station to add to the bag.
“When they leave, they will have all the ingredients to make hot chocolate,” Robinson said.
Under pastor Lori Harvey’s guidance, plans have been in the works for some time.
“We anticipated that a service inside would not be an option,” Robinson said. “Limiting the sanctuary to a certain number and then turning the rest of the people away didn’t set well with us.
“This (outdoor event) was Rev. Lori’s creation, where her heart has been.”
The groups of families who attend the 5 p.m. outdoors event will move together from station to station while, Robinson said, “trying to stay spread out.”
In order to make certain the church has enough supplies for all who plan to attend, an online registration is required in advance.
People can register by copying this link into your browser:
There will also be a third Christmas Eve service, beginning online at 8 p.m.
“It will be what you would expect to see on Christmas Eve,” Robinson said.
It can be viewed online and will include music from choir members as well as a short sermon from Harvey.
“We will have a link at our website (mumc.org) to our YouTube channel or Facebook,” Robinson said. “Anyone can come.”
Not to be excluded from the activities is a children’s play, which is being called, “A Christmas Journey.”
Rehearsals began more than two weeks before Christmas and are being done through Zoom.
“The students join us from their homes,” Robinson said.
The play will be recorded on Dec. 19. Robinson’s goal is for a 20-minute performance.
Robinson and Lindsay Brotherton are the co-collaborators on the play.
“We’ve done plays in the past,” Robinson said. “Last year, we had 60 kids and it was magical.
“This year, we figured a new way to do it.”
About 20 children are participating in the 2020 play.
If it is not ready to be viewed with the Dec. 20 church service, then Robinson expects it to be available on Christmas Eve.
“We want to make sure everyone has a meaningful Christmas experience,” she said.
