Richmond Heavenly Lights

December 18-21, 2008

by Jennifer Schulmeister

On the evenings of December 18-21, 2008, one could not have missed the spotlights shining bright above the Apostolic Faith Church in Richmond, California. Over 1,700 guests came to observe the Richmond church people share the story of Christ’s birth with family, friends, and community, despite some rainy weather over the weekend. Visitors were first welcomed through a colorful tunnel of lights leading to the church. In the sanctuary, they could view a slideshow of pictures depicting the Nativity while a narration played in the background.

Outside, guests were invited to walk the grounds and view the decorations glowing in the night sky. There were lights covering the church building and parsonage, as well as the surrounding trees and bushes. A huge Christmas tree made of light strings stood tall on the lawn, topped off with a star, of course! A stable had been erected to house the live Nativity scene, which illustrated the humble birthplace of our Savior. The Wise Men and shepherds who came to worship Him reminded all that the Baby born in a lowly manger was (and is) the King of kings! In addition to those in the Nativity scene, the Richmond church members wore costumes consistent with the apparel in Bible times to make them look like Bethlehem townspeople. The live animals also added to the effect. The small “petting zoo” set up next to the stable was a popular attraction for children and adults alike, and they enjoyed the opportunity to interact with small animals such as goats, chickens, and even a tiny little pig that buried itself in the hay to escape the cold night air!

For those who preferred an alternate means of transportation to view the grounds, a makeshift train was set up with a small tractor and two passenger cars. However, this was not for the faint of heart as the driver often gave passengers a wild ride (it is surprising what one can accomplish with a small tractor)! Another popular attraction for the children was a bounce house. This was a new addition to the event—one that the children thoroughly enjoyed, and it was a great way for them to burn off some excess energy!

As always, guests were treated to a variety of musical selections, all performed outside under the lights (weather permitting). At the top of each hour, the English hand-bell choir played arrangements of various Christmas carols, which was a first-time experience for many visitors. After the bells, everyone enjoyed listening to the singing Christmas tree, in which children and young people braved the cold and occasional rain to sing upbeat Christmas songs, making visitors smile as they watched the singers’ antics. The brass group followed with exciting renditions of well-known Christmas carols. Their joyful music could be heard throughout the grounds and was enjoyed by all! The last performance of each hour was a vocal ensemble which sang inspiring songs proclaiming the good news of Christ’s birth.

Inside the church, a story corner was set up to look like a Nativity scene, complete with hay and stuffed animals, where children gathered and listened as Christmas storybooks were read. Of course, guests could not be sent on their way without an opportunity for food and fellowship! In the multipurpose room, cookies, breads, and hot drinks were offered to ward off the December chill. There were many smiles as people lingered and conversed together. Many families had returned for their annual visit to Heavenly Lights, and there were lots of new faces as well. This was the goal of the Richmond church from the very beginning—to provide a place in the community where people could come and hear about God’s love and the message of Jesus, the most important Gift ever given! Yes, many hours were spent preparing for Heavenly Lights and putting up countless lights to make the church glow, but more importantly, the Richmond church members prayed that the light of God’s love in them would make them glow even brighter for Him.