I know what you’re thinking: a blog post about Christmas the week before Halloween? And, as I sit here writing this, it does feel a bit premature. But with our jam-packed schedules and overstuffed calendars, Christmas will be here before you can say “Rudolph!” So, even though Halloween is still a few days away, I want to invite you to turn your gaze toward the holiday season.

When I was a kid, I attended a very small church—about 35 people total, six of whom were my family. It was tiny, but there was so much beauty in that smallness. One of the greatest gifts was how intimately everyone participated in the life of the church. There was no staff of 30 to run events, no committees and subcommittees managing things behind the scenes. Instead, there was a community of believers working together to create a space where the holy could enter in.

I remember this most vividly at Christmas. Here at CLC, we’re accustomed to arriving on the first Sunday of Advent to find the church dressed in its Christmas finest, with wreaths, trees, and garlands filling spaces that were empty just a week before. At my childhood church, though, that transformation was something the congregation created together. We hauled trees out of storage, dusted off the chrismons, and prepared our church for the coming of our Lord. There was something special about returning each week and seeing the fruits of our labor on display, ready to welcome our King. It wasn’t just about decorating a building; it was about preparing a place, together, to receive the holy.

This year, our Family Ministry and Music, Worship, & Tech teams invite families of all ages to share in that same gift of transformation! On Tuesday, November 24, beginning at 3 p.m., we’ll gather to deck the halls, decorate Christmas cookies, and make ornaments to take home for your own trees. Dinner will be provided, so come enjoy some Christmas merriment, lend a hand, and help prepare Christ Lutheran to welcome her King!

After all, one of the greatest joys of the season is not simply arriving to find everything ready, but being part of the community that makes it so.

It’s hard to believe, but Christmas is just around the corner! One of the best parts of the Christmas season is enjoying the beautiful decorations everywhere you go—and there’s no place more beautiful than Christ Lutheran Church! While admiring the decorations is wonderful, there’s something even better: helping bring them to life!

Join us on November 24, beginning at 3:00 p.m., for our Gather, Make, and Decorate event, hosted by Family Ministry and the Music, Worship & Tech teams! Families of all ages are invited to kick off the Christmas season with an afternoon of decorating, creativity, fellowship, and holiday cheer.

Stop by anytime after 3:00 p.m. to help deck the halls of CLC, create ornaments to take home, and decorate cookies together as a family. Dinner will be provided, so bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of festive fun as we prepare our church for the Christmas season!

Mark your calendars, invite your family, and come celebrate the joy of Christmas with us. We can’t wait to gather, make, and decorate with you!