This is the time of year when many of us start pulling out bins and boxes filled with lights, ornaments and memories.
And when everything is finally in place, have you noticed that feeling? It’s more than just joy in the moment. It’s the rush of childhood memories, the comfort of familiar traditions and the anticipation of what’s still to come. Christmas has a way of holding the past, present and future all at once.
In our town the season carries meaning for many, whether or not Christmas is part of your personal celebration. At Valley Brook Community Church, it’s not just a meaningful season of the year, but one of the most significant days for the Christian faith.
That’s why each December, on the first Saturday of the month, the church has hosted a Live Nativity at Salmon Brook Park. Now in its 25th year, the church members share that same sense of wonder, joy and community with their neighbors. With lights, live animals, costumed characters and the story at the heart of Christmas, they hope to create a space where people of all ages can pause, smile and feel connected.
“We’ve been providing the Live Nativity as our gift to the community for 25 years,” says Pastor Clark Pfaff, “So as the park lights up and the cookies come out—we’d love for you to join us! Whether it’s your first time or your twenty-fifth, come be part of a tradition that celebrates not just a holiday but a community rooted in hope, generosity and shared joy.”
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8