For the last four years, this has been the week of A CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS CAROL. It sure feels different without it, doesn’t it?
We replaced the Christmas play with our Fall Festival (just a few short weeks ago), and I am still rejoicing at what God did!
1) I enjoyed the unchurched guests at the Fall Festival. We had several hundred guests every year for the Christmas play, but we found that most of our guests were already faithfully attending elsewhere. Since our Fall Festival was on a Sunday, it was attended more by those who were not already committed somewhere else. I like that.
2) I enjoyed the whole church coming together for the Fall Festival. The Christmas play involved about 50 crew and cast, but they were segmented here and there. The Fall Festival felt like all of us were involved, and it was something that we hosted, not just a segment. I like that.
3) I enjoyed the church service that people could be exposed to. The Christmas play was a show, but beyond being in our building, it was hard to connect people to the church. The Fall Festival had a full church service and showed who we are every week. I like that.
4) I enjoyed the extended Gospel message that people could hear. The main focus of the Fall Festival was that sermon on John 3:16. Pastor Ball could go into the full detail of the Gospel and call people to a clear invitation, and it proved very fruitful, to the glory of God.
5) I am thankful for the many salvations at the Fall Festival. While we planted and watered hundreds of “Gospel seeds” through four years of Christmas plays, I am thankful for the salvations that we were able to see at the Fall Festival. Every year in the past, souls were saved, but not quite like at the Fall Festival. I love that.
6) I am thankful for the many returning guests from the Fall Festival. What a wonderful gift it is to see so many guests returning week after week. We have not had a week yet where someone has not returned from being introduced at the Fall Festival. I love seeing God working in lives, and I hope we can continue that through the Christmas season.
So, the 2026 calendar has the Fall Festival back on the schedule! Our Christmas season is lighter, and that’s okay. As much as the Christmas play was a wonderful time, this year we had the Christmas party, Sunday school classes are having some smaller get-togethers, and we have special services EVERY WEEK to invite people to!
I think these services are pretty special, anyway. Let’s worship the Lord together this season.
–Pastor Ryan