For anyone itching to get their children out in the community for New Year’s Eve, Open Arms Community Church is inviting families to a musical celebration.
The main feature of Kickstart 2017 will be performances by several local musicians, but Local Missions Team Coordinator Alex Davis assures residents they will be able to count down to the new year with the rest of the East Coast, as the Times Square ball drop in New York City will be broadcast on a big screen television at the church.
Bradford’s First Night Committee announced recently it would be unable to put on this year’s bash due to a lack of funding.
“With no First Night event this year, Kickstart 2017 is being held as an alternative place for people to ring in the new year,” said Davis. “This event will be family-friendly and will feature a mix of music, from cover songs to indie rock to Christian music.” The audience will also hear rap music, and there may be some country tunes on tap for the evening.
Despite the crunch for time, the event’s host — the Open Arms Community Church Local Missions Team — has lined up six or seven bands.
Davis said the team is in partnership with the YWCA Bradford on the celebration, and YWCA Executive Director Vanessa Castano will be on hand to talk about the organization’s mission and programs in the community, as well as to answer any questions.
Admission to Kickstart 2017 is free. Event organizers are encouraging attendees to bring food items, laundry detergent or personal care items to donate to the YWCA shelter and food pantry.
Davis explained he thinks the partnership with the YWCA will help get party-goers’ “spirits uplifted” by giving them a chance to help the local non-profit organization.
“The organization does so much for the community, so we want to bless them and see them blessed,” Davis said. “Let’s start 2017 on a high note.”
The event will also offer door prizes from local businesses, which will be given away throughout the night. The congregation will provide finger foods for the music-lovers to snack on during the night.
Davis emphasized that the event is open to the whole community, not just church members, and attendees will listen to secular songs, though Christian may be in the mix, too.
While the whole band line-up is not yet finalized, Davis revealed that it will include The Grand Day — which plays indie and folk rock — and Acoustic’s Anonymous — which plays cover songs from the 1970s through today.
More details on the event will be divulged through the Kickstart 2017 Facebook page and the Open Arms Facebook page.
Stepping in the put the event together was a natural step for the team, which seeks to connect with those outside the church. “We’re always outward-focused on the community,” said Davis, who explained the team looks for ways to help.
“We want to show people the love of God to the community, and we want to start the new year off right,” he said. “Open Arms — and the Local Missions Team — is missionally focused. We have a responsibility to relate, identify and engage with individuals. And this event is the perfect opportunity to do so.”
The Local Mission Team tries to hold some kind of outreach each month. This will be the third outreach opportunity for the team in December, along with Christmas caroling and Secret Santa.
